SOUTHFIELD, Mich. -

Once an SUV owner, always an SUV owner?

Maybe not quite. But a recent study by business information provider IHS Automotive revealed that 63 percent of SUV/CUV owners who returned to the market for a new vehicle during the first quarter of 2016 purchased another SUV or CUV. The figures were pulled from an analysis of more than 1.9 million return-to-market events during the quarter.

As a comparison, loyalty rates among sedan owners were 53 percent during the same timeframe, just slightly ahead of the industry average of 52.1 percent for the quarter — a trend that has continued to increase over time.

The strong appeal of crossovers and SUVs has propelled vehicle manufacturers to greatly expand their product offerings in this category, which in turn has further increased consumer demand. The number of CUVs and SUVs in dealer showrooms has grown, including a greater number of subcompact crossovers from both mainstream and luxury brands.

Manufacturers are also offering multiple products in the same size category to cater to both the off-road and the more leisurely buyer. The increase in product offerings extends to the powertrain, seating configurations, and safety, infotainment, connectivity, and convenience technologies as well.

In addition, relatively low gas prices have shifted demand toward utility and off-roading capabilities and away from fuel economy that is often associated with cars.

Among 32 segments that IHS Automotive analyzed, the three segments with the greatest increase in loyalty to body style are CUVs; of the 32, the eight with the highest tendency to re-purchase the same body style are in the SUV or CUV category. Luxury full-size SUV owners have the highest likelihood of purchasing another vehicle within the SUV/CUV body style — with 70.3 percent body style loyalty during the first quarter.

“We continue to see the SUV/CUV segment reaching record registration volumes in the U.S. market,” said Tom Libby, manager, loyalty and industry analysis with IHS Automotive.

“New designs and OEM marketing initiatives focused on capturing repeat buyers are helping this segment continue its substantial growth,” he said.

Personal registrations of SUVs and CUVs continue to outpace registrations of cars at record levels. During the first quarter 2011, SUVs and CUVs comprised just 35.2 percent of personal new vehicle registrations, according to IHS Automotive, while during the first quarter of 2016, the combined body style grew to 41.8 percent share of the market. Meanwhile, cars represented 48.7 percent of new vehicle registrations during the first quarter of 2011, and just 40.9 percent in the same timeframe in 2016.

Forecasts from IHS Automotive also reflect continued growth among SUVs and CUVs in the marketplace through the forecast horizon.

“The high loyalty rates for SUVs and CUVs lend credence to the current shift from passenger cars to utility vehicles,” said Christopher Hopson, manager, North America light vehicle sales forecast at IHS Automotive. “We expect this shift to be sustained, even when fuel prices are expected to rise back above $3/gallon by 2020.”