SUVs and crossovers have been a driving force in the American automotive market, but a recent study indicates that the trend could shift toward sedans, considering that more than half of the country’s teenagers see themselves driving a sedan in the future.Sedans reportedly dominated the American automotive market in the 70s, as they constituted around 80% of total car sales in the country. However, the trend gradually shifted in the 90s and 2000s toward rugged, truck-based SUVs, followed by crossovers (CUVs) that combined the ride height and space of an SUV and the drivability of a sedan.There are far fewer sedans on the road today, but with teenagers preferring them to SUVs, they could once again rule America’s roads. According to a report by Carscoops, which cited a study published in February 2026 that surveyed more than 1,000 teenagers aged 14 to 19, sedans could be making a comeback.AdvertisementAdvertisement51% of the teenagers imagined themselves driving a sedan in the future, while 31% preferred SUVs, and 14% preferred trucks. The report states that each generation often intends to choose the opposite of what was once parked in the driveway. The teenagers grew up seeing their parents drive SUVs and CUVs, leading them to choose something different or opposite.a black car parked on a gravel roadThe report further states that several brands like Stellantis, Ford, General Motors, Mitsubishi, and Infiniti have not rolled back their sedan strategies, and they plan to continue selling sedans in the future. Several other car manufacturers could be expected to offer sedans and capitalize on the segment. Aaron Bragman, Detroit bureau chief at Cars.com, told the Detroit Free Press:“Right now, so many automakers have exited the sedan space that it could almost be considered a ‘white space’ category — one that new or returning players can join and make a big splash.“The stalwarts are still there, like Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and Kia, but others like Mazda, Nissan, Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler, all would make news with a return to the segment.”Sedan Price Advantage Over SUVsData from Cox Automotive reveals that the average price of compact cars is around $27,590, while the average price for compact SUVs is around $10,000 more at $37,514. The gap between the two segments widens even more in the mid-size category, with mid-size sedans averaging $34,069 while mid-size SUVs cost $50,000.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe price gap in a price-sensitive scenario, where gas prices are on the rise due to the Iran war, could prompt new drivers to move away from SUVs. Furthermore, sedans reportedly have an aerodynamic advantage over SUVs, resulting in better fuel economy in the long run.
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