Car buyers value substance over style
Substance over style is winning over car buyers with reliability, durability and value for money identified as the key considerations for consumers.
According to a survey of 1,000 motorists carried out by Leasing Options, 40% said reliability and durability was the most important factor when selecting a new car.
Meanwhile, cost and value for money was cited by 29% as the key consideration.
This is more than double the number of respondents who said safety was the priority (13), while 12% identified technology and in-car features as important, and just five per cent said style and design.
Rising car costs
Mike Thompson, COO at Leasing Options, said: “As rising car costs continue to mount pressure on motorists, drivers are looking more than ever for vehicles that are not only reliable and durable, but offer strong value for money. Unexpected breakdown costs can place a huge strain on households, so models with a reputation for dependability are becoming the go-to choice.
“We’re also seeing strong movement towards EVs, with 67% of customers switching to hybrid or electric models in the past year due to the allure of lower running costs and favourable tax rates. It will be interesting to see whether the government’s proposed pay-per-mile tax impacts this adoption.”
The survey also revealed a ‘car sizing’ trend, with more and more motorists selecting larger models such as SUVs. These results align with data from Thatcham Research showing the average width of new car has increased from 182cm in 2018 to 187.5cm.
