Total US sales of new family cars— including midsize cars, full-size cars, midsize crossovers/SUVs, full-size crossovers/SUVs, minivans and lifestyle-oriented trucks and vans—is estimated to comprise 7.7 million new car sales by the end of 2014. In 2014 it is estimated that family cars will comprise 47.7% of the market, and by 2016 family cars should once again comprise more than half the market—something family cars have not achieved since at least 2010.

The new family car market is set to continue to outpace the overall new car market over the next few years as Millennials start to settle down, marry, and have children. Millennials, more so than Generation X before them, want more tech features that help aid the convenience aspect of their family car, including rear-seat entertainment for children. This younger consumer base also wants their family vehicles to be fun to drive. However, as the total amount of married couple families remains flat, and the number of single-parent or nontraditional households increases, family car manufacturers must also pay careful attention in crafting messages that cater to the wider reality that is the modern family car market, including the influences of stepparents or stepchildren, former in-laws (following a divorce), and multigenerational households.

This report builds on the analysis presented in Mintel’s Buying the Family Car– US, July 2012.

While there is no official definition of a "family car," for the purposes of this report Mintel defines family cars as vehicles large enough to comfortably transport a family of four or more people. This includes midsize cars, full-size cars, midsized and full-size SUVs, midsized and full-size crossovers, and minivans. Additionally, several models of pickup trucks and conversion/cargo vans are family oriented. Below are examples of vehicles within the segments outlined throughout this report:

• Midsize car: eg, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu, etc.

• Full-size car: eg, Chevrolet Impala, Chrysler 300, Buick Lacrosse, Ford Taurus, etc.

• Midsize crossovers/SUVs: eg, Hyundai Santa Fe, Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Edge, etc.

• Full-size crossovers/SUVs: eg, Honda Pilot, Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, etc.

• Minivans: eg, Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan

• Lifestyle trucks: eg, Chevrolet Avalanche, and Cadillac Escalade EXT

• Market Size and Forecast: Morgan & Co., Inc., West Olive, Mich.; Automotive News; HybridCarSales.com; Hyundai.com

• Segment Performance: Morgan & Co., Inc., West Olive, Mich.; Automotive News; HybridCarSales.com; Hyundai.com

• Leading Companies and Brand Share: Morgan & Co., Inc., West Olive, Mich.; Automotive News; HybridCarSales.com; Hyundai.com

For the purposes of this report, Mintel commissioned exclusive consumer research through GMI to explore consumer purchase of, attitudes and behaviors toward compact cars and compact crossovers. Mintel was responsible for the survey design, data analysis, and reporting. Fieldwork was conducted in May 2014 among a sample of 2,000 adults aged 18+ with access to the internet.

Mintel selects survey respondents so that they are proportionally balanced to the entire US adult population based on the key demographics of gender, age, household income, and region. Mintel also slightly oversamples, relative to the population, respondents that are Hispanic or Black to ensure an adequate representation of these groups in the survey results. Please note that Mintel surveys are conducted online and in English only. Hispanics who are not online and/or do not speak English are not included in the survey results.

While race and Hispanic origin are separate demographic characteristics, Mintel often compares them to each other. Please note that the responses for race (White, Black, Asian, Native American, or other race) will overlap those that also are Hispanic, because Hispanics can be of any race.

The following is a list of abbreviations used in this report:

Generations, if discussed within this report, are defined as: