U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Office

Fact #430: June 26, 2006
Trends in Vehicle Attribute Preference

"Which of the following attributes would be MOST important to you in your choice of your next vehicle?" was the question asked in a June 2006 survey. The choices were dependability, safety, fuel economy, quality, and low price. This same question was asked in previous surveys and the results are compared in the graph below. Dependability was chosen most often in nearly every survey. In 2006, 19% of the survey respondents indicated that fuel economy would be the most important vehicle attribute.

Most Important Attribute for Your Next Vehicle
Graph showing the consumer response (for various years from 1980 to 2006) to choosing the most important attribute when purchasing their next vehicle. Attributes include fuel economy, dependability, low price, quality, and safety. For more detailed information, see the table below.

Supporting Information

Q: Which one of the following attributes would be most important in your choice of your next vehicle?
Year Fuel Economy Dependability Low Price Quality Safety
1980 42% 31% 14% 4% 9%
1981 20% 40% 21% 7% 12%
1983 13% 38% 30% 11% 9%
1985 8% 41% 29% 12% 10%
1987 4% 44% 31% 8% 14%
1996 7% 34% 11% 19% 29%
1998 4% 36% 5% 20% 34%
2000 11% 33% 11% 22% 24%
2001 11% 30% 8% 22% 30%
2004 22% 26% 10% 19% 23%
2005 12% 33% 7% 21% 28%
2006 19% 27% 6% 19% 25%

Source:
For 1980-87: J. D. Power (data based on new car buyers).
For 1996: Opinion Research Corporation International for NREL, Study # 70550, December 12, 1996.
For 1998: Opinion Research Corporation International for NREL, Study # 707089, February 19 - 22, 1998, N = 1,019.
For 2000: Opinion Research Corporation International for NREL, Study # 709318, August 3 - 6, 2000, N = 1,013.
For 2001: Opinion Research Corporation International for NREL, Study # 710288, July 12, 2001, N = 1,004.
For 2004: Opinion Research Corporation International for NREL, Study # 713228, May 27, 2004, N=949.
For 2005: Opinion Research Corporation International for NREL, Study # 714209, May 20, 2005, N=1012.
For 2006: Opinion Research Corporation International for NREL, Study # 715238, June 8, 2006, N=1,007.

 

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