SUV sales in the UK grow FIVEFOLD in a decade – and still growing

SUV sales in the UK grow FIVEFOLD in a decade

Sales of SUVs in the UK continue to grow massively as car buyers flock in to big, butch, high-riding cars, with sales up fivefold in just a decade.

Ten years ago, sales of SUVs in the UK were of the ‘Chelsea Tractor’ variety, with Land Rover’s products the most noticeable and compact SUVs something of a novelty. But things have really changed since then.

Back in 2008, SUVs accounted for a modest 11 per cent or so of annual UK car sales – a total of 161,000 were sold – but now those sales numbers have risen to a massive 817,000 – a fivefold increase in just a decade.

Initially driven by car buyers desires, the car industry has latched on to the love affair with SUVs of all sizes and prices and is delivering more and more choice all the time. In the last three years a total of 114 new SUVs have hit the market in the UK, and another 20 or so are expected to arrive in 2018.

The market numbers are being driven by smaller SUVs like the Volvo XC40, Peugeot 3008, Citroen C3 Aircross and Toyota C-HR, but sales of SUVs that were around in 2008 – like Land Rovers, Range Rovers and the Porsche Cayenne – are selling better than ever.

CAP HPI’s Mark Bulmer said:

The SUV sector remains one of the most exciting vehicle sectors and manufacturers are putting a great deal of emphasis on design, styling and performance to capitalise on this continuous growth and it hasn’t finished growing yet. We can expect to see plenty of new SUV models this year covering all sector sizes and electric, hybrid, petrol and diesel vehicles are needed to meet the requirements of a rapidly changing market.

At this rate, all you’re going to be able to buy in another decade is an (electric) SUV.