SUVs are a major part of the U.S. vehicle market, but the category includes different regulatory classes, powertrains, sizes, and safety outcomes. The statistics below define the population and periods explicitly, covering U.S. production, efficiency, electrification, occupant fatalities, rollover crashes, and pedestrian-related research.
Key SUV Statistics
These highlights summarize the most broadly useful SUV measurements:
- SUVs represented 58% of all U.S. vehicles produced in model year 2023, combining car SUVs and truck SUVs.
- Truck SUVs accounted for 45% of U.S. vehicle production in model year 2023, while car SUVs represented 12%.
- Truck SUVs alone accounted for half of U.S. new-vehicle production in preliminary model-year 2024 data, a production measure rather than registrations or sales.
- SUVs rose from 24% of registered U.S. vehicles in 2013 to 36% in 2023.
- The truck regulatory class held a 62% production share in model year 2023, including truck SUVs, pickups, and minivans or vans.
- Truck-SUV fuel economy reached 25.7 mpg in preliminary model-year 2024 EPA data, up 1.0 mpg from model year 2023.
- Average new car-SUV real-world CO2 emissions fell 60 grams per mile, or 24%, from model year 2022 to 2023.
- Battery-electric vehicles made up 36% of car-SUV production in model year 2023.
- Battery-electric vehicles made up 30% of car-SUV production in preliminary model-year 2024 data, with plug-in hybrids adding 3%.
- Battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles each contributed 4% of truck-SUV production in preliminary model-year 2024 data.
- Combined battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel-cell vehicles reached 11.5% of all U.S. vehicle production in model year 2023, up from 6.7% in 2022.
- There were 6,648 SUV occupant deaths in U.S. crashes in calendar year 2024, representing 29% of passenger-vehicle occupant deaths.
- SUV driver deaths totaled 4,875 in 2024, or 73% of SUV occupant deaths.
- Frontal impacts accounted for 4,014 SUV occupant deaths in 2024, or 60% of the total.
- Multiple-vehicle crashes accounted for 3,726 SUV occupant deaths in 2024, compared with 2,922 deaths in single-vehicle crashes.
- The SUV all-occupant death rate fell from 431 per million registered passenger vehicles in 1978 to 41 per million in 2024, using 1-to-3-year-old vehicles.
- SUV occupants accounted for 2,200 deaths in rollover crashes in 2024.
- Single-vehicle rollover crashes accounted for 1,483 SUV occupant deaths in 2024, equal to 22% of all SUV occupant deaths.
- IIHS found pedestrian crash-prevention systems reduced pedestrian crash rates by 27% across evaluated passenger vehicles.
Contents
- How official U.S. datasets define SUVs
- SUV production scale and market adoption
- SUV fuel economy and tailpipe emissions
- SUV electrification and powertrain change
- SUV occupant fatalities and crash patterns
- SUV rollover and road-user safety outcomes
How Official U.S. Datasets Define SUVs
SUV statistics depend on the classification system. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) separates SUVs into car SUVs and truck SUVs, and its rules can place similar-looking vehicles in different groups.
- For SUVs below 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), EPA classification can differ according to minimum angles, clearances, and whether the vehicle has two-wheel or four-wheel drive. 2024 EPA Automotive Trends Report
- Four-wheel drive or a GVWR above 6,000 pounds generally places an SUV in the truck class in the EPA’s 2024 report. Highlights of the Automotive Trends Report
- EPA defines inertia weight for its SUV trend series as empty-vehicle weight plus 300 pounds. The report excludes SUVs above 4,000 pounds of inertia weight from one car-versus-truck comparison because those vehicles generally exceed 6,000 pounds GVWR. 2024 EPA Automotive Trends Report
These definitions mean that production shares, fuel-economy averages, and emissions figures should be read as EPA vehicle categories, not as a universal consumer definition of an SUV.
SUV Production Scale and Market Adoption Trends
SUV production expanded substantially across the EPA’s model-year 1975–2023 series. The share increased in all but 10 years, while sedan and wagon production fell to 25% of the U.S. market in model year 2023, less than one-third of its 1975 share.
| EPA production category | Model year 2023 share | Population and period |
|---|---|---|
| All SUVs | 58% | U.S. vehicle production |
| Truck SUVs | 45% | U.S. vehicle production |
| Car SUVs | 12% | U.S. vehicle production |
| Truck regulatory class | 62% | Includes truck SUVs, pickups, and minivans or vans |
| Sedans and wagons | 25% | U.S. vehicle production |
Source: 2024 EPA Automotive Trends Report.
Preliminary model-year 2024 data indicate that truck SUVs alone accounted for half of new-vehicle production. EPA labels this value preliminary, and it measures production rather than registrations or sales. Highlights of the Automotive Trends Report
Manufacturer mixes also varied in model year 2023. Tesla had the highest car-SUV production mix among manufacturers at 55%, while Mazda had the highest truck-SUV production mix at 89%. 2024 EPA Automotive Trends Report
Separately, SUVs rose from 24% of registered U.S. vehicles in 2013 to 36% in 2023. That registration measure describes the vehicle fleet, whereas EPA production shares describe new vehicles built in particular model years. Designers must make vehicles safe for everyone — not just drivers and passengers
SUV Fuel Economy and Tailpipe Emissions Data
EPA’s fuel-economy and emissions figures are estimated real-world values for new light-duty vehicles, not owner-reported fuel economy. Changes also vary sharply between car SUVs, truck SUVs, and manufacturers.
