Peugeot reigns over all it surveys...
For such an expensive purchase, buying a car can take very little time. Many of us see a model we like driving by on the street, or a classy print or television ad, and decide to investigate further.
When we do, that often consists of a day researching online, an hour in a showroom walking around the car, a couple of hours elsewhere to check out the competition in the segment, and a 15-minute test drive before we commit to paying anywhere between 12 grand and the sky’s the limit.
Right or wrong, we then have to live with the decision for years. That’s why the likes of the Auto Express Driver Power Survey in the UK are important, because real-life drivers vote on their purchases, offering genuine validation. In this 16th year of the survey, 80,000 respondents answered 31 questions in nine categories, rating the engine and gearbox; exterior; interior and comfort; practicality and space; ride and handling; safety; fuel economy; reliability and build; and infotainment, connectivity and electronics.
The winner, with 93.88% satisfaction, the highest score ever recorded, was the allconquering Peugeot 3008, European Car of the Year in 2017, Irish Car of the Year this year, and the winner of 39 other major awards.
The futuristic i-Cockpit that allows you customise the information you see on the dashboard, came in for particular praise, and the exterior score effectively was 100%. That’s a lot of love.
In order, the Top 10 were the 3008, Kia Niro, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Toyota Prius, Lexus RX, Lexus NX, Kia Sorento, Toyota Verso, Honda Civic and Skoda Octavia. Interestingly, six of the Top 10 were SUV/crossover bodystyles, confirming yet again the relentless move away from the standard saloon and hatchback, and three were available only as hybrids.
Worryingly, though, one in seven respondents said their car had developed an issue that needed fixing in the last 12 months, up from one-in-eight in the survey released last year.
As for the Peugeot 3008, prices start here from €26,595, and after a few issues matching supply to demand, it is the bestselling car in Ireland so far this month.