Jeeps blazed a trail among vehicles gaining popularity in 2018

The Jeep Compass is riding high.

In fact, the Compass, Cherokee and Wrangler, all compact sport utility vehicles, were out front as Jeeps blazed a trail among vehicles that have gained popularity in 2018.

Through September, Jeep Compass sales jumped 146 percent and climbed 37 places to 24th in the rankings of the 100 best-selling cars in the U.S., based on data from the Focus2Move research database. That popularity growth was first among 20 models above 100,000 in sales so far in 2018.

Focus2Move called the results an “impressive performance” by Jeep.

Cherokee’s sales/popularity grew 48.8 percent and Wrangler’s sales/popularity 27.2 percent, good for second and fifth in the top-20 rankings, respectively.

Our top 20 equates sale growth/decline with an increase/decrease in popularity of a particular model.

Models with the highest raw sales – Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado and Ram pickups, and Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue compact SUVs – had among the lowest sales/popularity growth rates and, so, finished at or near the bottom of this list. All five maintained their positions in overall raw sales compared to last year, according to the Focus2Move data.

SUV and crossovers dominated our list with 13 of the top 20 in sales/popularity growth, followed by pickup trucks (four), vans/minivans (two), and a single car, the Hyundai Elantra.

The top 20 vehicles, their 2018/2017 ranks, sales total and sales/popularity growth rate are:

1. Jeep Compass (24/61) – 132,674 – 146 percent
2. Jeep Cherokee (17/27) – 179,743 – 48.8 percent
3. Subaru Crosstrek (31/48) – 111,415 – 45 percent
4. Honda Pilot (28/35) – 119,901 – 42.4 percent
5. Jeep Wrangler (14/22) – 190,951 – 27.2 percent
6. Mazda CX-5 (29/33) – 116,628 – 26 percent
7. Toyota Tacoma (15/21) – 183,909 – 24.8 percent
8. Hyundai Tucson (35/44) – 103,244 – 24.6 percent
9. Chevrolet Traverse (32/37) – 109,656 – 23.4 percent
10. Toyota Highlander (16/18) – 180,699 – 14.2 percent
11. Ford Transit (34/34) – 106,463 – 13.5 percent
12. Dodge Grand Caravan (27/36) – 120,935 – 12.4 percent
13. Chevrolet Equinox (9/12) – 235,650 – 10.8 percent
14. Toyota 4Runner (36/32) – 102,267 – 7.6 percent
15. Nissan Rogue (5/5) – 309,979 – 4.4 percent
16. Hyundai Elantra (21/20) – 148,879 – 4.1 percent
17. Ford F-Series (1/1) – 679,018 – 3.1 percent
18. Toyota RAV4 (4/4) – 319,145 – 2.2 percent
19. Chevrolet Silverado (2/2) – 426,440 – 1.9 percent
20. Ram pickup (3/3) – 375,583 – 0.2 percent

Based on sales alone, here are the top 10 best-selling (most popular) vehicles through September:

1. Ford F-Series – 679,018 – 3.1 percent
2. Chevrolet Silverado – 426,440 – 1.9 percent
3. Ram pickup – 375,583 – 0.2 percent
4. Toyota RAV4 – 319,145 – 2.2 percent
5. Nissan Rogue – 309,979 – 4.4 percent
6. Honda CR-V – 277,621 – (1.2 percent)
7. Toyota Camry – 262,887 – (6.9 percent)
8. Honda Civic – 255,036 – (10.3 percent)
9. Chevrolet Equinox – 235,650 – 10.8 percent
10. Toyota Corolla – 235,168 – (11.3 percent)

Based on sales/popularity growth alone, regardless of total sales, here are the top 10 vehicles:

1. Volkswagen Atlas – 43,002 – 251.6 percent
2. Volkswagen Tiguan – 79,827 – 197.2 percent
3. Toyota C-HR – 37,930 – 155.2 percent
4. Jeep Compass – 132,674 – 146 percent
5. Mitsubishi Outlander Sport – 37,834 – 57.5 percent
6. Mercedes GLC – 50,587 – 53.8 percent
7. Jeep Cherokee – 179,743 – 48.8 percent
8. Subaru Crosstrek – 111,415 – 45 percent
9. Honda Pilot – 119,901 – 42.4 percent
10. BMW X3 – 41,825 – 30.2 percent

The Focus2Move list of the 100 best-selling vehicles of 2018 comprises about a 50/50 split between models that grew in popularity and those that declined.