<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q


[X]   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
      EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996

                                       OR

[ ]   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
      EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM            TO 


                         Commission file number 0-23158

                       CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XIV, L.P.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


          California                                     94-3163375
(State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)

         444 Market Street, 15th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111
         (Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)

                                 (415) 677-8990
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.   Yes X  No 
                                        ---    ---
<PAGE>   2
                       CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XIV, L.P.

                      REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY
                         PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                    PAGE
<S>                                                                                                                 <C>

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.   Financial Statements

          Balance Sheets - September 30, 1996 (unaudited) and December 31, 1995                                       4

          Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 (unaudited)        5

          Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 (unaudited)                  6

          Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)                                                                   7

Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations                      10


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                                                           12
</TABLE>


                                       2
<PAGE>   3
                         PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.   Financial Statements

          Presented herein are the Registrant's balance sheets as of September
          30, 1996 and December 31, 1995, statements of operations for the three
          and nine months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995, and statements of
          cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995.



                                       3
<PAGE>   4
                       CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XIV, L.P.

                                 BALANCE SHEETS

                                   (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      September 30,     December 31,
                                                                          1996              1995
                                                                      -----------       -----------
<S>                                                                   <C>               <C>        

                          Assets
Current assets:
     Cash, includes $592,628 at September 30, 1996 and $467,304
         at December 31, 1995 in interest-bearing accounts            $   593,087       $   467,597
     Short-term investments                                             1,001,752         1,451,742
     Net lease receivables due from Leasing Company
         (notes 1 and 2)                                                1,153,736         1,121,032
                                                                      -----------       -----------

              Total current assets                                      2,748,575         3,040,371
                                                                      -----------       -----------

Container rental equipment, at cost                                    52,928,400        53,145,814
     Less accumulated depreciation                                      9,832,173         7,551,375
                                                                      -----------       -----------
         Net container rental equipment                                43,096,227        45,594,439
                                                                      -----------       -----------

Organizational costs, net                                                 505,355           713,470
                                                                      -----------       -----------

                                                                      $46,350,157       $49,348,280
                                                                      ===========       ===========

                 Liabilities and Partners' Capital

Current liabilities:
     Due to general partner (notes 1 and 3)                           $    91,040       $   430,160
     Due to manufacturer                                                       --           122,400
                                                                      -----------       -----------

              Total current liabilities                                    91,040           552,560
                                                                      -----------       -----------

Partners' capital:
     General partner                                                          372               223
     Limited partners                                                  46,258,745        48,795,497
                                                                      -----------       -----------

              Total partners' capital                                  46,259,117        48,795,720
                                                                      -----------       -----------

                                                                      $46,350,157       $49,348,280
                                                                      ===========       ===========
</TABLE>


        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       4
<PAGE>   5
                       CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XIV, L.P.

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                                   (UNAUDITED)

  
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Three Months Ended                 Nine Months Ended
                                                      ------------------------------    ------------------------------
                                                      September 30,    September 30,    September 30,    September 30,
                                                          1996             1995             1996             1995
                                                      -------------    -------------    -------------    -------------

<S>                                                    <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>       
Net lease revenue (notes 1 and 4)                      $1,603,150       $2,123,554       $5,170,080       $6,159,852
Other operating expenses:
   Depreciation and amortization                          841,822        1,176,401        2,527,919        2,866,556
   Other general and administrative expenses               25,585           13,852           70,239           74,989
                                                       ----------       ----------       ----------       ----------
                                                          867,407        1,190,253        2,598,158        2,941,545
                                                       ----------       ----------       ----------       ----------
     Earnings from operations                             735,743          933,301        2,571,922        3,218,307

Other income:
   Interest income                                         20,879           21,853           64,101           61,704
   Net gain on disposal of equipment                       10,214           30,457           63,005           81,856
                                                       ----------       ----------       ----------       ----------
                                                           31,093           52,310          127,106          143,560
                                                       ----------       ----------       ----------       ----------
     Net earnings                                      $  766,836       $  985,611       $2,699,028       $3,361,867
                                                       ==========       ==========       ==========       ==========

Allocation of net earnings:
   General partner                                     $   78,555       $  104,599       $  261,931       $  284,843
   Limited partners                                       688,281          881,012        2,437,097        3,077,024
                                                       ----------       ----------       ----------       ----------
                                                       $  766,836       $  985,611       $2,699,028       $3,361,867
                                                       ==========       ==========       ==========       ==========
Limited partners' per unit share of net earnings       $      .23       $      .29       $      .82       $     1.03
                                                       ==========       ==========       ==========       ==========
</TABLE>


        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       5
<PAGE>   6
                       CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XIV, L.P.

