<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 MARCH 31, 1997

                                       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 MARCH 31, 1997

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PAGE
<S>                                                                          <C>
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
  Item 1. Financial Statements

          Balance Sheets - March 31, 1997 (unaudited) and 
          December 31, 1996                                                   4

          Statements of Operations for the three months ended 
          March 31, 1997 and 1996 (unaudited)                                 5

          Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended 
          March 31, 1997 and 1996 (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 March 31,
          1997 and December 31, 1996, statements of operations for the three
          months ended March 31, 1997 and 1996, and statements of cash flows for
          the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1996.




                                        3


<PAGE>   4

                       CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XIV, L.P.

                                 BALANCE SHEETS

                                   (UNAUDITED)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               March 31,       December 31,
                                                                                 1997             1996
                                                                              -----------      -----------
<S>                                                                           <C>              <C>        
                   Assets
                   ------
Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents, includes $1,103,568 at March 31, 1997
        and $1,730,128 at December 31, 1996 in interest-bearing accounts      $ 1,109,967      $ 1,730,504
    Net lease receivables due from Leasing Company
       (notes 1 and 2)                                                          1,160,480        1,173,515
                                                                              -----------      -----------
           Total current assets                                                 2,270,447        2,904,019
                                                                              -----------      -----------

Container rental equipment, at cost                                            53,173,480       52,798,896
    Less accumulated depreciation                                              11,331,881       10,575,957
                                                                              -----------      -----------
       Net container rental equipment                                          41,841,599       42,222,939
                                                                              -----------      -----------
Organizational costs, net                                                         366,611          435,983
                                                                              -----------      -----------
                                                                              $44,478,657      $45,562,941
                                                                              ===========      ===========

              Partners' Capital
              -----------------
Partners' capital:
    General partner                                                           $       239      $       776
    Limited partners                                                           44,478,418       45,562,165
                                                                              -----------      -----------
           Total partners' capital                                             44,478,657       45,562,941
                                                                              -----------      -----------
                                                                              $44,478,657      $45,562,941
                                                                              ===========      ===========
</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                        4


<PAGE>   5

                       CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XIV, L.P.

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                                   (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Three Months Ended
                                                      --------------------------
                                                       March 31,      March 31,
                                                         1997           1996
                                                      ----------      ----------
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>       
Net lease revenue (notes 1 and 3)                     $1,220,351      $1,770,578

Other operating expenses:
   Depreciation                                          845,581         843,552
   Other general and administrative expenses              21,258          22,638
                                                      ----------      ----------
                                                         866,839         866,190
                                                      ----------      ----------

     Earnings from operations                            353,512         904,388

Other income:
   Interest income                                        20,056          21,173
   Net gain on disposal of equipment                      34,303          42,098
                                                      ----------      ----------
                                                          54,359          63,271
                                                      ----------      ----------
     Net earnings                                     $  407,871      $  967,659
                                                      ==========      ==========

Allocation of net earnings:

   General partner                                    $   74,070      $   94,346
   Limited partners                                      333,801         873,313
                                                      ----------      ----------
                                                      $  407,871      $  967,659
                                                      ==========      ==========

Limited partners' per unit share of net earnings      $     0.11      $     0.29
                                                      ==========      ==========
</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                        5


<PAGE>   6

                       CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XIV, L.P.

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                   (UNAUDITED)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                            -----------------------------
                                                              March 31,         March 31,
                                                                1997              1996
                                                            ---------------   -----------
<S>                                                         <C>               <C>        
Net cash provided by operating activities                   $ 1,216,140       $ 1,718,883

Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:
   Proceeds from sale of container rental equipment             134,658           153,450
   Purchase of container rental equipment                      (456,362)         (122,400)
   Acquisition fees paid to general partner                     (22,818)         (156,120)
                                                            -----------       -----------

         Net cash used in investing activities                 (344,522)         (125,070)
                                                            -----------       -----------

Cash flows used in financing activities:
   Distribution to partners                                  (1,492,155)       (1,884,828)
                                                            -----------       -----------

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents                      (620,537)         (291,015)

Cash and cash equivalents at January 1                        1,730,504         1,919,340
                                                            -----------       -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at March 31                       $ 1,109,967       $ 1,628,325
                                                            ===========       ===========
</TABLE>



   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial 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 the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall
          continue until December 31, 2012, unless sooner terminated upon the
          occurrence of certain events.

          The Partnership commenced operations on January 29, 1993 when the
          minimum subscription proceeds of $2,000,000 were obtained. As of March
          31, 1997, the Partnership operated 8,294 twenty-foot, 3,568 forty-
          foot and 98 forty-foot high-cube marine dry cargo containers and 454
          twenty-foot and 344 forty-foot refrigerated cargo containers.

