Sales of the Golf and the GTI followed a familiar downward trajectory in September ceding yet more of their sales to the likes of the Tiguan and the Atlas, but Golf R sales were not quite so predictable. Sales skyrocketed by more nearly 220% in September.

Unfortunately, that figure is just a small slice of September’s 30,555 sales pie. And with both the Golf family and the Jetta seeing sales dips, and the Atlas growing by only 4.8%, sales were bound to fall.

Despite a 134% hike in Tiguan sales to 7,213 deliveries in total, VW’s US sales still fell by 4.8%.

As for the Jetta, despite sales being lower than last year’s, it has again been VW’s top seller. It tops the charts with another 10,000-delivery month.

Although September was a less than stellar month for the brand, sales for the year-to-date are still strong, up more than 5.5% over last year and VW is encouraged by the results.

“SUV sales continue to expand VW’s reach with consumers,” said Derrick Hatami, executive vice president of sales, marketing and after sales for VWoA. “The all-new Tiguan and Chattanooga-built Atlas have accounted for more than 40 percent of our sales year-to-date and we see momentum building with total SUV sales up more than 42 percent in September. The reception of the 2019 Jetta and the traction we’ve gained in the SUV market remain positive. We’re encouraged by our overall growth so far this year.”