Toyota and BMW are once again America’s most-shopped vehicle brands after falling behind at the end of last year. Renewed interest in sedans likely contributed, as shoppers seek more efficient vehicles in response to record-high gas prices.
Gas prices influenced car buying behavior
"Shopping for traditional sedans, which are often more affordable and efficient than SUVs and trucks, jumped up in Q1 after years of declining. Fuel prices clearly influenced shopping behavior,” said Vanessa Ton, research and market intelligence manager at Cox Automotive.
Naturally, the highest gas prices in history have prompted shoppers to seek out smaller, more efficient cars. Fuel efficiency climbed from number 10 to number 7 in a list of factors most important to car buyers. About 25% of car shoppers considered a hybrid or electric vehicle at the start of 2021.
SUVs and trucks remain popular
Despite this, Americans still can’t seem to get enough of huge SUVs and trucks. Two-thirds of non-luxury vehicle shoppers considered an SUV at the beginning of 2021 and over a third of them considered a pickup truck.
BMW leads among luxury brands
The German company is back on top of the American luxury market thanks to the popularity of its 3 Series and 5 Series sedans. Lexus, which beat BMW at the end of last year, is now the third most popular luxury brand.
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