Americans Absolutely Hate Midsize Sedans
The midsize sedan is no longer the most popular vehicle with American families, falling behind compact SUVs, large trucks, midsize SUVs and compact cars, according to automotive information firm Edmunds.
The midsize sedan's fall comes after the model spent the 20 of the last 27 years as the best-selling vehicle segment in the country. Their market share now only accounts for 10.7%, the lowest since Edmunds began measuring popularity in 1991.
"While it's common for consumer tastes to change over time, it's surprising to see just how quickly shoppers have made the switch from sedans to SUVs," said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds executive director of industry analysis. "Now that shoppers can now get an SUV for a similar price as a sedan and not have to pay much more at the pump, it's hard to convince them the smaller vehicle is a better choice."
Edmunds also found that roughly 23.5% of midsize sedan owners who trade their cars in and buy a new vehicle purchase a small SUV, a total that was 16.9% just three years ago.
"Even if gas prices spike and the economy takes a downward turn, we don't see this trend reversing," Caldwell said. "Once someone gets used to the higher ride, extra space and creature comforts they can get in an SUV, it's almost a fool's errand to convince them to go back to a sedan."
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