SUV fatigue emerges as US consumers show interest in sedans

SUV dominance in the automotive market, which has eliminated most alternatives like minivans, station wagons, and convertibles, is showing signs of slowing in the US, the world's second-largest auto market. A study by Escalent found only 31% of US teens plan to buy an SUV, while over half would choose a sedan, which costs $10,000 less on average. Analyst Karl Brauer of iSeeCars notes growing fatigue among designers, consumers, and rental agencies. Stellantis design chief Ralph Gilles says sedan demand is rising because consumers want a personal, fun-to-drive, easy-to-park car. Ford CEO Jim Farley hinted at returning to affordable sedans under $40,000, and Chrysler may follow. Asian manufacturers like Nissan, Toyota, Kia, Honda, and Mazda, which never stopped making sedans, would benefit. SUVs have dominated since the late 2000s, now accounting for over half of new car sales globally and 60% in Europe. Their popularity stems from practicality, but they consume more fuel, congest traffic, and are more dangerous for pedestrians. The trend has also killed off convertibles and reduced family car options. In Italy, station wagon registrations fell 21.2% in Jan-Nov 2025 vs 2024, now just 2.8% of the market, while SUVs hold 60%. MPVs are at 2.2%.