- Truck-SUV fuel economy increased by 0.4 mpg from model year 2022 to 2023. Preliminary model-year 2024 truck-SUV fuel economy reached 25.7 mpg, 1.0 mpg above 2023. 2024 EPA Automotive Trends Report Highlights of the Automotive Trends Report
- Car-SUV fuel economy increased by 7.2 mpg from model year 2022 to 2023. EPA’s preliminary model-year 2024 data associate the influx of battery-electric vehicles with a further 9.0-mpg increase, while noting that this is not a causal experiment. 2024 EPA Automotive Trends Report Highlights of the Automotive Trends Report
- Average new car-SUV real-world CO2 emissions fell by 60 grams per mile, or 24%, from model year 2022 to 2023. 2024 EPA Automotive Trends Report
Selected model-year 2023 manufacturer averages show why category averages can conceal large differences:
| Manufacturer and SUV class | CO2 emissions | Fuel economy |
|---|---|---|
| BMW car SUVs | 342 g CO2/mile | 26.0 mpg |
| Ford car SUVs | 135 g CO2/mile | 47.5 mpg |
| GM truck SUVs | 422 g CO2/mile | 21.1 mpg |
| Honda truck SUVs | 344 g CO2/mile | 25.9 mpg |
| Hyundai car SUVs | 262 g CO2/mile | 32.1 mpg |
| Kia truck SUVs | 330 g CO2/mile | 26.7 mpg |
| Tesla car SUVs | 0 g CO2/mile | 117.1 MPGe |
Source: 2024 EPA Automotive Trends Report. These are EPA estimated real-world model-year 2023 production averages, and MPGe is not the same unit as gasoline mpg.
SUV Electrification and Powertrain Change
Powertrain change is especially visible among car SUVs. Battery-electric vehicles made up 36% of car-SUV production in model year 2023, while preliminary model-year 2024 data put the share at 30% and plug-in hybrids at another 3%.
Truck SUVs electrified more slowly in the preliminary 2024 data: battery-electric vehicles contributed 4% of truck-SUV production and plug-in hybrids contributed another 4%. These figures are preliminary production shares, not sales, registrations, or ownership rates. Highlights of the Automotive Trends Report
Across all new U.S. light-duty vehicle production, battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel-cell vehicles together rose from 6.7% in model year 2022 to 11.5% in 2023. EPA projected the combined share to reach 14.8% in model year 2024; that figure is a November 2024 forecast, not a final observed result. EPA Report Shows US Fuel Economy Hits Record High and CO2 Emissions Reach a Record Low
SUV Occupant Fatalities and Crash Patterns
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports 6,648 SUV occupant deaths in U.S. fatal crashes during calendar year 2024, equal to 29% of passenger-vehicle occupant deaths. The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) is a census of fatal crashes involving motor vehicles on public roads in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
SUV occupant deaths increased from 417 in 1975 to 6,648 in 2024, but the rate measure moved in the opposite direction. The SUV all-occupant death rate fell from 431 per million registered passenger vehicles in 1978 to 41 per million in 2024, using 1-to-3-year-old vehicles; IIHS notes that rates reflect vehicle design, use patterns, and driver demographics.
| 2024 SUV occupant measure | Count | Share or rate |
|---|---|---|
| Total occupant deaths | 6,648 | 29% of passenger-vehicle occupant deaths |
| Driver deaths | 4,875 | 73% of SUV occupant deaths |
| Passenger deaths | 1,760 | 26% of SUV occupant deaths |
| Frontal impacts | 4,014 | 60% of SUV occupant deaths |
| Side impacts | 1,282 | 19% of SUV occupant deaths |
| Other initial impacts, mostly rollovers | 970 | 15% of SUV occupant deaths |
| Single-vehicle crashes | 2,922 | 44% of SUV occupant deaths |
| Multiple-vehicle crashes | 3,726 | 56% of SUV occupant deaths |
Source: Passenger vehicle occupants | IIHS Fatality Facts. Counts are deaths in FARS fatal crashes, not sales or ownership counts.
The SUV driver death rate also declined, from 268 per million registered passenger vehicles in 1978 to 27 per million in 2024. Both rate series use 1-to-3-year-old vehicles and should not be interpreted as a simple measure of vehicle design alone.
SUV Rollover and Road-User Safety Outcomes
IIHS recorded 2,200 SUV occupant deaths in rollover crashes during 2024. IIHS defines rollover as a vehicle tipping onto its side or roof at any time during the crash.
- Of SUV occupant deaths in rollover crashes, 996 followed a frontal impact, or 45% of SUV rollover deaths.
- Another 548 SUV occupant deaths in rollover crashes involved no recorded initial impact, or 25% of SUV rollover deaths.
- SUV occupant deaths in single-vehicle rollover crashes totaled 1,483 in 2024, equal to 22% of all SUV occupant deaths.
Source: Passenger vehicle occupants | IIHS Fatality Facts.
Across all passenger vehicles, rollover crashes accounted for 28% of occupant deaths in 2024. Rollover was involved in 47% of occupant deaths in single-vehicle crashes, compared with 13% in multiple-vehicle crashes.
These are passenger-vehicle findings broadly, not SUV-only rates. Passenger vehicle occupants | IIHS Fatality Facts
Road-user outcomes extend beyond people inside SUVs. IIHS reported that passenger vehicles with front ends more than 40 inches off the ground were more likely to kill pedestrians than vehicles with shorter, more sloping front ends; this is an association, not an SUV-only absolute fatality rate. Designers must make vehicles safe for everyone — not just drivers and passengers
IIHS also found that pedestrian crash-prevention systems reduced pedestrian crash rates by 27% across evaluated passenger vehicles. In headlight testing, the share receiving a good visibility rating rose from 1% in 2016 to 42% in 2023, and vehicles with good-rated headlights had nighttime pedestrian crash rates 23% lower than vehicles with poor-rated headlights.
These comparisons cover passenger vehicles broadly rather than SUV-only populations. Designers must make vehicles safe for everyone — not just drivers and passengers