DETROIT — Hot sales of small and midsize SUVs drove auto sales higher last month as General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler and Nissan all reported U.S. sales gains.

Several of the companies reported their best April totals in years. Overall, sales were mostly in line with analysts’ predictions of a 6 percent increase compared with a year ago. All automakers were scheduled to report sales on Friday.

Buyers, buoyed by lower gasoline prices, flocked to crossover SUVS that handle like cars and sit up higher. The gains came at the expense of many small and midsize cars.

“The demand for crossover SUVs is off the charts,” said Bill Fay, a Toyota group vice president.

Erich Merkle, Ford’s top sales analyst, said small SUVs accounted for almost 19 percent of industry sales last month, two percentage points higher than a year ago.

General Motors Co., the top-selling automaker in the U.S., posted a 5.9 percent increase and sold 269,000 vehicles.

Ford Motor Co. posted a 5 percent gain for its best April in nine years. The Dearborn, Michigan, automaker sold more than 222,000 cars and trucks last month, led by record SUV sales.


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