When doing your research on hybrid suv’s, it’s helpful to know how specific makes and models have done comparatively in terms of monthly and annual sales.  We put together a graph of hybrid suv sales figures for 2007 that includes the Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX 400h, Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner, and Saturn Vue.

During the first half of 2007, Toyota led the pack with 14,312 hybrid Highlander sales.  Coming in a close second was Ford, with their popular hybrid Escape managing a respectable 11,444.  Lexus grabbed 3rd place with 8,657 RX 400h sales during the same period.  You will notice on the chart that there were a couple of months where we were unable to track down total sales of the Saturn Vue Green Line.

In the second half of 2007 many people waited for the release of the newly redesigned 2008 hybrid Highlander (not all waited by choice, as there was a shortage of available ‘07 models).  This led to a disappointing decline for Toyota with only 7,741 green Highlanders sold during that period.  Even so, year-to-date numbers reached 22,052.

Meanwhile, the green Escape continued its steady pace by adding another 9,942 sales between July and year-end (the totally redesigned 2008 model was released late in the first quarter).  That brought Ford’s numbers to 21,386.  RX 400h sales in Q3 & Q4 were nearly identical the first half of the year, hitting 8,634 and bringing their 2007 annual total to 17,291. 

Below are the stats for how many hybrid suvs have been sold already during 2008.  And, although the hybrid Chevy Tahoe and hybrid GMC Yukon are now available, GM isn’t doing a very good job of breaking out the specific sales numbers for hybrid vs. traditional models.  That being said, a report on Autobloggreen stated that total hybrid vehicle sales for GM were only 834 units during the first quarter of the year.

Hybrid SUV sales data courtesy of hybridcars.com.