"The shift in consumer preference seen earlier in the year towards cargo-friendly, small wagons and minivans appears to be solidifying among our members," noted Paul Timoteo, President of CarCostCanada. "While they're generally more midsize-car and mini-van oriented in their tastes than the general buying public, this marks the first time full-sized pick-ups and SUVs have failed to make the list."
 |
| Full-sized pick-ups and SUVs have failed to make the list, but "crossovers" such as the Toyota Matrix have seen a rise in popularity. (Photo: Toyota) |
Sport-cutes and "crossovers" such as the Toyota Matrix / Pontiac Vibe twins are the next hottest category, according to Timoteo. The internet-savvy shopper researching their next purchase seem to shun larger trucks and gravitate towards smaller, more affordable vehicles like Honda's CRV, the spunky Santa Fe from Hyundai or the rugged and outdoorsy image of Subaru's Forester. Watch for new entries including the Honda-powered Chevy Equinox due this fall and the Mazda3 hatch/wagon replacement for the current Protegé set to arrive later this year, to influence buyer preferences in the months ahead, and to leapfrog a few established nameplates as consumers continue to embrace practicality, sportiness and innovative designs.
 |
| Smaller more affordable vehicles, such as the upcoming Mazda3 (that will soon replace the Protegé), are grabbing the attention of future buyers. (Photo: Mazda) |
In selling cars, size matters, price counts and rebates may entice the undecided buyer. Yet the informed, sophisticated shopper filters out the noise and hype in search of traditional values - solid engineering, reliability, economy, utility, with perhaps a dash of styling excitement on the side. You can't get any more Canadian than that.