SUV Surge Dominates Q3 Auto Sales as Electric Vehicles See Final Tax Credit Rush

Detroit, MI — Third-quarter automotive sales data reveals a market split between traditional SUV dominance and a last-minute electric vehicle buying frenzy before federal incentives disappeared.

September 30 marked the end of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, triggering unprecedented demand across multiple electric models. Meanwhile, large SUVs continued their reign over American driveways, with recently refreshed models posting impressive gains.

Electric Vehicle Sales Explode

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 led the electric charge, recording 21,999 sales in just three months—more than the entire first half of 2024. That represents a 90 percent jump year-over-year as buyers scrambled to secure federal savings.

Ford’s electric lineup also benefited significantly. The Mustang Mach-E climbed 51 percent to 20,177 units, while the F-150 Lightning gained 40 percent. Chevrolet’s Equinox EV delivered 25,085 units during its second year on sale, a 157 percent increase.

Volkswagen’s ID.4 registered a 176 percent surge with 12,470 sales. Audi’s Q6 e-tron became the German brand’s bestselling model for the quarter, moving over 10,000 units in its debut period.

Hyundai’s Large SUVs Shine

Beyond electric vehicles, Hyundai posted record-breaking Q3 numbers with 13 percent overall growth. The redesigned Santa Fe jumped 37 percent to 37,082 units, while the popular Palisade gained 27 percent with 35,585 sales ahead of its upcoming generational refresh.

Even the compact Venue subcompact crossover saw a 28 percent boost, though at significantly lower volumes. Hyundai’s success reflects consumer appetite for spacious, feature-rich family transportation.

Ford Rides Refresh Wave

Ford’s recently updated SUV lineup posted stellar numbers across the board. The revamped Expedition, now including an off-road Tremor variant, surged 48 percent to 21,844 units. The Explorer, benefiting from 2025 updates, climbed 33 percent to reach 56,000 sales.

The Bronco maintained momentum with a 41 percent increase despite minimal changes since its 2021 return. The rugged SUV eclipsed 37,000 units, proving its nostalgia-driven appeal remains strong.

Chevrolet’s Updated Lineup Gains Traction

General Motors’ Chevrolet brand leveraged recent product overhauls to capture market share. The gas-powered Equinox nearly doubled sales with a 99 percent jump to 73,694 units. The three-row Traverse increased 37 percent to 38,853 sales.

Full-size models also benefited from 2025 refreshes. The Tahoe gained 10 percent while the longer Suburban surged 39 percent, reinforcing American preference for maximum cargo capacity.

Nissan Crosses Multiple Segments

Nissan’s SUV portfolio delivered consistent gains throughout Q3. The redesigned Kicks rose 37 percent to 26,244 units, while the Rogue maintained its position as Nissan’s volume leader with 9 percent growth. The refreshed Murano contributed 14,172 sales to the mix.

The three-row Pathfinder jumped 33 percent to 25,744 units. Only the electric Ariya struggled, falling 42 percent as Nissan announced plans to discontinue the model for U.S. buyers.

Import Tariffs Hit Buick

Buick’s American-built Enclave thrived with 60 percent Q3 growth following its generational redesign. However, imported models suffered under current tariff policies. The Korean-built Encore GX dropped 38 percent while the Chinese-manufactured Envision slid 35 percent.

Trade tensions continue affecting Korean imports with 25 percent duties, while Chinese-built vehicles face similar penalties. These headwinds overshadowed modest 2 percent gains for the Envista compact crossover.

Corvette Faces Steep Decline

Chevrolet’s flagship sports car stumbled badly, with sales plummeting 34 percent to just 5,123 units during Q3. Year-to-date figures show 17,718 sales, down 31 percent from 2024’s comparable period.

Industry observers suggest buyers may be waiting for 2026 models featuring a redesigned dashboard that eliminates the controversial button-heavy interface. The performance market remains competitive and price-sensitive.

Volkswagen’s Sedan Struggle Deepens

VW’s shrinking passenger car lineup posted troubling numbers across all three remaining models. The Jetta sedan dropped 42 percent to 11,287 units, while the performance-oriented Golf GTI matched that decline with 1,931 sales.

The high-performance Golf R fell 5 percent to barely 1,000 units. While the GTI and Golf R faced model-year changeover timing issues, the Jetta’s prolonged slump highlights continued American abandonment of traditional sedans.

Aging Audi SUVs Lose Ground

Audi’s Q7 three-row SUV fell 24 percent to 4,281 units as its aging platform struggles against fresher competition. The sportier Q8 dropped 22 percent to 2,017 sales, raising questions about its long-term viability.

A next-generation Q7 with combustion power remains in development, though the Q8’s future appears uncertain. Audi is also preparing a full-size Q9 flagship to challenge the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7.

Alfa Romeo’s Fading Presence

Italian luxury brand Alfa Romeo continues its market retreat while awaiting product renewals. The Giulia sedan found only 286 buyers in Q3, down 33 percent. The Stelvio SUV managed 375 sales, a 25 percent decline.

Even the newer Tonale compact crossover struggled with 953 units, falling 15 percent. A next-generation Stelvio was originally scheduled as a 2026 electric vehicle, but delays and hybrid powertrain integration may push its arrival to 2027.