- Hatches out, sedans in – are YOU ready?
- Millenials favour swopping boxes for lozenges
- Nissan bucking the trend as others hang in
YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan is doubling down on sedans with a growing global range of all-new models because research shows the segment retains strong appeal – especially for younger buyers.
A turnaround from the hatchbacks of yesteryears, though, The Corner believes, modern sedans look more like fastbacks than three-boxers.
Data from drivers who don’t own a sedan: 75% would consider buying one. The survey was part of a recent Nissan look at car owners and would-be buyers around the world. The percentage rises to 82% for millennials,
Nissan is introducing a global series of sedans that for potential customers 60 years after launching the Skyline.
SPEAKING TO NEEDS
The automaker will continue producing ”relevant” sedans but with what it calls ”bold new designs, the latest crash protection technology, and fuel-efficient engines”.
Ivan Espinosa, Nissan’s corporate vice-president for global product strategy and planning, told The Corner: ”The latest sedans speak directly to buyers’needs, particularly younger buyers who might be looking for their first four-wheeler.“
”As some of our competitors walk away from sedans, we’re seizing the opportunity.”
In 2018 Nissan introduced an all-new Altima, a global model that’s wider and lower and has athletic proportions. This the sixth iteration of the popular model is the first sedan to have Nissan’s ProPilot driver-assistance system (known in the US as ProPILOT Assist).
READ MORE Nissan features on Carman’s Corner
It’s also available with VC-Turbo, claimed to be the world’s first production-ready variable-compression ratio engine – said to be ”a breakthrough in combining power and high efficiency”.
In April 2019 came the all-new Nissan Sylphy sedan, debuted at Auto Shanghai 2019 with a new and more fuel-efficient powertrain, a wider stance, better aerodynamics, seamless connectivity, and a full suite of active crash mitigation technology.
ProPILOT 2.0, the next generation of Nissan’s driving assistance system, will also debut in a sedan – the new Skyline set to appear in Japan towards the end of 2019.
Espinosa again: “Nissan cars are offering customers advanced features more than ever. Nissan sedan drivers In the months and years to come will enjoy more autonomous technology, more advanced and battery powertrains, and more connectivity.”
A look at sedan drivers today – how it worked…
Nissan surveyed car owners and others – all aged 18-65 and the top choice of 75% found:
A top choice: 75% of drivers who don’t own a sedan would consider buying one now or soon.
Choice of younger generations: 80% of millennials who don’t own a sedan would consider doing so. Similar is true for Generation Z: nearly 70% said they would consider a sedan as their next car.
Driven by passionate explorers: Sedan drivers care about more than the daily commute – 71% said they were passionate about travel and adventure and 62% said their passions lay in exploring nature and the outdoors.
Adored by owners: Just more than 40% of sedan drivers believe their car has its own personality. 31% admitted talking to it – and 31% had attached a pet name.
To learn more about Nissan’s new sedan models, click here.
- Nissan’s survey covered 11 000 car drivers through Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, UAE and the US (1000 per market). The survey focused on understanding customers and their mindsets about sedans.
- The survey sample included sedan owners (50%), sedan considerers (minimum 10%), and sedan rejecters (minimum 10%). Respondents were aged 18-65 and owned, or jointly owned/leased, a car.
- The 10-minute online survey was conducted from September 17 to October 15, 2018, except for Malaysia, Thailand and UAE which were surveyed from April 30-May 09 2019.
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