The Mercedes C-Class, Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3 are the only cars to have retained their position in the top ten contract hire market compared to a decade ago, new research shows.<\/p>\n
According to data released by ContractHireAndLeasing.com, a shift in the most popular contract hire cars in the last ten years has seen smaller vehicles displace larger vehicles and more traditional executive models. The 2004 list of the most searched-for business and personal leasing cars on the company\u2019s website featured two Saab models, the Land Rover Discovery, BMW 5 Series, BMW X5, BMW X3 and Audi A4.<\/p>\n
The collapse of Saab has naturally seen the 9-3 and 9-3 convertible vanish from the 2014 list, but there\u2019s also a notable move towards more compact, fuel-efficient models. Top models based on searches on the website between January 2014 and the end of June 2014 include the Mercedes A-Class, BMW 1 Series, Nissan Qashqai, Ford Fiesta and Range Rover Evoque.<\/p>\n
The Ford Fiesta \u2013 Britain\u2019s top-selling car over the last few years and a clear favourite with car buyers \u2013 is also now one of the UK\u2019s top contract hire cars too. Data from the website searches suggests that the entry of models like the Ford Fiesta and Nissan Qashqai into the top searches has been driven by personal leasing customers.<\/p>\n
However, an executive model tops the charts, the Mercedes C-Class moving from eighth place in 2004 to usurp the 2004 chart-topping VW Golf. However, the dominance of German brands has fallen back slightly in the past decade \u2013 they now claim seven of the ten top search places, compared to eight in 2004.<\/p>\n
Dave Timmis, managing director of ContractHireAndLeasing.com, said: \u2018We seen a shift in the size of the typical car searched for on the website over the last ten years, as consumers look for vehicles which are tax and fuel efficient. New entries such as like the Nissan Qashqai and Ford Fiesta suggests that leasing customers are increasingly looking for vehicles which than are practical and cheaper to run.\u2019<\/p>\n
This is how 2014\u2019s top ten most popular contract hire cars compares to 2004\u2019s list, according to ContractHireAndLeasing.com\u2019s website searches:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0Rank<\/strong><\/td>\n| \u00a0First half of 2014<\/strong><\/td>\n | \u00a02004<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \u00a01<\/td>\n | \u00a0Mercedes-Benz C-Class<\/td>\n | \u00a0Volkswagen Golf<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \u00a02<\/td>\n | \u00a0Mercedes-Benz E-Class<\/td>\n | \u00a0BMW X3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \u00a03<\/td>\n | \u00a0Volkswagen Golf<\/td>\n | \u00a0Audi A4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \u00a04<\/td>\n | \u00a0Mercedes-Benz A-Class<\/td>\n | \u00a0Saab 9-3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \u00a05<\/td>\n | \u00a0BMW 3 Series<\/td>\n | \u00a0Audi A3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \u00a06<\/td>\n | \u00a0BMW 1 Series<\/td>\n | \u00a0BMW 5 Series<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \u00a07<\/td>\n | \u00a0Audi A3<\/td>\n | \u00a0BMW X5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \u00a08<\/td>\n | \u00a0Range Rover Evoque<\/td>\n | \u00a0Mercedes-Benz C-Class<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \u00a09<\/td>\n | \u00a0Nissan Qashqai<\/td>\n | \u00a0Land Rover Discovery<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \u00a010<\/td>\n | \u00a0Ford Fiesta<\/td>\n | \u00a0Saab 9-3 Convertible<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | <\/p>\n Source: Dealer Update <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" |