Key insights:

  • SUVs are the most common primary vehicle type in the US, owned by 41% of car owners, followed by sedans at 30% and trucks at 12%.
  • 66% of SUV car owners planning to buy a car in the next year intend to purchase another SUV.
  • 46% of sedan owners also plan to repurchase the same vehicle type, while 25% expect to switch to an SUV.
  • 45% of truck owners are planning to buy another truck, but 30% say their next vehicle may be an SUV.
  • 28% of hatchback owners plan to buy another hatchback, while another 28% plan to switch to an SUV/ crossover.

SUVs dominate American garages, and they may continue to do so. YouGov Profiles data shows that 41% of US car owners say their primary vehicle is an SUV or crossover, making it the clear frontrunner. Sedans are the second-most common at 30%, followed by trucks at 12%. Smaller formats such as hatchbacks (8%), convertibles/coupes (4%), and vans/minivans (4%) have more modest footprints, while station wagons barely register at 1%.

The data also sheds light on future demand by looking specifically at adults who intend to purchase a car in the next 12 months and highlights just how consistent Americans tend to be when it comes to buying their next vehicle.

Among current SUV owners, two-thirds (66%) say they are likely to buy another SUV. That level of loyalty dwarfs interest in other categories: just 10% of SUV owners are considering a sedan next, 11% a truck, and even smaller shares for vans/minivans, convertibles/coupes, or hatchbacks. Some 6% remain undecided. For automakers, this suggests the SUV segment is not only large but self-sustaining, with owners showing a strong inclination to stay within the category.

Sedan owners, by contrast, show a more mixed picture but still lean toward familiarity. Nearly half (46%) of those planning a purchase say they will buy another sedan. Still, a quarter (25%) say their next vehicle will be an SUV, hinting at an ongoing movement toward larger formats. Interest in switching to trucks or other types remains low, and one in ten sedan owners have yet to decide on their next purchase.

Truck owners are the second-most loyal group after SUV owners. Nearly half (45%) plan to purchase another truck. However, 30% say their next vehicle may be an SUV, suggesting that some truck owners could be drifting toward a more family-friendly or fuel-efficient form of a big vehicle. Only small minorities are considering sedans, vans/minivans, or coupes, and 8% haven’t yet planned their next purchase.

Hatchback owners stand out as the most open to different options or at least the most divided. While 28% say they’d buy another hatchback, another 28% say they would move to an SUV, and smaller shares are considering trucks, sedans, or coupes. This segment also has the highest proportion of undecided shoppers (14%), suggesting that hatchback owners may be the most fluid or most unsure in their preferences.

Taken together, the data points to a U.S. auto market where vehicle-type loyalty is strong, especially for larger formats. The SUV category retains owners at far higher rates than any other and also absorbs a meaningful share of sedan, truck, and hatchback drivers who are considering a change. In contrast, smaller segments, from hatchbacks to coupes, face more volatility and weaker loyalty, with many of their current owners open to switching or still uncertain about their next purchase.

Methodology: YouGov Profiles is based on continuously collected data through rolling surveys, rather than a single limited questionnaire. Figures are drawn from responses collected between November 2024 to November 2025, using a 52-week dataset updated weekly. Data is nationally representative of adults (18+) in the US and weighted by age, gender, education, region, and race.

Cover photo by Mike Bird from Pexels

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