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Running costs, reliability and price are what Britons look for when buying a car, poll claims

Overall size of is important too, as is the quality of the sound system and the colour of the interior and the exterior

Rob Knight
Tuesday 31 July 2018 15:51 BST
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Sales of pure electric and plugin hybrid vehicles are up 25 per cent this year
Sales of pure electric and plugin hybrid vehicles are up 25 per cent this year

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

Poll makers surveyed 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 £17 – driving the same distance in a medium sized petrol-powered car would set you back in the region of £121.

It is 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.

A spokesperson for Hyundai said: “There is 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.

“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 is clearly significant – however the findings also suggest that the driving experience itself is a major factor, too.”

Other factors we take into account when buying a new car include the length of warranty, boot size and the types of wheels.

Overall size of the car is important too, as is the quality of the sound system and the colour of the interior and the exterior.

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 will 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 per cent 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 plugin hybrid vehicles are up 25 per cent this year – with a new model registered every nine minutes in the UK.

The Kona Electric will do 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds – comparable to a hot hatch – and has a top speed of 104mph, while producing zero emissions and being exempt from road tax.

A spokesperson for Hyundai added: “As the research shows, British motorists know what they want from a car.

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

“As you might expect from an electric car, it produces zero emissions – but you do not have to trade eco-credentials for performance as it is also quick off the mark with instant acceleration.

“Put it into sports mode and you’ll be surprised how much fun it is to drive – while being almost silent.

“There is 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 is a £500 grant which can be put towards the purchase and installation cost of a home charging point.”

Top 25 things that influence people when buying a car:

  1. Price
  2. Reliability
  3. Type of fuel (petrol, diesel, electric, hybrid)
  4. Make of car
  5. Economy – miles per gallon
  6. Model of car
  7. Cost of ownership – insurance costs, servicing costs 
  8. Number of doors
  9. Comfort
  10. Size of car – if it is big enough for my family and 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 is small enough so it is easy to manoeuvre and park
  17. Colour of exterior
  18. Engine power and 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

South West News Service

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