Nissan Still Claiming Millennials Love Sedans

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

According to a study commissioned by Nissan, Millennials are committed to saving the sedan in an era when crossovers have usurped much of the market. While much of the study revolves around asking people whether they’d consider purchasing a sedan in the future — something any smart shopper would say “yes” to — survey respondents also said there was very little difference in terms of customer satisfaction between crossovers and sedans.

That’s good news for any automaker that launched a bundle of new and refreshed sedans over the past few years. Can you think of one?

Any automotive study commissioned by a manufacturer is suspect, but there could be something to this. Previous studies that were less concerned with promoting an automaker’s own interests also indicated that Millennials are more apt to buy cars than older generations. But it may have more to do with circumstances than generational tastes.

As a group, Millennial tend to poorer than their parents were at the same stages of life and come loaded with debt. They are also far less likely to have children and more likely to live in cities — all of which makes owning a large crossover vehicle rather nonsensical.

However, Nissan seems to view this as a matter of personal preference, even going so far as to suggest “it’s not just avocado toast” that Millennials love. It’s a dated trope that’s been proven wrong in the past and it highlights just how superficial most takes on generational differences really are. It looks like Nissan’s fallen prey to this kind of thinking, leaving it correct in its assertion that younger shoppers like cars — but maybe for the wrong reasons.

In truth, there’s not much to glean from Nissan’s study. Announcing that 86 percent of 18-34 year-olds who don’t own a sedan would consider buying one (now or in the future) isn’t saying much when 81 percent of adults aged 35-50 indicated the same. The rest of the survey, which focused on consumer satisfaction and the importance of functionality between SUV/truck and sedan owners, showed no appreciable differences. 89 percent of sedan owners said they were just as happy as 88 percent of non-sedan owners. Meanwhile, the breakdown for functionality as the biggest thing customers love about their car was 95 to 94 percent, with sedans once again in the lead.

“What we’re hearing from younger buyers is that they appreciate the features, versatility, fuel economy and value in our sedans,” said Nissan’s chief marketing manager Rob Warren. “Sedan design has also come a long way, as these traditional four-door cars shed their generic look, add more technology and take on a more aggressive, stylish profile. As sedans become more exciting to look at and to drive, younger buyers are putting sedans at the top of their consideration list.”

With such a strong emphasis placed on sedan sales already, Nissan’s probably seeing what it wants. The fact of the matter is that Altima, Maxima, and Versa sales tanked in the U.S. last year. Meanwhile, the Sentra held strong while crossovers continued to dominate the market. Whether or not younger buyers are more predisposed to consider cars over crossovers is largely irrelevant if they aren’t actually buying them.

[Image: Nissan]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

More by Matt Posky

Comments
Join the conversation
3 of 65 comments
  • Jeff S Jeff S on May 26, 2019

    I am one of those many who have abandoned sedans for crossovers for the reasons stated above plus having a rear that opens wide enough to get larger items in and more room. Most sedans have been ruined by the sloping roofs, small windows, mail slot trunks, and harder ingress/egress. The styling of the sedans look good but they are hard to live with if you are a senior. Millennials on the other hand are more limber and many don't have the the money to buy new and sedans can be less expensive due to being less popular. If sedans were more expensive then the Millennials would buy a less expensive vehicle.

    • HuskyHawk HuskyHawk on May 28, 2019

      Jeff S is spot on. I hate the gunslit windows and overall claustrophobic feel of so many modern sedans. Belt lines are way too high. Getting in an out is also a chore. Sure it was a chore when I was 22 and drove a Prelude, but I don't bend as easily anymore 30 years later. I tend to hit my head or bang my knees getting in and out of sedans. My CX-5 holds more people and stuff than comparable sedans, gets decent MPG, isn't absurdly slow and handles just fine really. Visibility is excellent. The only thing Sedans have going for them is that nobody wants them so they are cheap on the used market. Met a friend on Thursday that had a nice lightly used Regal turbo, paid 10k for it. That's a lot of car for the money.

  • Don1967 Don1967 on May 28, 2019

    Lots of Sentra sedans on the road around here. Seems that a fair number of North American budget shoppers are indeed taken with the "little Maxima" look, perhaps convinced that the cubic footage of a Sentra trunk makes it a clever substitute for those silly crossovers. Trouble is, it only takes one 48" TV or baby exersaucer to illustrate the limitations of a sedan. And it only takes one look at the 1927 Ford Model A Wagon to realize that compact crossovers are not a silly fad. They are the old normal.

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
Next