AA Cars has revealed that Superminis and smaller cars have become the vehicle of choice for many drivers in 2021, knocking SUVs out of most of the top spots.
According to the search data, the Ford Fiesta was the most searched for vehicle on the AA’s used car site in the first six months of 2021. If the Fiesta maintains its current position to the end of the year, it will reportedly be the most popular car among AA Cars users for the seventh year in a row.
Meanwhile, the Volkswagen Transporter van has shot up into second place, and is joined by the Ford Transit in ninth. Their presence in the top 10 is said to reflect that a number of people turned to delivery driving to bolster their income during the pandemic as millions of Britons switched to online shopping.
SUVs such as the Nissan Qashqai traditionally feature prominently in AA Cars’ rankings of the most popular vehicles on the platform. However, they are largely missing in 2021 in favour of superminis and hatchbacks. The shift reportedly points towards higher demand for smaller, affordable cars among commuters opting to drive rather than take public transport.
The following table shows the most searched for cars of 2021 so far on AA Cars:
| Models | |
| 1 | Ford Fiesta |
| 2 | Volkswagen Transporter |
| 3 | Ford Focus |
| 4 | Volkswagen Polo |
| 5 | Volkswagen Golf |
| 6 | Ford Kuga |
| 7 | Audi A1 |
| 8 | Audi A3 |
| 9 | Ford Transit |
| 10 | Fiat 500 |
The list of Brits’ most searched-for car marques has also seen a dramatic shift, with Vauxhall not appearing in the top 10 for the first time in seven years and Ford moving to second place.
The following table shows the most searched for marques of 2021 so far on AA Cars:
|
# |
Marque |
|
1 |
Mercedes |
|
2 |
Ford |
|
3 |
BMW |
|
4 |
Mini |
|
5 |
Audi |
|
6 |
Volkswagen |
|
7 |
Land Rover |
|
8 |
Toyota |
|
9 |
Jaguar |
|
10 |
Nissan |
James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars, commented: “Many people have made changes to their lifestyle and home during the pandemic, and these adjustments appear to stretch to the cars on the drive.
“Smaller cars suited to city driving and an economical commute seem to be the new favourites among drivers, and the SUV is almost nowhere to be found on our list of the most popular cars of the year so far.
“We continue to see high demand across the used car market, and the wide choice and affordability of second-hand cars has been a big draw.
“The appearance of the likes of Mercedes and BMW in the list of the most popular marques suggests that people who saved some money during lockdown may now be considering treating themselves to a more luxurious model than they usually would.
“The motor industry has been quick to adapt to people’s changing needs, and we expect flexible leasing options to become more prevalent throughout the year – as they offer those drivers who don’t want to commit to owning a car long-term the chance to drive a brand new vehicle.”
