High-tech features and a sense of excitement are more important to young car buyers than fuel efficiency, according to new data from research firm GfK.

The company's report, released this week, notes that as Baby Boomers give way to Generations X and Y as the buyer market’s dominant forces, smaller vehicle models may be seeing renewed popularity, but for reasons other than gas mileage.

Generations X and Y now represent 63 percent of new-vehicle intenders, or those who plan to buy a car in the next 12 months, GfK said. The Generation Y group has grown by half since 2008, from 16 percent to 24 percent of all intenders, with Generation X remaining steady at 39 percent during that same time period.

When it comes to buying small cars specifically, GfK reported that 29 percent of Gen Y consumers are intenders, versus 19 percent each for Generation X and Baby Boomers.

Jeff Campana, senior vice president at GfK Automotive, said, “If manufacturers are going to capture the hearts and wallets of this growing generation of younger consumers, they’ll need to develop vehicles that appeal to their tastes and preferences. Our research shows that these preferences play a key role in determining which vehicles will be considered.”

The study shows that the various generations of car buyers can have very different priorities. For example, both Generation Y and Baby Boomers rank “dependable” and “proud to own” near the tops of their lists; terms such as “exciting” vary widely, however. It is  the No. 7 priority for Gen Y and No. 21 for Boomers.

“Technologically advanced features,” meanwhile, ranks at No. 12 for Generation Y, compared to No. 22  for Boomers, GfK reported.

Other qualities associated with the comfort and handling of a car also vary in priority among generations. “Excellent ride,” for example, is near the top of Baby Boomers’ rankings (eighth), but for Gen Y it drops to No. 17.

Also, “excellent gas mileage,” which ranks number 11 for boomers, ranks number 13 for Gen Y.

The GfK automotive study of small car buyers and intenders was authored by GfK researchers Mike Michalak and Zack Krelle, the company said. For more information, visit www.gfk.com.