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Ford Authority

Ford Explorer Sales Place First In Segment During Q4 2021

By Megs Vincent

March 29, 2022 12:37 pm

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Ford Explorer sales decreased in the United States and Mexico, while increasing in Canada during the fourth quarter of 2021.

Ford Explorer Sales - Q4 2021 - United States

In the United States, Ford Explorer deliveries totaled 59,697 units in Q4 2021, a decrease of about 10 percent compared to 66,008 units sold in Q4 2020.

During the complete 2021 calendar year, Explorer sales decreased about 3 percent to 219,871 units.
MODEL Q4 2021 / Q4 2020 Q4 2021 Q4 2020YTD 2021 / YTD 2020 YTD 2021 YTD 2020
EXPLORER -9.56% 59,697 66,008 -2.81% 219,871 226,217

Ford Explorer Sales - Q4 2021 - Canada

In Canada, Ford Explorer deliveries totaled 4,055 units in Q4 2021, an increase of about 6 percent compared to 3,837 units sold in Q4 2020.

During the complete 2021 calendar year, Explorer sales increased about 1 percent to 16,388 units.
MODEL Q4 2021 / Q4 2020 Q4 2021 Q4 2020YTD 2021 / YTD 2020 YTD 2021 YTD 2020
EXPLORER +5.68% 4,055 3,837 +0.98% 16,388 16,229

Ford Explorer Sales - Q4 2021 - Mexico

In Mexico, Ford Explorer deliveries totaled 369 units in Q4 2021, a decrease of about 27 percent compared to 506 units sold in Q4 2020.

During the complete 2021 calendar year, Explorer sales increased about 11 percent to 1,192 units.
MODEL Q4 2021 / Q4 2020 Q4 2021 Q4 2020YTD 2021 / YTD 2020 YTD 2021 YTD 2020
EXPLORER -27.08% 369 506 +11.19% 1,192 1,072

Competitive Sales Comparison (USA)

Ford Explorer sales enabled the three-row crossover to finish in first place in its segment by sales volume during the fourth quarter of 2021. Second place went to the Toyota Highlander, which saw a 20 percent drop to 56,564 units, while the Honda Pilot slid to third place with a 16 percent decrease to 28,395 units.

The Explorer also outsold the remainder of the segment contenders, including the Kia Telluride, which saw sales drop 16 percent to 28,395 units, and the Volkswagen Atlas, which posted a 19 percent decrease to 22,872 units (see running VW Atlas sales). The Chevrolet Traverse followed in fifth, with a 47 percent decrease to 22,052 units. All other segment contenders posted less than 22,000 deliveries. 

Sales Numbers - Mainstream Large Three-Row Crossovers - Q4 2021 - United States

MODEL Q4 21 / Q4 20 Q4 21 Q4 20 Q4 21 SHARE Q4 20 SHARE YTD 21 / YTD 20 YTD 21 YTD 20
FORD EXPLORER -9.56% 59,697 66,008 21% 20% -2.81% 219,871 226,217
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER -20.30% 56,564 70,975 20% 21% +24.43% 264,128 212,276
HONDA PILOT -16.02% 28,395 33,811 10% 10% +15.55% 143,062 123,813
KIA TELLURIDE -19.40% 22,981 28,514 8% 9% +24.73% 93,705 75,129
VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS -27.26% 22,872 31,445 8% 9% +32.42% 115,687 87,362
CHEVROLET TRAVERSE -46.91% 22,052 41,534 8% 12% -7.40% 116,250 125,546
HYUNDAI PALISADE -0.96% 21,866 22,078 8% 7% +4.69% 86,539 82,661
SUBARU ASCENT -4.78% 16,937 17,788 6% 5% -11.30% 59,980 67,623
DODGE DURANGO +5.11% 13,004 12,372 5% 4% +14.02% 65,935 57,828
NISSAN PATHFINDER +237.59% 12,439 3,685 4% 1% -14.93% 41,324 48,579
MAZDA CX-9 -21.20% 5,694 7,226 2% 2% +24.80% 34,493 27,638
JEEP WAGONEER * 5,307 * 2% 0% * 5,349 0
TOTAL -14.20% 287,808 335,436 +9.84% 1,246,323 1,134,672

The Explorer held a 21 percent segment share, up one percentage point from the year-ago quarter. The Highlander followed with 20 percent, down one percentage point, followed by the Pilot with ten percent, equal to that of the year-ago quarter. All other models each accounted for eight percent or less segment share.

