In the Fierce Competition of Full-Size SUVs in the US, Which Models Sold the Most?

'Chevrolet Tahoe' SUV Racing in Its Homeland, USA
Largest SUV Ranked No.1 in Sales Last Year
Hollywood Movie Presidential Escort Vehicle
Provided for Civilian Evacuation in Ukraine Battlefield

Koreans have an exceptional love for cars. Sales of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) have steadily increased compared to sedans, and among SUVs, larger models are selling well. This is attributed to the fact that even large SUVs offer ride comfort comparable to sedans, and consumers increasingly value space utilization for activities like car camping and outdoor stays.

What about the SUV homeland, the United States? The U.S. has vast and rugged terrain, which has historically driven strong demand for SUVs and pickup trucks. Full-size, or what we would call extra-large SUVs, are also popular models. Last year, about 486,000 extra-large SUVs were sold in the U.S. The best-selling model among them was the Chevrolet Tahoe, with 105,756 units sold, capturing a 21.8% market share. The second place was the GMC Yukon, with 82,304 units sold (16.9%). Both models are sibling vehicles under General Motors (GM) that share the same platform.

Chevrolet Tahoe

Another sibling vehicle, Cadillac's Escalade, sold 40,247 units (8.3%) and ranked fifth. Including Chevrolet's other extra-large SUV, the Suburban, GM's four models account for a 57.5% market share. The Suburban, introduced by GM in 1935, is considered the world's first SUV.

Professional research agencies' evaluations align closely with public choice. According to JD Power's recently released 2023 New Vehicle Quality Study, the Tahoe ranks first among full-size mass-market brands, and the Escalade ranks first among luxury brands. This survey was conducted by evaluating about 93,000 vehicle owners of 2023 models sold from November last year to February this year. The ranking is based on answers to 223 questions divided into nine categories, including powertrain, infotainment, seats, and driving experience.

Cadillac Escalade ESV Interior

The Tahoe is a familiar model in Korea even before its domestic launch, often appearing in American Hollywood movies as presidential security vehicles or tactical vehicles for special units like the FBI and CIA. It is indeed widely used for such purposes and has even been deployed in combat zones. Last year, GM provided 50 Tahoes to the Ukraine war zone under the pretext of civilian evacuation and other missions.

As a traditional frame-body SUV, it attracts attention not only for its driving capabilities but also for its towing capacity of up to 3,402 kg. Despite its large size, advanced technologies such as active air ride suspension that offsets road shocks and magnetic ride control, which adjusts damping by scanning the road surface in milliseconds, ensure a comfortable ride.

Chevrolet Tahoe

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.