The sales results for the first three quarters of 2026 are known. At the end of September, the Toyota RAV4 lost its crown as the best-selling compact SUV, which it last achieved in 2025. In fact, the RAV4’s sales leadership dates back to 2017. The current winner is the Honda CR-V, which achieved 336,844 sales in the first three quarters. In comparison, the Toyota RAV4 sold with just 253,664 sales, a difference of 83,180, putting the RAV4 in seventh place in the overall sales ranking, behind the Ram pickup, Toyota Camry and GMC Sierra. We’ve taken an in-depth look at these two leading SUVs and found which compact SUV is best for you.
There’s a good reason why Toyota lost out to the Honda CR-V in the 2026 sales race. As Toyota attempts to increase production of the new hybrid-only RAV4, it has struggled to meet its previous production goals. This caused supply issues for the RAV4 range, which affected its sales results. This reversal of fortune allowed the Honda CR-V to take first place as the best-selling SUV in the United States. Once Toyota overcomes its production limits and RAV4 supply peaks, it could regain its lead over its main rival.
What else should you know about the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V?
The Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V have mostly fought for the SUV sales lead since their arrival in the United States in the late 1990s. These compact SUVs from two major Japanese brands offer consumers a complete package of interior space, great reliability, practicality and ease of driving. But as Toyota has moved to a fully hybrid lineup, fuel economy now goes to the RAV4, not only because every model is hybrid, but also because the RAV4’s hybrid engine offers better fuel economy than that of the CR-V Hybrid. That’s something to consider with today’s high fuel prices, although both of these vehicles are on our list of the most fuel-efficient cars you can buy.
The news that the Toyota RAV4 is losing its usual top spot in the SUV sales rankings amounts to a big asterisk on its 2026 results, due to its move to an all-new model offering only hybrid powertrains. It could very likely regain the top spot when all these supply issues are resolved.
Another factor in the Toyota RAV4’s favor is its pricing structure, which doesn’t appear to impose a heavy upfront financial penalty for choosing a hybrid. While the entry-level non-hybrid 2027 CR-V LX 2WD costs $33,070 including destination charge, the 2026 RAV4 LE Hybrid (both base models currently available) can be yours for $33,495, which gets you the fuel-saving hybrid drivetrain for an extra charge of just $425.
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