SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -

American women love their sedans, according to new research from Market Insight Corp.

In a recent study, the company found that although crossover body styles remain popular with  female auto shoppers in the U.S., sedan body styles are on the rise.

In July, the midsize sedan was the single most popular body style among U.S. female shoppers, the firm said, after beginning the year behind compact and midsize crossover body styles.

The data is based on visits by thousands of female auto shoppers to MyProductAdvisor.com during the first seven months of 2012, and show differences in style preferences based on age.

The report details the top 10 body styles most preferred overall by American women in July as follows:
1. Midsize sedan
2. Compact crossover
3. Midsize crossover
4. Compact sedan
5. Large sedan
6. Compact traditional SUV
7. Midsize traditional SUV
8. Large crossover
9. Small sedan
10. Compact 5-door/wagon

The data varies by age, Market Insight found, with the four sedan categories most preferred among all body styles by the 18-to-24 age group in the first half of 2012.

For women ages 35 to 49, compact and medium crossovers had the highest preference during that same time period.

Rich Falcone, president and chief executive officer at Market Insight, said, “Many factors affect shifting sentiment among U.S. auto shoppers; among those are fuel price, technology, new feature introduction and economic conditions. Access to a continuous source of shopper preference data is essential for timely planning, decision and execution.”