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                   (UNAUDITED)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    Nine Months Ended
                                                            ---------------------------------
                                                            September 30,       September 30,
                                                                1996                1995
                                                            -------------       -------------

<S>                                                          <C>                <C>        
Net cash provided by operating activities                    $ 5,132,661        $ 6,696,837

Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:
   Proceeds from sale of container rental equipment              239,990            167,230
   Purchase of container rental equipment                       (122,400)           (62,370)
   Acquisition fees paid to general partner                     (339,120)          (450,000)
                                                             -----------        -----------

         Net cash used in investing activities                  (221,530)          (345,140)
                                                             -----------        -----------

Cash flows used in financing activities:
   Distribution to partners                                   (5,235,631)        (5,340,344)
                                                             -----------        -----------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents            (324,500)         1,011,353


Cash and cash equivalents at January 1                         1,919,339            760,312
                                                             -----------        -----------

Cash and cash equivalents at September 30                    $ 1,594,839        $ 1,771,665
                                                             ===========        ===========
</TABLE>


        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       6
<PAGE>   7
                       CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XIV, L.P.

                     NOTES TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


(1)   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

      (a)  Nature of Operations

           Cronos Global Income Fund XIV, L.P. (the "Partnership") is a limited
           partnership organized under the laws of the State of California on
           July 30, 1992, for the purpose of owning and leasing marine cargo
           containers. Cronos Capital Corp. ("CCC") is the general partner and,
           with its affiliate Cronos Containers Limited (the "Leasing Company"),
           manages and controls the business of the Partnership.

      (b)  Leasing Company and Leasing Agent Agreement

           The Partnership has entered into a Leasing Agent Agreement whereby
           the Leasing Company has the responsibility to manage the leasing
           operations of all equipment owned by the Partnership. Pursuant to the
           Agreement, the Leasing Company is responsible for leasing, managing
           and re-leasing the Partnership's containers to ocean carriers and has
           full discretion over which ocean carriers and suppliers of goods and
           services it may deal with. The Leasing Agent Agreement permits the
           Leasing Company to use the containers owned by the Partnership,
           together with other containers owned or managed by the Leasing
           Company and its affiliates, as part of a single fleet operated
           without regard to ownership. Since the Leasing Agent Agreement meets
           the definition of an operating lease in Statement of Financial
           Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 13, it is accounted for as a lease
           under which the Partnership is lessor and the Leasing Company is
           lessee.

           The Leasing Agent Agreement generally provides that the Leasing
           Company will make payments to the Partnership based upon rentals
           collected from ocean carriers after deducting direct operating
           expenses and management fees to CCC and the Leasing Company. The
           Leasing Company leases containers to ocean carriers, generally under
           operating leases which are either master leases or term leases
           (mostly two to five years). Master leases do not specify the exact
           number of containers to be leased or the term that each container
           will remain on hire but allow the ocean carrier to pick up and drop
           off containers at various locations; rentals are based upon the
           number of containers used and the applicable per-diem rate.
           Accordingly, rentals under master leases are all variable and
           contingent upon the number of containers used. Most containers are
           leased to ocean carriers under master leases; leasing agreements with
           fixed payment terms are not material to the financial statements.
           Since there are no material minimum lease rentals, no disclosure of
           minimum lease rentals is provided in these financial statements.

      (c)  Basis of Accounting

           The Partnership utilizes the accrual method of accounting. Revenue is
           recognized when earned.

           The Partnership has determined that for accounting purposes the
           Leasing Agent Agreement is a lease, and the receivables, payables,
           gross revenues and operating expenses attributable to the containers
           managed by the Leasing Company are, for accounting purposes, those of
           the Leasing Company and not of the Partnership. Consequently, the
           Partnership's balance sheets and statements of operations display the
           payments to be received by the Partnership from the Leasing Company
           as the Partnership's receivables and revenues.
                                                                (Continued)

                                       7
<PAGE>   8
                       CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XIV, L.P.

                     NOTES TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


      (d)  Financial Statement Presentation

           These financial statements have been prepared without audit. Certain
           information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial
           statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
           procedures have been omitted. It is suggested that these financial
           statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and
           accompanying notes in the Partnership's latest annual report on Form
           10-K.

           The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
           accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires the Partnership to
           make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
           assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
           liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported
           amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period.

           The interim financial statements presented herewith reflect all
           adjustments of a normal recurring nature which are, in the opinion of
           management, necessary to a fair statement of the financial condition
           and results of operations for the interim periods presented.

