More affordability-minded consumers are gravitating toward sedans as several automakers reconsider the segment.
First things first: With the average vehicle price hovering around $50,000, more buyers are turning to sedans, with younger and future drivers also eying the segment.
U.S. sedan sales reached nearly 1.5 million units in 2025, driven largely by the Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra and Honda Accord, CarBuzz reported.
A recent Escalent study found that 51% of 1,000 surveyed teens ages 14 to 19 envision themselves driving a sedan, compared with 31% who would choose an SUV and 14% a truck.
What they’re saying: “There is opportunity for sedans to offer an alternative to the sea of SUVs, and they are typically less expensive than an SUV in the same size class,” said Stephanie Brinley, associate director of AutoIntelligence at S&P Global Mobility, per CNBC. “Sedans do offer more opportunity for compelling design and they are typically more fuel efficient than utility vehicles.”
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Why it matters: Sedans could represent a growing affordability opportunity for dealers as payment-sensitive buyers looking for lower-cost alternatives to SUVs and trucks, and younger consumers enter the market.
Between the lines: The renewed interest in sedans—which accounted for nearly 40% of the market in 2015, according to The Detroit Free Press—is prompting some automakers to rethink product strategies after years of prioritizing crossovers and SUVs.
Ford CEO Jim Farley has hinted that the automaker could revisit the segment, recently saying on a podcast that the company is “thinking about it.”
GM is reportedly preparing to launch a new Buick sedan, which would mark the brand’s first since 2020, though the automaker has not confirmed those plans.
Stellantis has maintained a presence in the segment with vehicles like the Dodge Charger and Alfa Romeo Giulia.
“We don’t see sedans recovering a decade-old heyday,” Brinley said, “but getting back into the segment may be a good move for GM and others considering the opportunity.”
Bottom line: Sedans may not reclaim their former dominance, but shifting affordability pressures are creating fresh relevance for the segment. For dealers, that could mean renewed opportunity to connect with budget-conscious and first-time buyers.
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