Women crossover while men like to hatch

Women buyers are switching to Crossover/SUV and Double Cab body shapes and dumping the Hatch and Sedan, while men still prefer the Hatch – although they too are showing increasing interest in Crossover/SUVs and Double Cabs.

Our analysis of data over the past 10 years shows that Sedans, Single Cabs and the Other sub-category (which includes MPVs, Estates, Minibuses, Cabriolet/Coupes, Sub One-Tons and Panel van/Utilities) have seen their share of market decline.

Women car buyers

The Crossover/SUV is particularly popular among women (see above graph), with 41% of sales so far this year. The Hatch and Sedan shapes have not kept pace with Crossover/SUV sales over the past decade, but together the three shapes consistently account for between 80% and 83% of sales to women.

Men have also been steadily switching to Crossover/SUVs over the last 10 years, but the Hatch remains the favourite at around 29%/30% share. The Crossover/SUV and Double Cab growth has come primarily at the cost of the Sedan, which has lost significant ground.

Men car buyers

Body shape by age group

The Hatch is still the most popular body shape among those under 30 (see graph below), with over half of all sales to this age-band falling into this body shape. And while the Crossover/SUV segment is growing, it still only makes up a little over 20% of sales. This age group has shown the least change to body shape preferences over the last decade.

Preferred body shape for age group: 30 and under

The Hatch remains popular among 31 to 45 year-olds (see graph below), accounting for 29% of all sales in the age-group. While it has been overtaken by the Crossover/SUV option, it is less than 5% behind, and these two body shapes combined make up more than 60% of sales within this group. The Sedan shape has lost half its market share amongst this demographic over the past years.

Preferred body shape for age group: 31 to 45

The Crossover/SUV has replaced the Hatch as the shape of choice in both age categories from 46 years and up (see graphs below), and the Sedan shape has lost significant ground, dropping from over 20% in 2014 to less than 10% this year.

The 46 to 60 age group is buying Double Cabs in increasing numbers, currently accounting for above 15% of sales within this group, bringing a combined Crossover/SUV/Double Cab share to almost 55%. The over 60s have also been buying more Double Cabs, but not to quite the same extent as those in the previous demographic.

Preferred body shape for age group: 46 to 60

Preferred body shape for age group: 61 and over