Automotive inventory trends are shifting fast, and the biggest victim is the Toyota RAV4. Sales for the former king “cratered by 48 percent year-over-year” to start 2026. Toyota is struggling to get the new sixth-generation models to dealerships, leaving its bread-and-butter offering in 13th place.
Winners: The Trucks and the Risers
While Toyota stumbles, full-size pickup trucks are still the bosses of the road. The GMC Sierra moved over 74,000 units, even with a slight dip. The real winners, though, are the fast risers.
The Ford Explorer surged by 30%, and the Chevrolet Traverse jumped a massive 34% as families looked for alternatives to empty Toyota lots. Even the aging Toyota Corolla managed to grow by 13%, proving that budget-friendly options still have “pull.”
Why It Matters to Your Wallet
If you are car hunting, this shift is your best friend. When a segment leader like the RAV4 or Chevrolet Equinox (down 14%) cools off, dealers get desperate. They have 2025 inventory they need to dump. This is the prime time to negotiate on “mainstay” models that aren’t hitting their marks.
The EV King Holds the Line
Tesla remains the undisputed champion of bestselling electric vehicles. The Model Y saw a 10% sales increase, moving an estimated 78,000 units. In the compact crossover sales world, the Nissan Rogue is the surprise hero, climbing to 8th place with a 13% jump.
Meanwhile, the mid-size truck market belongs to the Toyota Tacoma, which saw a 16% rise, proving that even if Toyota can’t build SUVs fast enough, they still know how to move a truck.
Read also: Toyota Tacoma crushes mid-size rivals in Q1 2026 sales explosion
