Premium large SUVs continue to progress as the segment grows 17% on the first nine months of last year. Almost 90% of this growth can be attributed to a single model, the new leader of the segment: the new generation BMW X5. The X5 almost triples its sales of the outgoing model last year, shooting up from fourth place to the top with more than 20% share of the premium large SUV segment. In second place is another model that’s been renewed and making big gains. The Range Rover Sport comes from fifth place last year to almost double its sales of the previous generation, which started sales in the third quarter of 2013.

These two have bumped the Mercedes-Benz M-Class from its distant and unthreatened leadership of last year, now down into the bottom spot of the podium. In 2015 and onwards the M-Class will be under further intensified competition as two former podium contenders will be replaced after both serving a decade or more. [Read more…]

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Sales of premium large SUVs in Europe have rebounded in the first quarter of 2014, up 11% compared to a similar decline over the full year 2013. Just like in the compact premium SUV segment, there is a complete shuffle of the ranking, with the top 10 of the segment all changing position.

Whereas the BMW X3 has fallen from its throne in the smaller segment, its larger sibling BMW X5 has committed a coup d’etat by leapfrogging its main competitors to jump from fourth position at the end of 2013 straight into the segment leadership. The new generation has sold almost double what the outgoing generation sold in the same period last year.

Also almost doubling its sales thanks to a new generation and rising from fifth position into second place is the Range Rover Sport. [Read more…]

The premium large SUV segment in Europe is down 11% in 2013, as the top 4 all show double digit declines, but a shake-up of the segment will take place in 2014.

The Mercedes-Benz M-Class is still the leader by a large margin, despite sales down 17%, because the number two of 2012, BMW X5 is down 22% and two places to fourth position. The M-Class will be replaced this year and the X5 has just been renewed. What this means for a model’s sales in this segment, is demonstrated by the Range Rover, up 82% thanks to the new generation. The Range Rover Sport has been renewed in the second half of the year, and sales are up 70% in the last quarter, so it will be fighting for the podium in 2014. The mammoth Mercedes-Benz GL has also been renewed late 2012, and sales have more than tripled in 2013, retaking its position ahead of the still-going-strong G-Class. The G-Class is up as well, which may have something to do with the publicity around the introduction of the utterly absurd G65 AMG, nicknamed the world’s fastest rolling bungalow by some. [Read more…]

The premium large SUV segment in Europe shows a smaller decline in the first three quarters of 2013 than the non-premium large SUV segment, at minus 14%. However, every model in the top 10 is losing sales compared to last year, except for one.

Mercedes-Benz M-class has kept the crown of the segment, despite the new generation coming in the first half of 2014, so it is safe to say that M-class will still be in the lead by the end of next year. The fight for second position is on, though. With Porsche Cayenne leapfrogging VW Touareg and BMW X5, which show even bigger declines. The new generation Range Rover Sport  is in showrooms now, and it has some positive press reviews in its pocket. It has shed a lot of weight, switching from a body-on-frame to a unibody configuration, and that makes it more efficient, more comfortable and sportier at the same time, giving it a good shot at leaving those 3 Germans behind to take 2^nd place in 2014. However, BMW has just introduced its new generation X5 and even though cosmetic changes are relatively small, it won’t give up without a fight. [Read more…]