After more than a decade of near-total domination by SUVs and crossovers, an influential voice in the automotive industry says the trend may be starting to wane. And that voice is none other than Ralph Gilles, Group Design Director Stellantis, who oversees no fewer than fourteen brands within the automotive giant.
In an interview with specialist media Car Design News, the Canadian designer didn't mince his words: he's simply tired of the omnipresence of SUVs. A statement that might seem surprising in a global market where these models now account for the majority of sales.
Tired of SUV dominance
Ralph Gilles openly admits that the SUV wave may have reached its peak. In his opinion, the industry may have over-relied on this type of vehicle in recent years. In the interview, he confides that he is «tired of SUVs», believing that the massive craze for these models may now be a thing of the past. This fatigue concerns not only designers, but also some customers.
The head of design at Stellantis explains that more and more motorists are asking for sedans again, a type of car that seemed to be gradually disappearing in many markets in favor of SUVs.
Young designers dream of more compact cars
This evolution in tastes is also being felt internally at the automakers. In particular, Ralph Gilles observes a renewed interest among young automotive designers.
They want to work on cars that are more compact, dynamic and fun to drive, far removed from the tall, massive silhouettes of SUVs. Among the inspirations cited were the sporty compacts of the 1980s, such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI, which represented a more personal approach to motoring.
The idea of a car that's easy to park, fun to drive and designed for pleasure seems once again to be appealing to a new generation of designers... and potentially customers.
A new generation of motorists
In fact, some studies seem to point in the same direction. A survey carried out in the USA reveals that 51 % of teenagers imagine driving a sedan in the future, compared with 31 % for an SUV and only 14 % for a pick-up truck.
This evolution could be explained by a fairly classic generational phenomenon: many young people have grown up in families with SUVs or crossovers, and now aspire to something different.
Of course, these figures relate primarily to the American market, and should be interpreted with caution. European car culture remains different, with a stronger tradition of compacts and sedans. But this trend could nonetheless have an indirect effect on the industry's future direction.
Stellantis is already thinking about tomorrow's formats
These reflections come at a strategic time for Stellantis, which continues to rethink its range and brands. Ralph Gilles points out that his role is to preserve the identity of each of the Group's fourteen brands, while avoiding overlap.
In fact, some of these brands are likely to undergo major changes. The designer mentions a new generation of highly futuristic Maserati models, currently under development, while Alfa Romeo remains an interesting challenge for him, as the notion of performance evolves with the new generations.
In this context, challenging the reign of the SUV could also open the door to new, more compact, more emotional and more fun-to-drive body shapes.
One thing's for sure: even if SUVs will continue to dominate global sales for some time to come, the speech by Stellantis' design boss shows that the debate is now open even within the automotive industry. And it could well herald, in the medium term, the sedan's return to favor.
English 
French 
Italian 
Spanish 
Portuguese 
German 
Japanese 
Turkish 
Dutch
Who would have imagined that Alfa Romeo would become an SUV brand, apart from the Giulia?
We want compact cars, like the Giulietta.
As far as I know, sales of the Golf, 208 and 308 are not negligible, proving that the market still exists for compact, low-slung cars.
Contrary to what Imparato said, Giulietta and MiTo owners have no desire to buy the Tonale or the Junior.
Lancia had the good idea of making a compact car with the Ypsilon, except that Stellantis is doing everything it can not to sell one (almost no points of sale, too few engines, high price).
I completely agree, what a pity, but Stellantis isn't really trying to revive the brand, as they're also doing with Lancia, two brands with a sporty DNA, one of which exists today with SUVs and the other with a city car ... whereas Renault is reviving these icons, and that's the current trend and demand for the Gen-Z...
Designers don't want to design SUVs, but most of the world's buyers buy SUVs, and all attempts to do so have ended in failure: Peugeot 408, Peugeot 508, Citroen C4 and C5 sedan, DS 9, the new Ypsilon, which I find a failure, Alfa Romeo Giula, which sells less than a Stelvio even though it's magnificent. Only customers buy and finance future models; too many failures weaken brands. The average age of a buyer is 54, so it's not young people who can afford to buy a new car.
