Pebley Beach reveal what car drivers really want

Air conditioning, parking sensors, electric windows, and satellite navigation top the list of must-have options when motorists buy a new car.

The Top 20 list is released by Swindon Hyundai dealer Pebley Beach following a survey conducted by Hyundai UK.

Hyundai UK asked 2,000 motorists what features they looked for in a car to mark the roll-out of Click To Buy to showrooms.

Click To Buy, which has been available to customers at home since 2016, will be coming to franchise dealers including Pebley Beach. 

The service ensures clarity and transparency, reassuring customers they are getting a fair trade in price for their old car, and the best price on their new Hyundai. The site also has important information about monthly payments, CO2 emissions, equipment and fuel economy.

But customers will still have the advantage of looking at, sitting in, and driving a new model before they buy.

Hyundai UK's survey found that over a third of motorists don't now 'shop around' when buying a new car, preferring to do their research online before opting for the first car that they go to see.

Tony Whitehorn, CEO of Hyundai UK, said: "Today’s car-buyers are better informed than ever, and they’re making very concrete decisions on which car they want before even going to see it. 

"This is a trend that we’ve seen grow in recent years and we want to be ahead of it, which is why we offer the most comprehensive new-car-buying research and online purchasing tool on the market, with Click to Buy."

Unsurprisingly, the most important thing for car buyers were price, followed by reliability, comfort, and economy. The badge a car is wearing became less important as respondents got older. 

When it came to options – something for which Hyundai is renowned – air conditioning was most important, cited as a 'must' by 42 percent of respondents. Parking sensors, electric windows, and satellite navigation also topped respondents' shopping lists.

Dominic Threlfall, managing director of Pebley Beach, said: "All of our sales executives are trained to utilise the benefits of the Click to Buy platform.

"Should customers wish to consider their options away from the showroom, they can complete the transaction from the comfort of their own home."

The top 20 features new car customers are looking for are:

1. Air conditioning
2. Parking sensors
3. Electric windows
4. Sat-nav
5. Spacious boot
6. Digital radio
7. Demisting mirrors
8. Automatic braking system
9. Heated seats
10. Bluetooth
11. Parking cameras
12. Sound system
13. Cruise control
14. Lumbar Support
15. Panoramic Sunroof
16. Leather seats
17. Cup holder
18. Heated Steering Wheel
19. Remote Start
20. Android Auto/Apple CarPlay