Petrol vehicles remain the top choice among potential buyers but electric vehicles are continuing to gain momentum, according to new YouGov data. Petrol remains the most commonly considered fuel type (55%) while 37% now consider fully electric vehicles.
This aligns with new data from Leasing Options. Electric and hybrid vehicles now account for 42.5% of Leasing Options’ demand.
Mike Thompson, Chief Operating Officer at Leasing Options, said: “While petrol cars still hold the strongest overall appeal among UK buyers, the gap is clearly starting to close.
“Both the YouGov findings and our own leasing data show that electric vehicles are becoming far more mainstream as drivers look for better long-term value, lower running costs, and greater flexibility. What’s especially notable is that this shift is no longer being driven solely by younger motorists.
“While Gen Z and Millennial buyers are leading the conversation around EVs and connected technology, we’re also seeing much stronger interest from middle-aged and older drivers, which points to a broader change in consumer attitudes.”
YouGov’s latest rankings also revealed the UK’s strongest automotive brands based on overall brand health metrics, including quality, reputation, value, satisfaction, and recommendation.
Volkswagen topped the list, followed by Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Audi. The second half of the list included Ford, followed by BMW, Honda, Porsche and Bentley.
Price remains the biggest factor influencing purchasing decisions among UK buyers, with 78% identifying it as important.
Safety ranked second at 58%, while performance, space, and fuel efficiency all scored above 50%.