(2)   Net Lease Receivables Due from Leasing Company

      Net lease receivables due from the Leasing Company are determined by
      deducting direct operating payables and accrued expenses, base management
      fees payable, and reimbursed administrative expenses payable to CCC, the
      Leasing Company, and its affiliates from the rental billings payable by
      the Leasing Company to the Partnership under operating leases to ocean
      carriers for the containers owned by the Partnership. Net lease
      receivables at September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1995 were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  September 30,    December 31,
                                                                      1996             1995
                                                                   ----------       ----------

<S>                                                                <C>              <C>       
      Lease receivables, net of doubtful accounts
           of $140,920 at September 30, 1996 and $215,113 at
           December 31, 1995                                       $2,236,371       $2,291,187
      Less:
      Direct operating payables and accrued expenses                  636,980          674,056
      Damage protection reserve                                       215,275          224,272
      Base management fees                                            187,955          223,709
      Reimbursed administrative expenses                               42,425           48,118
                                                                   ----------       ----------
                                                                   $1,153,736       $1,121,032
                                                                   ==========       ==========
</TABLE>

(3)   Due to General Partner

      The amounts due to CCC at September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1995 consist
      of acquisition fees.
                                                                (Continued)
                                
                                       8
<PAGE>   9
                       CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XIV, L.P.

                     NOTES TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(4)   Net Lease Revenue

      Net lease revenue is determined by deducting direct operating expenses,
      management fees and reimbursed administrative expenses to CCC, the Leasing
      Company, and its affiliates from the rental revenue billed by the Leasing
      Company under operating leases to ocean carriers for the containers owned
      by the Partnership. Net lease revenue for the three and nine-month periods
      ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 was as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Three Months Ended                 Nine Months Ended
                                                    ------------------------------     ------------------------------
                                                    September 30,    September 30,     September 30,    September 30,
                                                        1996             1995             1996             1995
                                                    -------------    -------------     -------------    -------------
<S>                                                  <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>       
           Rental revenue                            $2,381,314       $2,854,894       $7,426,993       $8,385,646
           Rental equipment operating expenses          481,226          383,054        1,337,124        1,193,126
           Base management fees                         163,994          193,155          514,445          579,412
           Reimbursed administrative expenses           132,944          155,131          405,344          453,256
                                                     ----------       ----------       ----------       ----------
                                                     $1,603,150       $2,123,554       $5,170,080       $6,159,852
                                                     ==========       ==========       ==========       ==========
</TABLE>


                                       9
<PAGE>   10
Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and 
         Results of Operations

It is suggested that the following discussion be read in conjunction with the
Registrant's most recent annual report on Form 10-K.

1)    Material changes in financial condition between September 30, 1996 and 
      December 31, 1995.

      At September 30, 1996, the Registrant had $1,594,839 in cash and cash
      equivalents, a decrease of $324,500 from the December 31, 1995 cash
      balances. During the first nine months of 1996, the Registrant expended
      $122,400 of cash generated from sales proceeds to purchase additional dry
      cargo containers. At September 30, 1996, the Registrant committed to
      purchase an additional 50 twenty-foot, 35 forty-foot, and 23 forty-foot
      high-cube dry cargo containers, replacing containers which have been lost
      or damaged beyond repair, at an aggregate manufacturer's invoice cost of
      $292,530. Approximately $293,000 in cash generated from equipment sales,
      reserved as part of the Registrant's September 30, 1996 cash balances,
      will be used to finance these purchases. Throughout the remainder of 1996,
      the Registrant may use cash generated from equipment sales to purchase and
      replace containers which have been lost or damaged beyond repair.

      Net lease receivables at September 30, 1996 increased when compared to
      December 31, 1995, as cash collections of outstanding receivables slowed.
      The Registrant's cash distribution from operations for the third quarter
      of 1996 was 9.50% (annualized) of the limited partners' original capital
      contribution, consistent with the second quarter of 1996.

      The statements contained in the following discussion are based on current
      expectations. These statements are forward looking and actual results may
      differ materially. Indicative of the cyclical nature of the container
      leasing business, containerized trade growth slowed in the last quarter of
      1995, and excess inventories began to develop. This slowdown has resulted
      in reduced equipment utilization and lower per-diem rental rates in the
      container leasing industry during the first nine months of 1996.
      Accordingly, the Registrant's dry cargo container utilization rate
      declined from 85% at December 31, 1995, to 82% at September 30, 1996. The
      Registrant's refrigerated container utilization rate declined from 95% at
      December 31, 1995, to 82% at September 30, 1996. During the first nine
      months of 1996, the Leasing Company implemented various marketing
      strategies, including but not limited to, offering incentives to shipping
      companies and repositioning containers to high demand locations in order
      to counter the market conditions. Ancillary revenues have fallen, and
      free-day incentives offered to the shipping lines have increased. In
      addition, rental equipment operating expenses of the Registrant have
      increased due to higher storage and handling costs associated with the
      off-hire fleet, and increased repositioning costs. These leasing market
      conditions are expected to adversely impact the Registrant's results from
      operations through the remainder of 1996 and into 1997.