The three-row, large crossover segment decreased 14 percent to 287,808 units in Q4 2021, meaning that Explorer sales fell at a slower pace in comparison, outperforming the segment average. The only models to post an increase in sales this quarter were the Dodge Durango and Nissan Pathfinder with five percent increase to 13,004 units and 237 percent increase to 12,439 units, respectively.

For informational and comparative purposes, we are also providing sales figures for midsize crossovers that overlap with larger crossovers like the Explorer – either in price, seating capacity, or both. Despite the fact that these models are physically smaller than the Explorer and its direct rivals, they are often cross-shopped. These overlapping vehicles include:

  • Midsize crossovers that offer three rows of seating, such as the GMC Acadia (see GMC Acadia sales), Kia Sorento, and Mitsubishi Outlander
  • Midsize crossovers with two rows of seating sold at a similar price point to the Explorer, including the Nissan Murano, Ford Edge, Chevrolet Blazer, and Hyundai Santa Fe
  • Nameplates that represent both two-row and three-row models, such as the new Jeep Grand Cherokee family

Sales Numbers - Overlapping Crossover Sales - Q4 2021 - United States

MODEL Q4 21 / Q4 20 Q4 21 Q4 20 YTD 21 / YTD 20 YTD 21 YTD 20
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE +31.42% 74,816 56,930 +26.05% 264,444 209,786
FORD EDGE -5.46% 30,274 32,024 -21.73% 85,225 108,886
HYUNDAI SANTA FE -26.11% 22,415 30,337 +11.23% 112,071 100,757
CHEVROLET BLAZER -14.01% 19,986 23,243 -25.66% 70,325 94,599
KIA SORENTO +37.68% 19,530 14,185 +9.52% 81,785 74,677
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER +243.96% 12,606 3,665 +24.88% 33,883 27,132
GMC ACADIA -80.19% 4,234 21,378 -17.40% 59,913 72,537
NISSAN MURANO +52.96% 6,830 4,465 -20.84% 46,117 58,255

The Ford Authority Take

Though the Ford Explorer faced a rocky start with its launch during the 2020 model year, it has since maintained a solid upward trajectory in sales for the past year. This is seen with a 16 percent increase during Q1 2021, 29 percent rise in Q4 2020, 87 percent jump during Q3 2020, and a 27 percent increase during Q2 2020.

Although there were substantial loss in sales opportunities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Explorer seems to have overcome the subsequent impact of the virus, which includes the ongoing microchip shortage.

For Q4 2021, the majority of the segment followed a similar trend of sales decreases, likely due to constraints related to production and availability. Similarly, Explorer sales during the quarter matched this trend, but the ten percent drop was smaller than that of most other models in the three-row, large crossover segment.

It’s worth noting that competition in the space is heating up as two competing models – the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride – maintained relatively high placement during Q4. Combined the Kia and Hyundai accounted for 44,847 units, which is 14,850 units shy of Explorer sales. The results are very impressive for the two new entrants, given that both Hyundai and Kia were almost non-existent in this segment two years ago.

Another rival that is adding competitive pressure to the Explorer is the overhauled Nissan Pathfinder as well as a updated Chevrolet Traverse, which has received a refresh for the 2022 model year. Meanwhile, FCA has launched the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee family, which now includes a three-row variant dubbed the Grand Cherokee L that competes with the Explorer, alongside the “regular”, two-row Grand Cherokee that competes with the Ford Edge.

About The Numbers

  • All percent change figures compared to Ford Explorer sales for Q4 2020, unless note otherwise
  • In the United States, there were 78 selling days in Q4 2021 and 79 selling days in Q4 2020
  • For Explorer sales figures are comprised of the Ford Explorer and its police-duty variant, the Ford Police Interceptor Utility. In the past, Police Interceptor Utility sales were reported as a separate line item, but Ford is now folding its sales into the Explorer line item.
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee sales are comprised of the two-row Grand Cherokee and the three-row Grand Cherokee L

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By Megs Vincent

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Comment

  1. Joel

    The Ford Explorer is one of the best SUVS in it’s class but they have a major problem they must address and fix…their integrated water pump in the engine is a huge issue!

    Reply

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