The next time you’re driving down the street, you’ll notice more SUVs and pickup trucks than you will sedans riding along beside you.
In fact, SUVs are shown to outsell sedans two-to-one. Recent data shows that SUVs make up just under 50% of all auto sales, while sends are struggling to hit the 24% mark.
It may seem like this change happened overnight, but sedans have been slowly declining in sales versus crossovers and SUVs since 2015. Since then, most auto manufacturers have been putting their focus on their SUV, pickup, and compact non-sedan cars. Many of the sedans mature drivers saw growing up are no longer in production.
Vehicles like the Hyundai Sonata, Honda Civic, and Ford Fusion have their work cut out for them if they hope to stay relevant in today’s marketplace. Luckily, the rise of SUVs isn’t having the effect on sedans that you might think. Many believe that every new SUV release is just another nail in the sedan market’s coffin. While it may be true that many of the sedans we grew up idolizing are mere memories, the reality is that automakers are putting their efforts into making a handful of really awesome sedans.
Competition Forces Positive Changes
When sedans owned the auto market, manufacturers could get away with just about anything. These four-door cars were taking in over 50% of the market for years. That meant engineers just threw out new models year after year without any real pressure.
Now that the sedan is losing market share, manufacturers have to build a really amazing vehicle to catch attention. For consumers, that means greater competition. As everyone learns in Business 101, healthy competition often leads to innovation and better pricing.
Take the Hyundai Sonata, for example. The newest version of this popular sedan comes with a variety of models that might not have made it to market without the competition of fewer sedans and more SUVs on the road.
The Hyundai Sonata isn’t just available in the standard sedan you expect. You can now get this four-door car in a hybrid model. This eco-friendly model appears to those looking to save on fuel costs and lower their carbon footprints. The Sonata is also available as part of Hyundai’s N-Line, which is a sportier and more intense line of our favorite cars.
Fewer Options Doesn’t Mean No Options
Some drivers almost take it personally that some of their favorite sedans are no longer in production. People have always liked the choice to drive the types of automobiles they desire. When a segment loses ground, it feels like the earth is being removed from beneath their tires.
Manufacturers aren’t completely giving up on their line of sedans, but they are consolidating the previously large number of models into a few really good options. You may not be able to pick up new versions of Hyundai sedans like the Azera, Equus, or Genesis, but you can see all of Hyundai’s engineering talent focused on cars like the Hyundai Sonata, Elantra, and Accent.
Sedans Aren’t Going Anywhere
It’s hard to imagine a world without sedans running all over the open road. While we might see a smaller number of various models, there’s no reason to expect this class of car to go extinct. More importantly, the current preference for SUVs only makes auto manufacturers work harder to make their sedans stand out.
With amazing options like the Hyundai Sonata on the road, sedans lovers have nothing to fear. In fact, they have plenty to look forward to as their favorite cars fight the good fight.
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