          The Partnership offered 4,250,000 units of limited partnership
          interests at $20 per unit, or $85,000,000. The offering terminated on
          November 30, 1993, at which time 2,984,309 limited partnership units
          had been purchased.


      (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.




                                                                    (Continued)

                                        7


<PAGE>   8

                       CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XIV, L.P.

                     NOTES TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


      (c) Basis of Accounting

          The Partnership utilizes the accrual method of accounting. Net lease
          revenue is recorded by the Partnership in each period based upon its
          leasing agent agreement with the Leasing Company. Net lease revenue is
          generally dependent upon operating lease rentals from operating lease
          agreements between the Leasing Company and its various lessees, less
          direct operating expenses and management fees due in respect of the
          containers specified in each operating lease agreement.


      (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. Actual results could
          differ from those estimates.

          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 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 March 31,
      1997 and December 31, 1996 were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           March 31,     December 31,
                                                             1997           1996
                                                          ----------     ------------
<S>                                                       <C>             <C>       
      Lease receivables, net of doubtful accounts
         of $141,814 at March 31, 1997 and $144,071
         at December 31, 1996                             $2,164,029      $2,184,535
      Less:
      Direct operating payables and accrued expenses         637,641         644,735
      Damage protection reserve                              143,618         143,887
      Base management fees                                   184,823         181,305
      Reimbursed administrative expenses                      37,467          41,093
                                                          ----------      ----------
                                                          $1,160,480      $1,173,515
                                                          ==========      ==========
</TABLE>

                                                                     (Continued)

                                        8


<PAGE>   9

                       CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XIV, L.P.

                     NOTES TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


(3)   Net Lease Revenue

      Net lease revenue is determined by deducting direct operating expenses,
      base management fees and reimbursed administrative expenses to CCC 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-month periods ended March 31,
      1997 and 1996 was as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  Three Months Ended
                                              ---------------------------
                                               March 31,         March 31,
                                                 1997              1996
                                               ----------      ----------
<S>                                            <C>             <C>       
      Rental revenue                           $2,018,848      $2,549,559

      Less:
      Rental equipment operating expenses         548,885         464,005
      Base management fees                        140,350         174,444
      Reimbursed administrative expenses          109,262         140,532
                                               ----------      ----------
                                               $1,220,351      $1,770,578
                                               ==========      ==========
</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 March 31, 1997 and 
      December 31, 1996.

      At March 31, 1997, the Registrant had $1,109,967 in cash and cash
      equivalents, a decrease of $620,537 from the December 31, 1996 cash
      balances. During the first quarter of 1997, the Registrant expended
      $456,362 of cash generated from sales proceeds to pay for containers
      purchased from the general partner during the first quarter of 1997. At
      March 31, 1997, the Registrant had approximately $17,000 in cash generated
      from equipment sales reserved as part of its cash balances. Throughout the
      remainder of 1997, the Registrant expects to continue using cash generated
      from equipment sales to purchase and replace containers which have been
      lost or damaged beyond repair.

      The Registrant's cash distribution from operations for the first quarter
      of 1997 was 9.5% (annualized) of the limited partners' original capital
      contribution, unchanged from the fourth quarter of 1996. These
      distributions are directly related to the Registrant's results from
      operations and may fluctuate accordingly.

      During 1996, ocean carriers and other transport companies moved away from
      leasing containers outright, as declining container prices, favorable
      interest rates and the abundance of available capital resulted in ocean
      carriers and transport companies purchasing a larger share of equipment
      for their own account, reducing the demand for leased containers. Once the
      demand for leased containers began to fall, per-diem rental rates were
      also adversely affected. These conditions continued to exist throughout
      the first quarter of 1997, contributing to declines in the Registrant's
      average dry and refrigerated cargo container utilization rates from 79%
      and 80% at December 31, 1996 to 78% and 77% at March 31, 1997,
      respectively. The Leasing Company continues to implement various marketing
      strategies, including but not limited to, offering incentives to shipping
      companies, repositioning containers to high demand locations and focusing
      towards term leases and other leasing opportunities including the leasing
      of containers for local storage, in order to counter current leasing
      market conditions. These conditions are expected to continue throughout
      1997, impacting the Registrant's liquidity and capital resources.


2)    Material changes in the results of operations between the three-month 
      period ended March 31, 1997 and the three-month period ended 
      March 31, 1996.

