The manufacturers and fashions automobile customers need most—regardless of stock ranges

The numbers come from Kelley Blue Guide’s third quarter Model Watch survey — a shopper notion survey that additionally weaves in buying conduct to find out how a model or mannequin stacks up with its phase rivals on a dozen elements key to a shopper’s shopping for choice.

Kelley Blue Guide produces separate reviews masking luxurious automobile customers and people purchasing for hybrids and electrical automobiles. We count on to publish these figures shortly.

Toyota’s lead retains rising even after they’re low on stock

Toyota has held the highest spot for a lot of the previous 5 years. So its win is unsurprising in some methods.

The Japanese automaker widened its lead within the third quarter. It now leads second-place Ford
F,
+2.28%
by 5%. Chevrolet got here in simply behind Ford at 29%. Honda
HMC,
+2.30%
was the one different automaker shut at 24%, adopted by a gaggle of manufacturers within the 9% to fifteen% vary.

Toyota’s lead is stunning as a result of the world’s largest automaker has been hit onerous by the continuing microchip scarcity, COVID-19-related manufacturing unit shutdowns in Asia, and different supply-chain challenges. Toyota sellers ended October with a mean of 10 days’ provide of automobiles to promote, in comparison with 28 days for second-place Ford and 26 days for Basic Motors
GM,
+3.47%.

Earlier than 2020, it was widespread for automakers to attempt to maintain at the very least six weeks’ provide of automobiles in inventory.

The quantity may symbolize missed alternatives for a lot of patrons. The availability disaster is just not evenly distributed. Automakers with restricted provides are nonetheless promoting automobiles for near sticker value, whereas some with extra automobiles to promote have returned to heavier reductions.

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The ten most thought-about manufacturers

Excessive gasoline costs nonetheless driving some choices

Excessive gasoline costs have pushed extra customers to think about hybrids, electrical automobiles, and even old style sedans in 2022.

Quarterly consideration progress for the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid soared by 21%, at the very least partly on account of excessive gasoline costs. It’s constantly the most-shopped electrified automobile and returned to the highest 10 most-shopped of all non-luxury automobiles within the quarter after dropping off on the finish of final yr. As well as, the Camry, the common RAV4, and the Tacoma ranked within the prime 10.

Procuring consideration for automobiles has now rebounded to pre-pandemic ranges. SUVs and vehicles nonetheless dominate, however customers have been taking a brand new take a look at sedans and coupes. Of all non-luxury customers, 40% thought-about a automobile. A yr in the past, lower than a 3rd thought-about a automobile.

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Nonetheless, SUVs remained the preferred automobile fashion. Of all non-luxury customers, two-thirds contemplate an SUV, a degree that has held regular for a while. Greater gasoline costs have customers smaller, extra fuel-efficient SUVs dominated by Honda and Toyota. Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and RAV4 Hybrid have been the most-shopped SUVs, in that order.

The ten most-considered fashions:

Affordability, gasoline effectivity rising extra vital

The survey additionally asks customers to rank the elements that drive their decision-making. Usually, we see little or no shift from quarter to quarter.

Reliability retained the highest spot however slipped a bit in significance — presumably as a result of the reliability of most automobiles has been bettering in recent times so the danger of shopping for an unreliable automobile is pretty low.

Affordability grew in significance as automobile costs soared and recession threats grew within the third quarter. Gasoline effectivity rose in significance, narrowly lacking the highest 5.

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Issues most vital to new automobile customers

This story initially ran on KBB.com.