2)    Material changes in the results of operations between the three and nine-
      month periods ended September 30, 1996 and the three and nine-month 
      periods ended September 30, 1995.

      Net lease revenue for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30,
      1996 was $1,603,150 and $5,170,080, respectively, a decline of
      approximately 25% and 16% from the same periods in the prior year,
      respectively. Gross rental revenue (a component of net lease revenue) for
      the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 1996 was $2,381,314
      and $7,426,993, respectively, a decline of 17% and 11% from the same
      periods in the prior year, respectively. During 1996, gross rental revenue
      was primarily impacted by the Registrant's lower per-diem rental rates and
      utilization levels for both the dry cargo and refrigerated container
      fleets. Average dry cargo container per-diem rental rates for the three
      and nine-month periods ended September 30, 1996 declined approximately 6%
      and 4%, respectively, when compared to the same periods in the prior year,
      respectively. Average refrigerated container per-diem rental rates for the
      three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 1996 declined
      approximately 4% and 2%, respectively, when compared to the same periods
      in the prior year.


                                       10
<PAGE>   11
      The Registrant's average fleet size and utilization rates for the three
      and nine-month periods ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Three Months Ended                 Nine Months Ended
                                                        ------------------------------     ------------------------------
                                                        September 30,    September 30,     September 30,    September 30,
                                                            1996              1995              1996              1995
                                                        -------------    -------------     -------------    -------------

<S>                                                     <C>              <C>               <C>              <C>   
         Average Fleet Size (measured in                                                                       
             twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU))                                                               
                Dry cargo containers                       15,424            15,496            15,447            15,509
                Refrigerated containers                     1,151             1,155             1,153             1,157
         Average Utilization                                                                                   
                Dry cargo containers                           83%               89%               84%               90%
                Refrigerated containers                        85%               99%               90%               99%
</TABLE>


      Rental equipment operating expenses were 20% and 18% of the Registrant's
      gross lease revenue during the three and nine-month periods ended
      September 30, 1996, respectively, as compared to 13% and 14% during the
      three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 1995, respectively. These
      increases were largely attributable to a decline in gross lease revenue
      resulting from lower utilization rates, lower per-diem rates, a downward
      trend in ancillary revenue, and an increase in free-day incentives offered
      to shipping companies. Costs associated with lower utilization levels,
      including handling, storage and repositioning also contributed to the
      increase in the rental equipment operating expenses, as a percentage of
      gross lease revenue. The Registrant's operating performance contributed to
      the decline in base management fees, when compared to the same periods in
      the prior year.


                                       11
<PAGE>   12
                           PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)   Exhibits

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       Exhibit
         No.                            Description                                          Method of Filing
       -------                          -----------                                          ----------------

<S>                <C>                                                                       <C>
         3(a)      Limited Partnership Agreement of the Registrant, amended and              *
                   restated as of December 2, 1992

         3(b)      Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Registrant                      **

         10        Form of Leasing Agent Agreement with Cronos Containers Limited            ***

         27        Financial Data Schedule                                                   Filed with this document
</TABLE>

(b)   Report on Form 8-K

      No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Registrant during the quarter
      ended September 30, 1996.







----------------

*     Incorporated by reference to Exhibit "A" to the Prospectus of the 
      Registrant dated December 2, 1992, included as part of Registration
      Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-51810)

**    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on
      Form S-1 (No. 33-51810)

***   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on
      Form S-1 (No. 33-51810)



                                       12
<PAGE>   13
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                  CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XIV, L.P.

                                  By   Cronos Capital Corp.
                                       The General Partner



                                  By    /s/ JOHN KALLAS
                                       -----------------------------------
                                       John Kallas
                                       Vice President, Treasurer
                                       Principal Financial & Accounting Officer

Date:  November 11, 1996


                                       13
<PAGE>   14
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   Exhibit
     No.                              Description                                        Method of Filing
   -------                            -----------                                        ----------------

<S>             <C>                                                                      <C>
   3(a)         Limited Partnership Agreement of the Registrant, amended and             *
                restated as of December 2, 1992

   3(b)         Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Registrant                     **

   10           Form of Leasing Agent Agreement with Cronos Containers Limited           ***

   27           Financial Data Schedule                                                  Filed with this document
</TABLE>








----------------

*     Incorporated by reference to Exhibit "A" to the Prospectus of the
      Registrant dated December 2, 1992, included as part of Registration
      Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-51810)

**    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on
      Form S-1 (No. 33-51810)

***   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on
      Form S-1 (No. 33-51810)