MANY 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.
SWNSPut your car knowledge to the test with this quiz[/caption]
It comes after research of 2,000 adults revealed 77 per cent think MINI is a quintessentially British automotive manufacturer – despite it being owned by German company BMW Group since 1996.
And although 40 per cent believe a car’s country of origin is an important factor in their decision-making when buying or leasing a car, 65 per cent had no idea that Kia is owned by an Asian company.
While many were unaware Polestar (87 per cent) or MG (88 per cent) also had an Asian parent company.
It also emerged that while 75 per cent were able to correctly identify the Tesla logo, just 38 per cent 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 per cent know precisely what they want in their car with parking sensors and sat nav high on the list of requirements.
And while 45 per cent want to go all-electric, 77 per cent 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 per cent 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 per cent 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 per cent), followed by a 4×4 or SUV (30 per cent).
And after the summer we have experienced in the UK – unsurprisingly only 14 per cent would opt for a convertible.
Of those who would consider going electric, the main driver for this would be to reduce air pollution (56 per cent).
Nearly half (49 per cent) consider electric cars the ‘future of driving’, and for those seeking a more peaceful motoring experience, 36 per cent like how quiet they are to drive.
It also emerged Tesla (61 per cent) is the brand most associated with electric vehicles, followed by Polestar (15 per cent), a subsidiary of Volvo.
Third on the list was Nissan (14 per cent), with Toyota and Hyundai (13 per cent and 10 per cent) 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.”
WHAT BRITS WANT IN THEIR IDEAL CAR:
1. Parking sensors and/or cameras
2. Sat nav
3. Heated seats/ steering wheel
4. Enhanced safety features (e.g., a five-star Euro NCAP rating)
5. Automated features (e.g., automated parking, highway assistance)
6. Plug-in hybrid or fully electric
7. All-wheel drive/ four-wheel drive
8. Keyless entry/ ignition
9. Android Auto/ Apple CarPlay
10. Electric tailgate/ boot