We've waxed lyrical plenty of times about the rampant success of the SUV and ute. New-car buyers are after more practicality, more versatility, and more value than ever before — even though many of those segment-specific elements are overkill for the traditional school run or grocery trek.
But, according to a new study, the trusty sedan and hatchback could have a worthy ally; the millennial buyer.
Conducted by US-based insurance company QuoteWizard, the study looked over data extrapolated from people aged between 22-37 who were seeking insurance quotes on new-car purchases.
It found that the most in-demand car among this audience was the new Honda Accord, followed by the Nissan Altima and Honda Civic. In fact, eight of the top 10 cars are sedans and hatchbacks, with just the Ford F-150 and Jeep Grand Cherokee bucking the surprise trend. The full top 10 can be viewed below.
These are interesting findings, given that many SUVs in particular are marketed specifically to millennial buyers. And while some might say that the results could be indicative of a market who can't afford established SUVs, that would overlook low-price entry-level compact SUVs like the Ford EcoSport or Honda HR-V that have smaller price-tags than cars like the Accord.
While the study has other flaws (like its limited sample size), it's one of the few scraps of good news for those barracking for hatchbacks and sedans with the likes of Ford having culled its 'car' line-up in recent times off the back of buyer demand for SUVs.
QuoteWizard's millennial study top-10 cars
1. Honda Accord
2. Nissan Altima
3. Honda Civic
4. Toyota Camry
5. Hyundai Sonata
6. Chevrolet Impala
7. Ford F-150
8. Toyota Corolla
9. Ford Focus
10. Jeep Grand Cherokee