How important is fuel economy to you, when you consider a new car purchase? According to a 2011 Maritz Research study, more than 40 per cent of consumers now view fuel economy as “extremely important” – that’s up from 13.5 per cent a decade ago.
Around 37 per cent of consumers feel fuel economy will have the “greatest impact” on their next vehicle purchase; while 46 per cent of younger buyers believe fuel economy is “extremely important” in a new vehicle purchase decision; with 41 per cent saying it will be the top factor in their next vehicle purchase.
The study is carried out annually and dates back to the 1970s – it reaches around 200,000 consumers a year.
Among its findings was that fuel economy as a purchase reason for B-cars became the top consideration in 2011 at 21 per cent; while for C-cars it nearly tripled its importance from 2001 to 2011, leaping from seven per cent to 19 per cent. Fuel economy has also been listed in the top five most important purchase reasons for small utility vehicles in 2011 and even in the top 10 most important reasons for sports car buyers for the first time.
