Top 25 factors that influence car buyers

Running costs, reliability and price are what motorists look for when buying a car, according to a new study.

Researchers polled 2,000 British car buyers and found that fuel type, road tax and the manufacturer also influence the motor we go for.

Economy, handling and safety have a bearing too – as does size, comfort and emissions.

The poll was commissioned by Hyundai, which has just launched the new Kona Electric – its emission-free compact SUV which has a driving range of up to 300 miles.

This means you could travel the equivalent distance of Land’s End to John O’Groats for around just £17 – driving the same distance in a medium-sized petrol-powered car would set you back in the region of £121.

It’s the first ‘mainstream’ family electric vehicle to have such a range – with the 300 mile threshold normally limited to electric cars costing twice as much.

“There’s so much to take into account when shopping for a new car but as the research suggests we are pretty decisive and know what we want,” said a Hyundai spokesperson.

“Of course everyone is different with very specific requirements but the findings provide an overall indication of what is important to us.

“And the cost of running the vehicle – whether it be the fuel type, road tax cost or reliability are clearly significant – however the findings also suggest that the driving experience itself is a major factor, too.”

Fascinating facts

The research also found motorists typically own a car for five years and eight months before buying a new one.

And when they do, they’ll check out just three vehicles before making their mind-up on which one to purchase.

Six in 10 will take someone with them when shopping for cars – and one quarter of those who do will take their dad along. Amid this, 39% have purchased a vehicle only to regret it later on.

As infrastructure improves and motorists become more environmentally conscious, demand for ‘green’ vehicles continues to rise.

Sales of pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are up 25% this year – with a new model registered every nine minutes in the UK.

“As the research shows, British motorists know what they want from a car – and understandably they want more bang for their buck,” the spokesperson for Hyundai added.

“Price, reliability and running costs are key – and the Kona Electric delivers on all of these fronts.

“There’s also a £4,500 Plug-In Car Grant (PICG) currently available, which makes the starting price for this car just under £25,000, and additionally there’s a £500 grant which can be put towards the purchase and installation cost of a home charging point.”

Top 25 factors that influence car buyers

1. Price
2. Reliability
3. Type of fuel (petrol, diesel, electric, hybrid etc)
4. Make of car
5. Economy – miles per gallon
6. Model of car
7. Cost of ownership – insurance costs, servicing costs etc
8. Number of doors
9. Comfort
10. Size of car – if it’s big enough for my family/pets
11. Engine size
12. Road tax cost
13. Transmission (manual or automatic)
14. Number of seats
15. Size of boot
16. Size of car – if it’s small enough so it’s easy to manoeuvre and park
17. Colour of exterior
18. Engine power/speed
19. Handling
20. Length of warranty
21. Electric windows
22. Safety – NCAP ratings, safety equipment etc
23. Visibility through rear window
24. CO2 emissions
25. How far away the dealership is