The Top Ten Most Popular Used SUVs and Crossovers

Alderman Automotive stocks and sells plenty of SUVs and crossovers, which have unsurprisingly become the default vehicles in the U.S. These vehicles, particularly crossovers (car-based platforms), are good at transporting people and cargo. They are as comfortable and easy to maneuver as sedans, and the most popular among them are also efficient, powered by non-aspirated or turbocharged four-cylinder (occasionally three-cylinder) engines.  

If towing is needed, many crossovers can pull 3,500 to 5,000 pounds, and truck-based SUVs can pull 7,500 to 10,000 pounds. Another plus is the winter driving confidence they offer with available all- or four-wheel drive, possibly distinguishing them most from the station wagons, minivans, and sedans they have replaced as America’s default family vehicles.  

They account for the majority of new vehicles sold and, consequently, the majority of used vehicles sold. Automotive research site iSeeCars.com compiled a list of the 100 most popular used vehicles in the U.S., examining over 7.7 million used vehicle sales from the past five model years. Approximately two-thirds, or 65 of the top 100 models, were SUV or crossover models. 

They didn’t lead the list, however—that goes to the three top domestic full-size pickup trucks (Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ram 1500), the top two of which also dominate new car sales in the same order. The Chevrolet Equinox is next on the list and the most popular used SUV/crossover in the country. This is a break from new car sales where the Toyota RAV4 is the best-selling non-pickup vehicle. So, there are more newly bought RAV4s out there, but the Chevrolet Equinox sells more as a used car, which may imply that more Equinox owners turn over their vehicles within five years. The amount of leased vehicles can also be a factor, as off-lease vehicles would be counted as used car sales when sold. 

There are regional differences as well. Not surprisingly, used Equinox models sell particularly well in Michigan. The Equinox is also very popular in other Midwest cities such as Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Chicago, and it is also the best-selling SUV in Baltimore. Cities near Baltimore, however, such as Hartford/New Haven and Philadelphia, put the Nissan Rogue in the top SUV spot, while New Yorkers buy more Honda CR-Vs than any other vehicle.  

Overall, the top 10 best-selling one-to-five-year-old used SUV/crossovers sold in the U.S. are: 

Six of the ten are compact crossovers, three are mid-size crossovers, and the Wrangler would be considered a compact SUV. The top 20 best-selling used vehicles on the list that are neither pickups nor compact SUVs are the Toyota Camry (ranked 5), Honda Civic (10), Nissan Altima (14), and Honda Accord (18).  

A snapshot (as of this writing) finds eight examples of the above models in the Alderman Automotive inventory along with many luxury models (which are lower in numbers and thus not likely to appear in a “best-selling” list).  Of course, Alderman Automotive’s inventory is always changing, so if you don’t see what you are looking for, try again in a day or two.