By David Toscano, Trade Content Editor, carsales.com.au
Forget assumptions made on size, price or badge.
Discover the real rivals of some of the most iconic nameplates in the marketplace, from the perspective of car buyers on carsales.
Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester has always had a very loyal following, but what are its chief rivals in the eyes of car shoppers on Australia’s #1 for cars?
No surprises… it’s the super-popular Toyota RAV4 that carsales.com.au car buyers consider as the main alternative to a Forester. SUVs from Japenese and Korean rivals such as Mazda, Hyundai, Honda, Mitsubishi also feature heavily in buyer consideration sets, as well as the Volkswagen Tiguan and Golf.
Ram 1500
It’s big and brash: US-built, Australian-converted RAM 1500 pick-ups are in hot demand locally.
And it’s a mixed range of vehicles that Aussies cross-shop the1500 against. The Ford Ranger and the Toyota Australia Landcruiser are the 1500’s biggest rivals, while fellow US-rivals the Ford F150 and Chevrolet Silverado also figure highly on buyer shopping lists.
BMW 1 Series
The new BMW 1 Series is a recent arrival to the Australian new-car market and the premium small car category. Compared to its sporty and RWD predecessor, the new 1 Series is a more comfortable and practical vehicle with more rear-seat legroom and a bigger boot.
And with newfound credentials, it seems that Australian car buyers are comparing the new 1 Series to a wide range of vehicles including sedans and small SUVs. Although it’s no surprise that the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is the most cross-shopped rival to the BMW 1 Series, cheaper Made-in-Europe models such as the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus also feature highly on buyer consideration lists and even outrank another 1 Series traditional rival; the Audi A3.
