The Most Preferred Car Brands By Region
Jan 8, 2014
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- Image Credit: Tesla
A recent KBB study looked at four different regions in the U.S. -- the Northeast, South, Midwest and West -- to see which car brands the local population preferred. KBB analyzed the shopping habits of more than 10 million people and determined that specific brands are often heavily preferred in certain areas compared to others. In the Midwest, for instance, car shoppers are 64 percent more likely to consider a Chrysler than other regions, making the brand mostly a hometown favorite.
Head through to see the brands more popular in certain regions than others. You may be surprised at what you find. -
- Image Credit: Subaru
Northeast: Subaru
Subaru has a big presence in the Northeast portion of the United States. That makes sense. The Japanese automaker is renowned for its all-wheel drive systems, which can easily plow through the wintertime slush and snow prevalent in New England.
Popular models from Subaru include the Outback, Impreza and Forester (pictured here). These are all among the most reliable and safest vehicles you can buy. If speed is more your thing, the Subaru Impreza WRX boasts 265 hp and superb handling dynamics. -
- Image Credit: Volvo
Northeast: Volvo
Car shoppers in the Northeast are more likely to opt for Volvos than in other regions. These Swedish luxury cars, wagons and SUVs are adept at handling winter weather, much like Subarus. They're heavy cars and can almost always be purchased in all-wheel drive configurations. Though they're not the most exciting cars to drive, Volvos are super reliable and are among the safest cars on the market.
Popular Volvo models include the S60 sedan and XC70 wagon. -
- Image Credit: Nissan
South: Infiniti
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- Image Credit: Chrysler
South: Ram
Ram, which is a brand under the Chrysler umbrella, makes trucks and cargo vans. And good ones at that. Although the Ram truck line is consistently outsold by the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-Series, it's still a popular choice for people who need the versatility and muscle of a pickup. This is especially true in the South.
Ram makes a few different varieties of its truck. The Ram 1500 is your everyday work or commuter truck. The 2500 and 3500 are much more heavy-duty, with bigger engines and higher payload and towing capacities. -
- Image Credit: Chrysler
Midwest: Chrysler
It's not surprising to see Chrysler as one of the brands Midwesterners consider more than others. There is a lot of hometown pride when it comes to cars in the Midwest, making car shoppers more apt to buy American-made vehicles like the Chrysler 300 (pictured here).
Chrysler doesn't have many cars in its line, but the 300 and Town & Country are among the better options in their respective classes. -
- Image Credit: GM
Midwest: Buick
That same hometown pride that enthuses Midwesterners to shop for Chryslers also applies to Buicks. Shoppers in that region are much more likely to consider this luxury arm of Detroit-based General Motors than other regions.
Though Buick has a solid line of cars, with options like the Regal (pictured here), LaCrosse and Encore, it still has its work cut out for it when it comes to generating sales in regions that aren't the Midwest. While it may be a local favorite, shoppers elsewhere don't really have this brand on their radar. -
- Image Credit: Tesla
West: Tesla
If you've been to the San Francisco Bay area, specifically Silicon Valley, recently you'll have no surprise in learning that people out West are way more likely to consider a Tesla than other regions. A lot of this has to do with the fact that Teslas aren't available in many states, but it also highlights West Coasters' affinity for fuel efficiency. Tesla makes all-electric cars, meaning there are no fossil fuels involved whatsoever (unless you factor in the power plants used to generate the electricity).
Tesla only sells one vehicle right now, the Model S, but will debut an electric crossover in the near future. The Model S has been a darling of critics with its sleek design, great driving dynamics and luxurious interior. -
- Image Credit: Toyota
West: Scion
Another brand that West Coasters enjoy more than others is Scion, an arm of Toyota. Scions tend appeal to those who want some individuality and quirkiness with their cars, as they come with unique and often polarizing designs, both inside and out. Scions are also known for being fuel efficient, playing into the stereotype that people beyond the Rockies value being green above anything else when it comes to their vehicles.
Popular Scion models include the tC, which is a sporty coupe, and the FR-S, a rear-wheel drive sports car that handles like a dream.
