Owner Loyalty Highest for SUV/Crossovers

SUVs and crossover vehicles command significantly greater owner loyalty in the U.S. than any other body style, according to market researcher IHS Markit Ltd.

Among owners who bought a new vehicle earlier this year, two-thirds of SUV/ crossover owners opted for the same style of vehicle. That compares with loyalty ratings of 51% for pickup trucks and 49% for sedans. Those three categories represent 85% of all light-vehicle purchases in the U.S.

Compared with same-style repurchase rates in 2012, SUV/crossovers this year have gained more than 13 points, IHS Markit says. Over the same period, pickups added 8 points and sedans lost 8 points. Overall same-style loyalty has climbed this year to 53% from 48% in 2012.

Two-thirds of sedan owners who bought a new vehicle in January-April—a group of some 300,000 buyers—switched to an SUV/crossover, according to the analysis. It notes that repeat sedan buyers are much more likely to remain loyal to that body style than are first-time sedan owners.