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U.S. Demand for Midsize Sedans Evaporates
Midsize sedans—the best-selling sector of the U.S. car market for 20 of the past 27 years—now rank fifth in popularity behind compact SUVs, large pickup trucks, midsize SUVs and compact cars, notes Edmunds.com.
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Midsize sedans—the best-selling sector of the U.S. car market for 20 of the past 27 years—now rank fifth in popularity behind compact SUVs, large pickup trucks, midsize SUVs and compact cars, notes Edmunds.com.
Midsize sedans currently command less than 11% of U.S. passenger vehicle sales, according to the online shopping resource. That’s the smallest ratio since at least 1991, when Edmunds began tracking the data.
A revival in demand for such vehicles, even if gasoline prices rise or the economy softens, isn’t likely, says chief industry analyst Jessica Caldwell. “Once someone gets used to an SUV,” she opines, “it’s almost a fool’s errand to convince them to go back to a sedan.”
Caldwell notes that SUV/crossovers are priced about the same as midsize sedans, offer nearly the same fuel economy and provides a roomier interior. She points out that the proportion of owners of midsize sedans who trade in their vehicles for small SUVs has jumped from 17% three years ago to 24% today.
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