Crossover/SUV Segment Now America’s Most Popular

Crossovers and SUVs have this year surpassed sedans as the top-selling body style in the U.S. for the first time ever, says IHS Automotive.

The research firm estimates that SUV/crossovers captured 36.5% of retail market share in January-May compared with 35.4% for sedans.

In 2009, sedans outsold SUV/crossovers in the U.S. by nearly 5 percentage points. By last year, the lead had narrowed to 2.7 points. IHS attributes the appeal of SUV/crossovers to their combination of car and truck features.

The firm says gains by the SUV/crossover segment in the past three years have come at the expense of both large and small sedans as well as hatchbacks, vans, coupes, station wagons and convertibles.