New research shows that whilst UK 4x4 sales continue to fall, bucking the trend for rising sales across the rest of Europe, British motorists are yet to be truly converted to the green cause.
Figures based on over 50,000 used car sales showing that 4x4s are the only category of vehicle where used car sales are actually falling (by 1.1% in 2007).
However, this doesn’t mean that we are necessarily becoming a nation of greener drivers. Despite a falling demand for 4x4s, a reported rise in the number of larger engine cars (2000cc and above) being sold in the same period.
The used car data mirrors the trend with new car registrations. In the UK, new 4x4 registrations did increase marginally by 0.2% in 2007 but that compares with an average increase of 1.7% across the whole of Western Europe. This indicates that Britain’s love affair with the 4x4 may be coming to an end (source ACEA - European Automobiles Manufacturers Association).
Mike Walsh, sales director at Carcraft, suggests that 4x4 drivers may simply be going ‘undercover’ to avoid criticism for their choice of car:
"It seems that people still want powerful cars but they are less keen on being seen driving a 4x4. I believe this could be the result of effective lobbying activity by groups such as the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s, who appear to be winning the PR battle against manufacturers."
The Alliance recently conducted a high profile campaign that involved placing mock parking tickets on 4x4s. However, Mike points out that whilst action by these groups may be starting to influence our car buying habits, they are probably not impacting on carbon emission levels as much as they hope.
"The 4x4s are being marked out by campaigners as being environmentally unfriendly and unfashionable but this is failing to get across the wider message," explains Mike. "The real issue isn’t the style of the car but its level of emissions.
"At Carcraft we now display CO2 emission levels on all cars in stock and grade them according to how environmentally friendly and fuel efficient they are. The aim is to help customers make the right decision when they come to choose their next car."
Figures based on over 50,000 used car sales have been released by Carcraft, the UK’s largest used car hypermarket chain.