Market Reports: SUVs and MPVs

Despite the growing outcry against the urban SUV sales, they are still proving as popular as ever with Irish buyers. Overall sales are up a whopping 41 per cent on the same period last year, with much of this growth in the smaller 'soft-roader' market.

BESTSELLERS: Hyundai Santa Fe; Hyundai Tucson; Toyota RAV4

The sales leader in Ireland remains the Hyundai Santa Fe (1,623), followed by its close twin the Hyundai Tucson (1,340). Initial concerns that the introduction of what is only a slightly smaller model would cannibalise sales of the larger Santa Fe have proven unfounded.

Toyota has done well with its RAV4 (1,283) in third place and due for replacement early next year, while Suzuki takes fourth place with the Grand Vitara (961) also due for replacement in the next few weeks.

Next is the Nissan X-Trail (957), and it's not until after the Kia Sorrento (589) that we see a proper large SUV in the sales league. The bestselling model in the larger off-road category remains the Mitsubishi Pajero (588), but it's followed by the first of the luxury models in the market, led by the BMW X5 (503) and the Range Rover (432).

Volkswagen's Touareg (411) has had a good year, outselling the Land Rover Discovery (395) to date. Even Porsche's Cayenne (22) has done well in Ireland this year.

BESTSELLERS: Renault Scenic; Opel Zafira; Toyota Corolla Verso

These family favourites are selling well this year, but much of the focus has been on the smaller end of the market, with both medium and larger-sized models suffering a sales downturn.

Renault's Scenic (2,500) still leads the way in sales terms, ahead of the Opel Zafira (1,614).

Both come from the medium-sized end of the market. Ford's Focus C-Max (797) has lost its third place in the medium-sized sector to the new Toyota Corolla Verso (1,344). While this is the largest selling sector in the MPV market, sales were down from 8,363 this time last year to 6,674 this year.

At the upper end, Hyundai lead the way with the Trajet (878), followed by the Ford Galaxy (593) and the Seat Alhambra (276).

Sales of larger models were 2,821 to the end of October, down from 3,082 for the same period last year.

At the smaller end of the market, Opel leads the way with the Meriva (741), followed by the Renault Modus (652) and Honda Jazz (548). The new Mercedes A-Class (397) takes fourth place and is likely to improve on that next year, in its first full year of sales.

Figures in brackets refer to sales from January to October 2005