Ford Explorer sales decreased in the United States, Mexico and South Korea during the fourth quarter of 2019.
| MODEL | Q4 2019 / Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXPLORER | -8.94% | 51,284 | 56,316 | -17.86% | 187,061 | 227,732 |
| MODEL | Q4 2019 / Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXPLORER | -31.74% | 357 | 523 | -34.37% | 1,627 | 2,479 |
| MODEL | Q4 2019 / Q4 2018 | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | YTD 2019 / YTD 2018 | YTD 2019 | YTD 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXPLORER | -24.39% | 1,209 | 1,599 | -28.93% | 4,910 | 6,909 |
The decline in Ford Explorer sales during Q4 2019 places the vehicle into second place in its segment, behind the Toyota Highlander but ahead of all other rivals. Combined sales of the Explorer and its police-duty variant, the Police Interceptor Utility, totaled 51,284 units during the quarter.
Following the Explorer are the Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Subaru Ascent, Volkswagen Atlas (see VW Atlas sales), Kia Telluride, Nissan Pathfinder, Hyundai Palisade, Dodge Durango, and the Mazda CX-9.
| MODEL | Q4 19 / Q4 18 | Q4 19 | Q4 18 | Q4 19 SHARE | Q4 18 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOYOTA HIGHLANDER | -7.12% | 59,268 | 63,812 | 20% | 22% |
| FORD EXPLORER | -8.94% | 51,284 | 56,316 | 17% | 20% |
| FORD POLICE INTERCEPTOR UTILITY | -100.00% | 0 | 8,385 | 0% | 3% |
| CHEVROLET TRAVERSE | -14.94% | 33,631 | 39,536 | 11% | 14% |
| HONDA PILOT | -21.84% | 31,039 | 39,714 | 11% | 14% |
| SUBARU ASCENT | +11.64% | 21,916 | 19,631 | 7% | 7% |
| VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS | +30.75% | 21,803 | 16,675 | 7% | 6% |
| KIA TELLURIDE | * | 19,395 | * | 7% | 0% |
| NISSAN PATHFINDER | -6.03% | 16,349 | 17,398 | 6% | 6% |
| HYUNDAI PALISADE | * | 15,279 | * | 5% | 0% |
| DODGE DURANGO | -8.71% | 14,977 | 16,406 | 5% | 6% |
| MAZDA CX-9 | +17.60% | 8,318 | 7,073 | 3% | 2% |
| TOTAL | +2.92% | 293,259 | 284,946 |
The Explorer and Police Interceptor Utility held a combined 17 percent segment share, behind the 20 percent held by the Toyota Highlander. The Chevrolet Traverse and Honda Pilot each held 11 percent, while all other models held less than 10 percent share.
The three-row, large crossover segment expanded nearly 3 percent to 293,259 units in Q4 2019.
For informational and comparative purposes, we are also providing sales figures for midsize SUV models that overlap with large crossover SUVs like the Explorer – either in price, seating capacity, or both. These not-quite-full-size crossovers are often cross-shopped with full-size crossover SUVs. These models include:
| MODEL | Q4 19 / Q4 18 | Q4 19 | Q4 18 | YTD 19 / YTD 18 | YTD 19 | YTD 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRAND CHEROKEE | -0.56% | 57,929 | 58,255 | +8.03% | 242,969 | 224,908 |
| EDGE | +6.93% | 37,621 | 35,184 | +3.28% | 138,515 | 134,122 |
| SANTA FE | +10.63% | 31,054 | 28,069 | +8.83% | 127,373 | 117,038 |
| SORENTO | +7.21% | 23,751 | 22,154 | -11.03% | 95,951 | 107,846 |
| BLAZER | +85,114.78% | 23,008 | 27 | +215,140.74% | 58,115 | 27 |
| ACADIA | -22.51% | 19,471 | 25,128 | +12.20% | 99,429 | 88,621 |
| MURANO | -11.36% | 18,013 | 20,322 | -18.18% | 68,361 | 83,547 |
| OUTLANDER | +9.53% | 7,494 | 6,842 | +0.83% | 37,965 | 37,652 |
We believe that the decrease in Ford Explorer sales during the fourth quarter is attributable to tow primary reasons:
It’s worth noting that five competing models showed very strong sales results during the month. These include the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, Mazda CX-9, Subaru Ascent, and VW Atlas. Combined, the Kia and Hyundai accounted for nearly 35,000 units, significantly more than the Traverse. Subaru Ascent sales, meanwhile, climbed nearly 12 percent to 21,916 units and VW Atlas sales increased 31 percent to 21,803 units.
Meanwhile, GM’s Chevrolet Traverse will receive a midcycle enhancement for the 2020 model year that will deliver revised styling and potential interior improvements, thereby giving the new Explorer even more competition.
Subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Explorer news and ongoing Ford news coverage.
Ford Motor Company Q4 2019 sales reports:Tire strategy proved their undoing, though.
Low-Interest financing on best-selling pickup truck.
The first time a late night talk show is in the city since 2006.
Following the launch of packages for the Bronco and F-150.
Another component of its massive, forthcoming revamp.
A new integrated solution for fleet customers.
View Comments
Might add the price as a 3rd issue with the Explorer. The prices are crazy high compared to the competition. If they price it to compete with BMW, then they’re going to loses sales.
The prices are high, but so is that of the competition. Much of the pricing will be reduced with incentives, which will run higher than the last-gen model. Even so, Ford will make more on the new Explorer vs. the old one.
Styling is the issue with me.
It is almost like they showed the designers the new beautiful Lincoln Aviator, and told them the Explorer has to be differentiated here, there, and everywhere, so instead of designing an Explorer, they designed an anti-Aviator.