This article has been updated from a previous version.
Who would have thought that sales for some of Canada’s best-selling SUVs would have grown during a pandemic? Such was the case for six out of 10 vehicles that topped the list for annual sports utility vehicle (SUV) sales in 2021.
Canada’s 10 top-selling SUVs
Three SUVs — the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Hyundai Kona — lead the pack, maintaining their positions from 2020. However, the Toyota RAV4’s sales shrank, possibly due to supply chain issues and the insatiable demand for new automobiles during the past year.
| Rank | SUV make and model | 2021 sales | 2020 sales | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota RAV4 | 61,933 | 67,977 | -8.89% |
| 2 | Honda CR-V | 50,935 | 50,135 | +1.60% |
| 3 | Hyundai Kona | 31,101 | 31,733 | -1.99% |
| 4 | Nissan Rogue | 29,927 | 25,998 | +15.11% |
| 5 | Ford Escape | 26,959 | 23,747 | +13.53% |
| 6 | Mazda CX-5 | 26,571 | 30,583 | -13.12% |
| 7 | Hyundai Tuscon | 25,487 | 28,444 | -10.40% |
| 8 | Subaru Crosstrek | 23,342 | 22,161 | +5.33% |
| 9 | Toyota Highlander | 19,885 | 16,457 | +20.83% |
| 10 | Volkswagen Tiguan | 19,031 | 14,240 | +33.64% |
Source: GoodCarBadCar.net
Even though the Toyota RAV4 is the most popular with drivers, which SUVs can you anticipate having the cheapest car insurance rate? The answer may come as a surprise.
SUVs ranked on the cheapest for auto insurance in Ontario
The Hyundai Kona, the third most popular SUV, ranks number one for cheap auto insurance in Ontario. How do the remaining nine SUVs stack up? It’s fair to say that most seem to come in the middle of the road.
| Rank | SUV make and model |
Average premium for vehicle model in Ontario* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyundai Kona | $3,125.28 |
| 2 | Toyota Highlander | $3,220.20 |
| 3 | Ford Escape | $3,422.45 |
| 4 | Toyota RAV4 | $3,496.95 |
| 5 | Subaru CrossTrek | $3,507.80 |
| 6 | Volkswagen Tiguan | $3,726.23 |
| 7 | Nissan Rogue | $3,737.46 |
| 8 | Honda CR-V | $3,897.20 |
| 9 | Hyundai Tuscan | $3,916.17 |
| 10 | Mazda CX-5 | $3,953.93 |
SUVs ranked on the cheapest for auto insurance in Alberta
The Ford Escape, the fifth most popular SUV in Canada, has the cheapest auto insurance in Alberta. You’ll notice this list looks different than Ontario’s.
| Rank | SUV make and model |
Average premium for vehicle model in Alberta* |
| 1 | Ford Escape | $2,289.08 |
| 2 | Subaru CrossTrek | $2,488.32 |
| 3 | Toyota RAV4 | $2,537.74 |
| 4 | Volkswagen Tiguan | $2,556.45 |
| 5 | Hyundai Kona | $2,557.64 |
| 6 | Mazda CX-5 | $2,908.02 |
| 7 | Nissan Rogue | $2,931.79 |
| 8 | Honda CR-V | $2,948.56 |
| 9 | Hyundai Tuscan | $3,084.88 |
| 10 | Toyota Highlander | $3,249.66 |
While Albertans generally pay less to insure these popular SUVs than Ontarians, the Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue, and Honda CR-V maintain their positions as seventh, eighth, and ninth of the best-selling SUVs that are the cheapest to insure on both lists.
Factors that affect your auto insurance rates
It’s no secret; a lot goes into the auto insurance rate you pay — details like where you live, your driving and insurance history, and your driving record. There’s also the type of vehicle you drive.
Your choice of vehicle matters because some are involved in more claims (whether it’s collision-related or theft, for example) or are prone to have higher claims costs. It’s a numbers game, and every insurance provider has its own “playbook” to go by, and the numbers will vary.
That is why it’s essential to keep in mind that the vehicle that costs you the least to insure may not be the auto that’s the cheapest choice for someone else.
Don't waste time calling around for auto insurance
Use RATESDOTCA to shop around, and compare multiple quotes at the same time.
Estimated annual fuel or charging cost
Gasoline prices are at historic highs in Canada, topping more than $2 per litre in some provinces, such as British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador. If you drive certain vehicles, it will cost you less to fill up your tank than others.
Although the pandemic has forced many of us to park our vehicles — thus reducing how much we spend on fuel — it’s still important to plan for the day when you use your vehicle regularly again.
We ranked the SUVs on the fuel cost range you could expect to spend each year. The best-in-class on this ranking is the Hyundai Kona, particularly the electric version. That said, it’s worth noting that if you go the hybrid route (which typically costs more than the gas-powered alternative), you could save around $900 to $2,500 in gas money annually.
| Rank | SUV make and model | Estimated annual fuel cost** |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyundai Kona | $528 (electric) - $3,079 |
| 2 | Ford Escape | $2,076 (hybrid) - $3,258 |
| 3 | Toyota RAV4 | $2,148 (hybrid) - $3,079 |
| 4 | Toyota Highlander | $2,399 (hybrid) - $3,723 |
| 5 | Honda CR-V | $2,757 - $2,900 |
| 6 | Subaru CrossTrek | $2,792 - $3,365 |
| 7 | Nissan Rogue | $2,864 - $2,971 |
| 8 | Mazda CX-5 | $3,043 - $3,544 |
| 9 | Hyundai Tuscan | $3,258 - $3,616 |
| 10 | Volkswagen Tiguan | $3,365 - $3,544 |
Methodology
*To get the average premium by make and province, we used actual data from people who have shopped for auto insurance at RATESDOTCA.
Since coverage can vary based on home address, age, and several other factors, we limited the scope of our analysis to provide a more accurate apples-to-apples comparison.
To get the average premium for each vehicle model in Ontario and Alberta, we used the following methodology:
- Number of vehicles: 1
- Number of drivers: 1
- Clean driving record (no collisions, suspensions, or traffic tickets)
- Age: 30-39
- Gender: Male
We then ranked the models by the cheapest premium to the most expensive premium. Results may vary based on your circumstances.
**The annual estimated fuel cost is based on driving 20,000 kilometres per year — a realistic distance for most Canadians — at fuel prices estimated to be $1.79/L for regular, $2.02/L for premium, and $2.05/L for diesel based on the national daily average retail prices for gasoline on March 25, 2022. This information comes from the Natural Resources Canada Fuel Consumption Ratings Search Tool. It does not include the additional costs of driving a plug-in hybrid electric model or battery electric vehicle. Consumption varies within a model due to options chosen when the car is purchased, how you drive, traffic, and road conditions.
