Top 10 things Brits look for in their ideal car

Many Brits aren’t able to tell logos apart – or identify the car from the body alone (Image: SWNS Media Group) Many people don’t know their Fiat from the Seat – but how do you fare? Put your car knowledge to the test with this quiz  on logos, body style and country of origin. It comes after research of 2,000 adults revealed 77 percent think MINI is a quintessentially British automotive manufacturer – despite it being owned by German company BMW Group since 1996. And although 40 percent believe a car’s country of origin is an important factor in their decision-making when buying or leasing a car, 65 percent had no idea that Kia is owned by an Asian company. While many were unaware Polestar (87 percent) or MG (88 percent) also had an Asian parent company.  It also emerged that while 75 percent were able to correctly identify the Tesla logo, just 38 percent were able to do so for Polestar – despite being one of the top 10 best-selling electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK. Despite the lack of brand knowledge, 93 percent know precisely what they want in their car with parking sensors and sat nav high on the list of requirements. And while 45 percent want to go all electric, 77 percent believe an EV would be too expensive to get behind the wheel of. Alfonso Martinez, UK managing director at ALD Automotive LeasePlan UK, which commissioned the research and quiz, said: ‘There are a lot of misconceptions out there about automotive brands, so it’s important to do your research to ensure you find the right one for you. ‘This is particularly true when it comes to electric vehicles, where new and exciting brands are challenging conventional norms and bringing innovative solutions to UK drivers. ‘This is helping drive competition in the UK electric vehicle market, which will in turn will bring down the cost of driving an EV for consumers.’  The study also found 37 percent of people looking for a new car would see items such as heated seats or a heated steering wheel as a must-have. But it’s not all about comfort as 36 percent want to see enhanced safety features that land a five-star Euro NCAP rating before making their decision. The most popular type of car among those looking for a change was the humble hatchback (42 percent), followed by a 4×4 or SUV (30 percent). And after the summer we have experienced in the UK – unsurprisingly only 14 percent would opt for a convertible. Of those who would consider going electric, the main driver for this would be to reduce air pollution (56 percent). Despite the lack of knowledge, more than 9 in 10 Brits know exactly what car they want (Image: SWNS Media Group) Nearly half (49 percent) consider electric cars the ‘future of driving’, and for those seeking a more peaceful motoring experience, 36 pecent like how quiet they are to drive. It also emerged Tesla (61 percent) is the brand most associated with electric vehicles, followed by Polestar (15 percent), a subsidiary of Volvo. Third on the list was Nissan (14 percent), with Toyota and Hyundai (13 percent and 10 percent) making up the top five, according to the OnePoll.com figures. Martinez added: ‘These research findings show that drivers know exactly what they want in a vehicle. ‘Therefore, automotive manufacturers need to continue to design cars that meet these needs – but also pre-empt drivers’ future needs as well. ‘This, of course, means focusing on zero emission technology and universal access to sustainable mobility.’