New 4×4 Popularity Increased Despite High Fuel Prices
Despite record hikes in fuel prices over the last few months, more car buyers are looking to purchase a new SUV or 4×4 than six months ago, according to a new report by Motoring.co.uk, the UK’s leading motoring website for new car search.
The report examines what online visitors searched for in March 2011 and finds that:
- Nearly a quarter are searching for new 4×4s
- Over 10% are searching for new SUVs
- 4x4s are the no 1 most searched for body type in the top 10, followed by hatchbacks (23%), superminis (11%), MPVs (10%), estates (8%), convertibles (7%), saloons (6.5.%), coupes (5.7%)
- Just 5.8% of new car buyers are searching for green cars
The report also looked at the searches over the last six months (September 2010 – March 2011) and reveals that:
- Searches for new MPVs have risen nearly 5 %
- Searches for new 4x4s have risen by 12%
- Searches for new green cars are up by 30%
Chris Green, Co-Founder and Sales Director of Motoring.co.uk comments: “You might expect to see a large drop in demand for 4x4s and SUVs on the back of high fuel prices, but both vehicle segments are experiencing heightened popularity. This may be due to fact that many 4×4 manufacturers have put in smaller, more fuel efficient engines into their new models. And of course, we can’t ignore the impact of severe winter weather conditions over the last three years.
“However demand for green cars is on the increase and this is partly due to the improvement of reliability and performance. Vehicles like the Toyota Prius have gone a long way to prove that hybrids are a viable alternative to conventional vehicles. Demand for green vehicles is set to grow in the future and they will take a much bigger share of the market over the next five years.
“However in the short term, if fuel creeps up to around £1.50 a litre then we would expect to see a drop in demand of larger vehicles. There comes a point when consumers will sacrifice size, space and practicality for lower running costs.”
“To help consumers make the right choice about their next new car, we have recently introduced a new comparison tool which allows users to compare and contrast up to four cars side by side, comparing such things as MPG, Specification, Emissions, Size , Speed etc. Users can save and send their shortlist to Facebook to share their choices and source views and opinions from family and friends.”
Car buyers can compare and contrast the cost of buying and owning a new car with a Car Finance Calculator. This allows users to look at two vehicles side by side, with at a glance data on MPG, road tax, annual mileage costs, monthly finance payments etc. There is also a new forum where users can connect with each other for advice and support, and a huge selection of car reviews and videos, to help car buyers make the right choice on their next vehicle.
For further information, please visit http://www.motoring.co.uk/. Motoring.co.uk is UK’s largest motoring website for new car search.
I think 4×4′s will eventually become less popular and demand will fall. The government will continue to implement Tax penalties for those choosing to drive these 4×4′s. I think the traditional 4×4′s will start to become impossible to afford, and people will start to drive the mini SUV’s, like Land Rover and Renault have shown. The market for 4×4′s is myopic!
The rising fuel prices are driving people away from using 4×4 vehicles, which are notorious for low fuel economy. And many 4×4 enthusiasts, who are not willing to get rid of their 4wd, buy a fuel efficient car for their daily driving duties.
It’s true that everyone can’t afford a 4×4 vehicle. However if desired, other options can be explored like efficient fuel economy.
The Goverment keep pushing the price of Road fund licence up on these type of vehicles and with the price of fuel you would expect there popularity to fall, but people still want them….We don’t all want to drive Micro cars…they might do 1000mpg but it wont pull a caravan or seat 5-7 people comfortably. Plus it is nice to be a little rebellious…….. you have seen in the news all you need is a AK47 and a Hilux to change a political system……Bring on the revolution.