      Net lease revenue for the first quarter of 1997 was $1,220,351, a decline
      of approximately 31% from the first quarter of 1996. Gross rental revenue
      (a component of net lease revenue) for the quarter ended March 31, 1997
      was $2,018,848, reflecting a decline of 21% from the same three-month
      period in 1996. Gross rental revenue was primarily impacted by the
      sluggish market conditions that existed during 1996 and throughout the
      first quarter of 1997. These conditions contributed to lower average dry
      cargo and refrigerated utilization rates. Average dry cargo and
      refrigerated container per-diem rental rates for the three-month period
      ended March 31, 1997 declined 10% and 19%, respectively, when compared to
      the same period in the prior year.

      The Registrant's average fleet size and utilization rates for the
      three-month periods ended March 31, 1997 and March 31, 1996 were as
      follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 Three Months Ended
                                               -----------------------
                                                March 31,    March 31,
                                                  1997         1996
                                                ---------    ---------
<S>                                              <C>          <C>   
      Average Fleet Size (measured in
        twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU))
              Dry cargo containers               15,477       15,470
              Refrigerated containers             1,142        1,154
       Average Utilization
              Dry cargo containers                   78%          84%
              Refrigerated containers                77%          93%
</TABLE>



                                       10


<PAGE>   11

      Rental equipment operating expenses were 27% of the Registrant's gross
      lease revenue during the three-month period ended March 31, 1997, as
      compared to 18% during the three-month period ended March 31, 1996. This
      increase was largely attributable to an increase in costs associated with
      lower utilization levels, including handling, storage and repositioning.

      The Registrant disposed of seven twenty-foot and one forty-foot dry cargo
      containers, as well as one forty-foot refrigerated container during the
      first quarter of 1997, as compared to 25 twenty-foot, four forty-foot, and
      one forty-foot refrigerated container during the same period in the prior
      year.

      As reported in the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K and Amendment
      No. 1 to Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on February
      7, 1997 and February 26, 1997, respectively, Arthur Andersen, London,
      England, resigned as auditors of The Cronos Group, a Luxembourg
      Corporation headquartered in Orchard Lea, England (the "Parent Company"),
      on February 3, 1997.

      The Parent Company is the indirect corporate parent of Cronos Capital
      Corp., the General Partner of the Registrant. In its letter of resignation
      to the Parent Company, Arthur Andersen states that it resigned as auditors
      of the Parent Company and all other entities affiliated with the Parent
      Company. While its letter of resignation was not addressed to the General
      Partner or the Registrant, Arthur Andersen confirmed to the General
      Partner that its resignation as auditors of the entities referred to in
      its letter of resignation included its resignation as auditors of Cronos
      Capital Corp. and the Registrant.

      The Registrant does not, at this time, have sufficient information to
      determine the impact, if any, that the concerns expressed by Arthur
      Andersen in its letter of resignation may have on the future operating
      results and financial condition of the Registrant or the Leasing Company's
      ability to manage the Registrant's fleet in subsequent periods. However,
      the General Partner of the Registrant does not believe, based upon the
      information currently available to it, that Arthur Andersen's resignation
      was triggered by any concern over the accounting policies and procedures
      followed by the Registrant.

      Arthur Andersen's report on the financial statements of Cronos Capital
      Corp. and the Registrant, for either of the past two years, has not
      contained an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor was any such
      report qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting
      principles.

      During the Registrant's two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent
      interim period preceding Arthur Andersen's resignation, there have been no
      disagreements between Cronos Capital Corp. or the Registrant and Arthur
      Andersen on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial
      statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure.

      Due to the nature and timing of Arthur Andersen's resignation, the Parent
      Company and General Partner were unable to name a successor auditor on
      behalf of the Registrant until it retained Moore Stephens, P.C. ("Moore
      Stephens") on April 10, 1997, as reported in the Registrant's Current
      Report on Form 8-K, filed April 14, 1997.

      Cautionary Statement

      This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains statements relating to future
      results of the Registrant, including certain projections and business
      trends, that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private
      Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ
      materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and
      uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in: economic
      conditions; trade policies; demand for and market acceptance of leased
      marine cargo containers; competitive utilization and per-diem rental rate
      pressures; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not
      limited to those described in the above discussion of the marine container
      leasing business under Item 2., Management's Discussion and Analysis of
      Financial Condition and Results of Operations; and those detailed from
      time to time in the filings of Registrant with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission.



                                       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)   Reports on Form 8-K

      The Registrant filed a Report on Form 8-K, dated February 7, 1997 and
      Amendment No. 1 to Report on Form 8-K dated February 26, 1997, reporting
      the resignation of the Registrant's certifying accountant.

      The Registrant filed a Report on Form 8-K, April 14, 1997, reporting the
      appointment of the Registrant's successor certifying accountant.



____________
*   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 Finance & Accounting Officer


Date:  June 16, 1997




                                       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)