A new study has revealed that where you live in the UK might secretly be influencing the badge on your bonnet, with Honda top in Swansea.
LeaseCar’s new research has uncovered the nation’s automotive preferences, revealing town and city brand loyalties shaped by diverse influences, from seaside luxury to hometown manufacturing pride.
With over 40 million licensed vehicles on UK roads by 2024, finding each region’s car preferences takes extensive research. Fortunately, LeaseCar was up to the challenge, collating data from DVLA databases on towns and cities nationwide to discover the most surprising car preferences.
EVs are in high demand across Scotland
While you might expect more cities to lead the electric vehicle revolution, it’s actually Scotland’s more remote locations showing the most impressive adoption rates. Rural locations like Inverness and Galashiels are leading the UK’s EV and hybrid adoption, with Scotland having reached its charging infrastructure target two years ahead of schedule.
Hereford is the compact car capital
Our research found that 40% of vehicles in Hereford are compact cars, which is the highest percentage nationwide. Hereford has a slightly older demographic than the national average, with a higher percentage of retired individuals. Car ownership in Hereford is relatively high, with an average of 1.45 cars per household compared to the 1.23 cars per household average across England and Wales.
Torquay is the convertible hot-spot of the UK
Popular seaside city Torquay embraces open-top driving more than anywhere else in Britain. A “Convertible Hotspot”, Torquay’s most popular car type is a reflection of the city’s identity as a tourist destination with a mild climate and scenic coastal drives. The convertibles locals love perfectly align with the holiday atmosphere of Torquay, driving the desire to cruise along its beautiful coastline.
Lincoln is a hub of estates and sports cars
Our data found historic city Lincoln shows a practical preference for spacious family vehicles, as well as nippy sports cars. This seemingly contrasting taste can be understood by examining Lincoln’s unique characteristics. As a regional hub for Lincolnshire, Lincoln attracts a diverse population, including families seeking the practicality of larger vehicles for school runs, commutes from surrounding villages and weekend excursions into the wider county’s rural and coastal areas.
Contrarily, the city serves as a gateway to the Lincolnshire Wolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has access to more open, less congested roads outside its urban core. These factors provide an appealing environment for enthusiasts to enjoy the agility and power of sports cars.
Sedans have a stronghold in Belfast
Northern Ireland’s capital Belfast maintains a traditional preference for classic four-door model sedans. Belfast’s strong preference for sedans likely stems from a blend of factors. Sedans provide a practical balance for Belfast’s varied road network, offering comfort and refinement for longer commutes while remaining manageable for urban navigation. This blend of features often outweighs the perceived benefits of larger SUVs or smaller city cars for many drivers.
Other key findings:
LeaseCar’s research also highlights distinct regional relationships with car manufacturers, often influenced by local heritage or emerging trends:
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Premium German appreciators: Audi is popular in Torquay, BMW in Belfast and Mercedes-Benz surprisingly leads in Kirkwall, Orkney.
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British heritage loyalty: Falkirk shows strong loyalty to Jaguar, Wolverhampton near the JLR factory favours Land Rover and Durham embraces the iconic MINI. Shetland Islands appreciate the classic British MG.
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EV Pioneers: Truro, Cornwall, leads in adopting Tesla, while Inverness tops Kia.
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French brand aficionados: Shetland Islands also show a preference for Citroën, Perth opts for French luxury with DS, whilst Motherwell embraces Peugeot.
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Asian brand allegiance: Honda is strong in Swansea, Hyundai in Harrogate, Mazda in Worcester. Mitsubishi and Suzuki lead the way in Kirkcaldy and Nissan leads in Halifax. Data also shows Hereford values Toyota’s reliability.
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European consistency: Fiat is popular in Taunton, SEAT in Torquay, Skoda in Lancaster, Volkswagen in Shetland and Volvo in Dundee.
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American & British favourites: Taunton also shows loyalty to Ford, whilst Salisbury supports Vauxhall.
