Top 5 Reasons Why Car Shoppers Avoid Certain Cars
Ever wonder if you’re the only one that avoids buying a certain car because it’s ugly?
J.D. Power and Associates has released the results of its 2016 U.S. Auto Avoider Study, revealing the main reasons why car shoppers avoid certain cars. The study is in its 13th year and looks at the reasons consumers purchase, reject and avoid models in the marketplace.
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Below are the top five reasons why car shoppers avoid certain cars among non-premium brand models.
5. Didn’t Like the Image Vehicle Portrays
Of those surveyed, 16 percent said they didn’t like the image a certain vehicle portrays. Perhaps some shoppers don’t like the idea that owning a Toyota Prius or a Chevrolet Volt portrays the image of being “green.” Or maybe that getting caught behind the wheel of a Mazda Miata hints that you’re having a mid-life crisis.
4. Costs Too Much Money
This one might not come as a surprise, but 17 percent of car shoppers said they avoided a certain car because it costs too much money. Most car shoppers have experienced it before: seeing their dream car on the dealership lot while cautiously walking over to the sticker in the window. Then their eye catches the higher-than-expected price tag and they quickly walk away uninterested.
3. Concerned About Reliability
Vehicle reliability has become an increasingly important factor when deciding what vehicle to purchase. In this year’s study, 17 percent noted a concern about reliability when it came to avoiding a certain car, a statistic that likely doesn’t bode well for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), which routinely finds its brands at the bottom of J.D. Power’s annual reliability study.
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2. Didn’t Like its Interior Look or Design
Sometimes, no matter how great a car looks on the outside, there are certain elements you just can’t get past once you get into the cabin. Maybe it’s too bland or maybe it’s too flashy, or sometimes it’s because certain buttons or knobs (or lack thereof – we’re looking at you, Honda) just aren’t where they should be intuitively. Whatever the case, 18 percent of shoppers avoided a certain car because the interior just didn’t appeal to them.
1. Didn’t Like its Exterior Look or Design
And the top reason shoppers avoid certain cars is that they just simply didn’t like its exterior look or design. An overwhelming 31 percent made it their reason to leave a car behind on the dealership lot, proving just how important a car must look if it hopes to succeed in the marketplace. And maybe that’s why the Pontiac Aztek was never considered a success, earning itself accolades like the L.A. Times naming it the “Worst Car Ever Sold in America.”
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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For 2016 the entire Lexus line is as ugly as homemade sin. That grill design is comical. There are those who say the design language is to attract a younger segment. I seriously doubt the younger segments will find the Lexus looks good. Also, the younger demographic isn't driving or buying cars any longer anyway and Lexus is moving away from the demographic who still buys cars, especially premium cars. This may go down as one of the biggest blunders in automotive history because Lexus have botched their entire product line not just produced a single ugly vehicle.
ah the azteck days lol. at least the later versions got rid of all that black plastic