Fact #726: May 7, 2012
SUVs: Are They Cars or Trucks?
The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards set for model years (MY) 2011 through 2016 include small, 2-wheel drive sport utility vehicles (SUVs) with cars instead of light trucks. Until this regulation, all SUVs were categorized as light trucks, along with pickups and vans. A recent report by the Environmental Protection Agency shows how many SUVs fall into this new "non-truck SUV" category. The production data show that most SUVs are "truck SUVs" which will continue to be in the light truck category. However, in MY 2011 nearly 1.1 million non-truck SUVs (9.4% of 2011 light-duty vehicle sales) are now classified as cars that in previous years would have been classified as light trucks. A listing of which vehicles are included in the non-truck SUV category in MY 2011 is below.
Mazda TRIBUTE HYBRID 2WD |
Ford ESCAPE HYBRID FWD |
Ford MARINER HYBRID FWD |
Mitsubishi OUTLANDER SPORT 2WD |
Hyundai TUCSON 2WD |
Kia SPORTAGE 2WD |
Nissan ROGUE FWD |
Chrysler Compass 2WD |
Chrysler Patriot 2WD |
Mitsubishi OUTLANDER 2WD |
Honda CR-V 2WD |
Mazda TRIBUTE FWD |
Toyota RAV4 2WD |
Kia SORENTO 2WD |
Ford ESCAPE FWD |
Ford MARINER FWD |
Toyota VENZA |
Hyundai SANTA FE 2WD |
Mazda CX-7 2WD |
Honda ELEMENT 2WD |
VW TIGUAN |
Ford ESCAPE FWD FFV |
Ford MARINER FWD FFV |
Mazda TRIBUTE FWD FFV |
Toyota HIGHLANDER 2WD |
Suzuki GRAND VITARA |
Honda RDX 2WD |
Volvo XC60 FWD |
Toyota RX 350 |
Toyota 4RUNNER 2WD |
Honda PILOT 2WD |
Toyota FJ CRUISER 2WD |
Daimler GLK 350 |
Nissan XTERRA 2WD |
Chrysler Liberty 2WD |
Chrysler Nitro 2WD |
Mitsubishi ENDEAVOR 2WD |
GM EQUINOX FWD |
GM TERRAIN FWD |
Ford EDGE FWD |
Honda ACCORD CROSSTOUR 2WD |
Ford MKX FWD |
Volvo XC70 FWD |
GM SRX 2WD |
Spyker 9-4X FWD |
Ford EXPLORER FWD |
Nissan MURANO FWD |
Chrysler Journey FWD |
Mazda CX-9 2WD |
Ford FLEX FWD |
Hyundai VERACRUZ 2WD |
Nissan FX35 RWD |
Chrysler Grand Cherokee 2WD |
Kia BORREGO 2WD |
Nissan PATHFINDER 2WD |
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2011, EPA-420-R-12-001, March 2012. |
Supporting Information
Model Year | Non-Truck SUV | Truck SUV | Total SUV Production (Millions) |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | 14.9% | 85.1% | 0.2 |
1976 | 12.9% | 87.1% | 0.2 |
1977 | 15.8% | 84.2% | 0.3 |
1978 | 10.0% | 90.0% | 0.4 |
1979 | 6.2% | 93.8% | 0.4 |
1980 | 2.3% | 97.7% | 0.2 |
1981 | 1.9% | 98.1% | 0.1 |
1982 | 11.0% | 89.0% | 0.2 |
1983 | 12.0% | 88.0% | 0.3 |
1984 | 9.5% | 90.5% | 0.6 |
1985 | 14.2% | 85.8% | 0.7 |
1986 | 8.8% | 91.2% | 0.8 |
1987 | 11.9% | 88.1% | 0.9 |
1988 | 12.1% | 87.9% | 1.0 |
1989 | 12.9% | 87.1% | 0.9 |
1990 | 10.3% | 89.7% | 0.7 |
1991 | 21.1% | 78.9% | 1.1 |
1992 | 25.2% | 74.8% | 1.0 |
1993 | 37.0% | 63.0% | 1.3 |
1994 | 20.4% | 79.6% | 1.6 |
1995 | 17.2% | 82.8% | 1.8 |
1996 | 25.8% | 74.2% | 1.9 |
1997 | 22.9% | 77.1% | 2.4 |
1998 | 23.2% | 76.8% | 2.6 |
1999 | 22.6% | 77.4% | 2.8 |
2000 | 24.6% | 75.4% | 3.1 |
2001 | 33.1% | 66.9% | 3.4 |
2002 | 28.2% | 71.8% | 4.2 |
2003 | 24.5% | 75.5% | 4.1 |
2004 | 23.6% | 76.4% | 4.7 |
2005 | 26.0% | 74.0% | 4.1 |
2006 | 28.7% | 71.3% | 3.8 |
2007 | 29.8% | 70.2% | 4.2 |
2008 | 30.5% | 69.5% | 4.0 |
2009 | 34.8% | 65.2% | 2.3 |
2010 | 33.8% | 66.2% | 3.2 |
2011 | 33.0% | 67.0% | 3.5 |
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2011, EPA-420-R-12-001, March 2012. |