+1
Oh yes, all manufacturers should go back to cars, not tanks... . SUVs, especially electric ones, weigh several tons and needlessly carry batteries just to move their own weight.
Quick, stylish, racy cars, tastefully imagined by designers steeped in the brand's history and spirit. Technical innovation, less electronics for not much, it's useful to make the driver safer, but to assist him too much... ... .
Get to your pencils! We've got a nice station wagon, a gorgeous convertible, a small city car and, of course, a cool sedan.
Since when is a suv heavier than a sedan? I just switched from a corolla to a C-HR and.... Miracle, they're the same weight 🤔.
The advantage of a suv, in my case, is that I can load it much more than the Corolla (even though it's a station wagon). As for fuel consumption, I always stay between 3L8 in summer and 4L5 to 5L in winter.
Sorry, aber Kombis hübsch sein sollen, dann sind SUV auch hübsch :p
Solange die Städte riesige Sinussteine verbauen, an denen mein Kleinwagen (selbst mit 10kmh) aufsetzt (!) und auf das Feedback von Bürgern nie achten, ist man umso mehr gezwungen, ob man es wollte oder nicht, ein Auto zu kaufen, das mehr Bodenfreiheit anbietet.
Das Parkplatzproblem hat übrigens mit der Länge und der Breite von Autos zu tun. Und ein SUV kann auch deutlich kürzer sein als ein Kombi und gleich breit. Ich mag die Dinge per se optisch auch nicht. Aber praktisch sind sie definitiv.
Zeitlebens würde ich mich nie ans Steuer eines SUV oder eines Crossover setzen. Das ist persönliche Empfindung, daß mich beim Autofahren erhöhte Sitzposition immer sehr stören würde. Aber wahrscheinlich bin ich damit kein Einzelfall. Von den westeuropäischen Herstellern von E-Autos ist die Auswahl rein elektrischer Limousinen noch sehr begrenzt. Deshalb ist eine chinesische E-Limousine derzeit mein Favorit.
In the US, the best-selling SUV is the Rav4 ... which is considered a small SUV there. Here it's already big, but fortunately Toyota has kept the same size for 3 generations now. Not the problem yet. Beyond that it becomes big yes. .
The crazy ideas of our futurists at PSA have now infected their colleagues on the other side of the Atlantic, those mad scientists who bet on hybrid silhouettes that no one is interested in, under the pretext of anticipating the future (when often the unofficial reason is to cover two segments with a single wobbly vehicle halfway down the road):
Cactus, C3 Lounge, C4X, C5X, European 408, DS4 I, DS 3CB, DS 4 II (the inexpensive crossback variant replaced an initial project for a small C-SUV), DS N°8, the future Fiat Koala, based on the Citroën Basalt (a SAC intended to replace a sedan, the Tipo), the Opel Manta (cancelled), the Quattroporte of 2025 (cancelled and announced as a crossover), the Guilia 2026 (announced as a crossover), the Dodges Chargers and Challengers (real sedans but two models in one)
By persisting in making mistakes, they may end up being right... or sinking the company...
Da giovane alfista di vecchia data credo fermamente in Stellantis. Continuate così, state sfornando belle auto, una dietro l'altra.
WANN SIND DIESE POTTHÄSSLICHEN SUV GESCHICHTE?
Ich bin auch jung. 71. Jahre alt.
Alfa 156 GTA
Alfa GTV v6 3.0
Porsche 997 ( Metzger)
Porsche 991 GT3
Ferrari 430
in Strom : Renault R5...
Und wenn man sich diese China-mülltonen anschaut oder den Deppen-täsle ( der
unfähig in den Graben oder Gegenverkehr eiert)
WARUM WERDEN WIR KUNDEN SO VERARSCHT?
Ik wil een compact auto waar 7 volwassenen in passen met 75kwh accupakket als minimum. Opel zafira e-life mooi maar te breed. Peugeot e-rifter compact maar te klein accu pakket je moet gewoon met 7 man heen en terug naar amsterdam.