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Once the king of SUVs, the Toyota 4Runner is not selling as well as it used to. The 5th generation 4Runner is now in its 13th year, and the lack of newness is not leading to increased sales. This stagnation has resulted in surprising names surpassing the 4Runner in yearly SUV sales. Read on for three SUVs that sell higher than the 4Runner.

It might not have the same rugged looks as the Toyota 4Runner, but the 2023 Ford Edge is just narrowly selling more units.

In 2023, the Ford Edge has sold 56,117 units, while the 4Runner has sold 52,655. In 2023, the Edge costs $38,365 for the base trim.

The Edge did better last year, as it sold 1.18% more units last year at this time. Meanwhile, the 4Runner sold a whopping 29.3% more units last year at this time.

The Edge shines where the 4Runner does not, which is its fuel economy. The 2023 Edge gets 21 MPG in the city and 28 on the highway. The 2023 4Runner gets 16 MPG in the city and 19 on the highway.

Also, the Edge kicks out 250 horsepower in a 2-liter, four-cylinder engine. The Edge is also available in a 2.7-liter V6 with up to 335 horsepower.

The smaller engine does have its drawbacks, as the 4Runner still clearly wins in the categories of cargo volume and towing capacity.

The Honda HR-V is a more compact choice

While its looks may be polarizing, that isn’t stopping people from purchasing the Honda HR-V. This subcompact SUV sold 62,829 units in 2023, more than 10,000 than the 4Runner.

While it may not compete with the 4Runner regarding offroad driveability, the HR-V earns marks regarding fuel economy and its low price point. With the cost of 4Runners starting at $38,805 and all trim levels above base above $40,000, it’s certainly a sizable investment. The HR-V, for comparison, starts at $25,425.

Sure, they are two very different cars, but more people are choosing the HR-V over the 4Runner. On Edmunds, the HR-V earned a 7.5 out of 10 thanks to its sophisticated look and roomy seating.

The 2023 HR-V gets 25 MPG in the city and 30 on the highway for its AWD model, and 26 on the city and 32 on the highway in its FWD model.

The most popular model on this list, while not the most popular SUV, is the Lexus RX. So far, in 2023, the Lexus RX sold 66,187 units, a 4.3% increase from last year.

Regarding overall SUV sales, the Toyota RAV4 is in the lead at 224,828 units, and the Honda CR-V is in a close second at 196,794 units.

The most expensive SUV on our list is the Lexus RX. This luxurious SUV starts at $47,800, with its speedy F Sport trim level starting at $62,750. 

The base Lexus RX 350 has a turbocharged 2.4L 4-cylinder engine that spits out 275 horsepower. It’s capable of 0-60 mph in 7 seconds. And unlike the other vehicles on our list and the 4Runner, the Lexus Rx is available with a hybrid engine.

The hybrid option gets 37 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. The Lexus RX 350h hybrid starts at $50,150—not much more expensive than the base model.

Cause for sales slump: next generation Toyota 4Runner

Related

The Wait for the New Toyota 4Runner Just Got Longer

Of course, it may not be surprising to think car shoppers are turning to other vehicles when considering the generational age of the 4Runner. Many loyal Toyota enthusiasts may be waiting for the new generation 4Runner, which has no official launch date.

As the current 4Runner ages, high-priority vehicle elements like fuel economy become more important. And the 4Runner has among the worst fuel economies out of SUVs. Of course, knowing Toyota, it would not be surprising to see 4Runner sales numbers surge with the launch of the new 6th generation 4Runner.

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