31% Mideast buyers opt for family cars

But despite an average of 2.15 children per family, the top car is the Toyota Land Cruiser, which could fit a family of four and still have plenty of space.

Dubai — Family-friendly vehicles are proving to be more popular than ever, with nearly 31 per cent of online car buyers in the Middle East searching for such vehicles using the family lifestyle filter.

In its latest research, Carmudi, a vehicle marketplace, found that despite declining birth rates and smaller family sizes, global car buyers are steadfastly continuing their search for family-friendly vehicles.

More conventional factors such as mileage, colour and brand type are declining in searches, and lifestyle preferences are taking the lead when it comes to influencing factors in vehicle purchasing decisions for buyers.

Carmudi analysed over seven million car searches on the company’s car classifieds website in the past month, and found that over 33 per cent of potential car buyers in Africa, Asia and the Middle East are searching for family cars, with 19.6 per cent searching for offroad cars, 11 per cent looking for luxury cars and 9.6 per cent looking for their first car on the site.

Interestingly, family size is rapidly decreasing globally, including in the UAE. In 2000, the average birth rate per woman was 2.64, and in 12 years, that number has decreased to 1.82.

In Africa, which has the highest birthrate at 4.57 children per woman, 39 per cent of buyers searched for family cars. The best selling car on the continent is the Toyota Hilux, an SUV that seats up to six adults.

Thirty-three per cent of consumers searching for cars in Asia, where the average family consists of 2.38 children per family, are also specifically looking for family vehicles. The best selling car in the region is the Toyota Corolla.

In the Middle East, 30.79 per cent search for family cars. But despite an average of 2.15 children per family, the top car is the Toyota Land Cruiser, which could fit a family of four and still have plenty of space.

Experts have revealed that when looking for a family car, buyers often have to consider a number of factors beyond budget and space such as: room for a baby seat and stroller if the family has a baby; toddler car seats; extra safety features such as added airbags in the back; bicycle racks for teenagers; how much the family will be travelling; buying a used/pre-owned or a new vehicle; and how easy the vehicle is to park and manoeuvre.

— rohma@khaleejtimes.com