I am eagerly awaiting the dying of the sedan

One of many highlights of the 2025 New York Worldwide Auto Present was the Kia EV4, at present as a consequence of attain the US in early 2026. It was notable for a number of causes: uncommon styling, twin 12.3-inch touchscreens, and as much as 330 miles (531 kilometers) of vary if you happen to pay for the Wind trim. It even has a brand new voice assistant in a position to refine its responses and command recognition, so hopefully, it will not by chance set off itself while you’re jamming out to

Spotify
. Thoughts you, Apple says the identical factor about

Siri
.

It ought to — by all rights — be a strong

electric car
for the individuals who need one, nevertheless it additionally made me understand one thing — I’ve completely zero curiosity in sedans anymore, irrespective of how well-built or futuristic they’re. Certainly, the format appears to be on its approach out, and for as soon as I am really supportive of the way in which the world goes, so long as reasonably priced choices stick round too.

Why sedans ought to disappear

A pattern already in progress

Honda

After I was rising up in Canada (and visiting the US) through the ’80s and ’90s, sedans had been all over the place. Looking back, they had been the “default” automotive for North America — you solely purchased one thing else to accommodate area of interest calls for. In case you needed ample cargo area, you acquire a van, a truck, or a station wagon; if you happen to needed to economize, you acquire a compact hatchback. Even loads of highschool children ended up getting used sedans as starter autos.

You may nonetheless purchase new sedans, however in North America they have been eclipsed in reputation by SUVs, vehicles, and crossovers. Whereas it is troublesome to trace down up-to-the-minute information, in 2019, SUVs accounted for 47.7% of US gross sales (per a New York Times report) versus simply 22.1% for sedans. Even some sports activities automotive manufacturers have added SUVs to their lineups. I see Porsche Cayennes on the highway on a regular basis — irrespective of that purchasing an SUV for efficiency is akin to purchasing a Bowie knife to cut up dinner greens.

A sedan is smart if you happen to’re a house owner who’s principally touring backwards and forwards to work, often shuttling children round, taking holidays, or having an evening out. However if you happen to’re frequently shifting from condominium to condominium — like many millennials and Gen Zers — a sedan cannot match that many containers, not to mention giant items of furnishings. And even as soon as you have settled right into a home, there is a good likelihood you will be happening weekend runs to shops like Dwelling Depot, Greatest Purchase, or IKEA. Few issues are extra irritating than carting a TV or stack of lumber out to your automotive solely to understand it will not match.

Youngsters exacerbate the scenario. My spouse and I solely have one baby, however like many individuals today, we do not have handy kinfolk or babysitters close by. Our son and his booster seat have to return together with us on many errands, shrinking the quantity of cargo area even additional. In that sense, I actually cannot blame dad and mom for getting full-sized SUVs, even when most of them do not want a Nissan Armada or Chevy Tahoe to take their children to judo classes.

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The highway forward

Adapting type components for the 2020s

Chevrolet

When my spouse and I purchased a brand new automotive in 2022, we selected the Hyundai Venue, which is a compact crossover SUV. It is the best format for us — extra cargo area than a sedan, however nonetheless sufficiently small to be reasonably priced and slot in a single-car storage. We nonetheless run into area issues generally, nevertheless it’s often nothing some artistic seat manipulation cannot repair. I am unable to think about attempting to do the identical issues with my previous Buick Regal.

In that regard, I really feel that crossovers and different small SUVs are rightfully taking on, particularly since they permit sufficient area for bigger batteries on EV fashions. The Chevy Equinox EV (above) is spectacular to me as one thing beneath $34,000 with a 319-mile (513-kilometer) vary. I would like to see 300-mile ranges on compact hatchbacks, too, however the tech most likely will not be there till solid-state batteries arrive round 2030.

There are some points of this trajectory I do not like. Many SUVs are nonetheless unnecessarily big, blocking lanes and sightlines in visitors, and naturally posing a extra severe risk in the event that they hit one thing. The identical can be mentioned of many vehicles, which frequently do not even carry cargo. In locations like Alberta and Texas, it looks like lots of people get one simply to slot in with the native cowboy tradition, and/or to really feel robust on the streets.

Will sedans disappear utterly? I doubt it, at the least till robotaxis and different totally self-driving vehicles are an omnipresent actuality. They do serve a function. However each the optimistic and destructive developments in place appear to be urgent arduous, and I would fairly issues skew within the path of practicality than fake we’re all well-off professionals who get every thing large and heavy delivered by white-glove providers.

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The affordability problem

One last thought

Honda

I do have one different concern, and that is pricing developments. Even compact crossovers are generally dearer than sedans, so there’s the danger that our purchasing habits will inadvertently push some folks out of the auto market, significantly if firms cannot determine a approach to construct a worthwhile EV equal of sub-compacts just like the Honda Match. The trade goes to go all-electric, in the end.

I am comparatively optimistic on that entrance, just because expertise retains evolving, and buyer demand is certain to maintain issues in test. There’ll at all times be somebody recent out of faculty who wants an affordable trip — the trade cannot fake that everybody is able to shell out $40,000 or extra for his or her preferrred do-it-all-mobile.

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