One Out Of Three Considering An SUV

The number of vehicle shoppers considering an SUV has fallen to 34 percent, the lowest level recorded in the New-Vehicle Buyer Attitude Study from Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research, Irvine, Calif.

But... that’s still a third of the market.

Granted the only segment among sport utilities to see any growth in interest is small SUVs. Interest in purchasing a mid-size or full-size SUV decreased, and luxury SUVs remained flat.

The No. 1 reason for not considering an SUV is the escalation of gas prices. The percentage of those citing fuel prices as a major reason to reject SUVs was up eight points from last year to 61 percent.

On a side note, the study also found that nearly 90 percent of shoppers in the market to buy or lease a new vehicle do not believe that SUV drivers should be described as patriotic.