Revealed: Most popular cars on Gold Coast

Beamers on Hope Island, Holdens in Labrador, new data shows the most popular cars in every Gold Coast suburb – with some surprising results. See our suburb-by-suburb list.

NEW data has revealed that Toyotas continue to dominate Gold Coast roads, with the Japanese brand most popular with motorists in more than two thirds of suburbs.

Figures compiled by insurance comparison service Compare The Market show the second most popular brand was Hyundai.

BMWs are the car of choice in wealthy Hope Island, while Holdens were most popular in Labrador and Maudsland.

However while Gold Coasters are sticking with a tried and trusted brand, there have been some changes in the kind of car they are buying.

Breeze Hue from Hinterland Toyota, which has dealerships in Robina, Nerang and Beaudesert, said hybrid vehicles had become increasingly popular with Gold Coast drivers.

“Hybrid vehicles are really popular,” she said. “The RAV4 Hybrid is definitely one of the most popular models, the Corolla Hybrid is very popular as well.”

Outside of hybrid models, Ms Hue said the HiLux SR5 and Prado were also big hits with consumers.

The RAV4 Hybrid, which was News Corp’s Car of the Year for 2019, has proven popular among Gold Coast motorists. Picture: Kevin Farmer

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Compare the Market insurance expert Stephen Zeller says motorists should be aware that the vehicle model they drive can have a big impact on their insurance premiums.

“With 40kms of coastline to explore, SUV and ute models are popular among Gold Coast motorists who like to pack for adventure,” Mr Zeller said.

“Generally, if the car is expensive to replace, it’s expensive to insure. This may include the cost of car parts that need to be imported from overseas.

“Insurers also take account of whether your car is parked out on the street or locked up in a garage overnight.

“It’s important you keep your details updated, if you move, change jobs, or adopt different commuting habits, to make sure your covered if something goes wrong. If you’re driving less in lockdown, updating your annual mileage estimate could save you money.”

Unsurprisingly, Gold Coast drivers were more likely than the average Australian to have a modified car. About three per cent of cars on the Gold Coast are modified compared to the national average of 2.5%. The most common modified models on the Gold Coast are the Navara, Ranger, HiLux, Landcruiser and Patrol.

The figures also reveal where motorists rack up the most kilometres on average. Residents of Worongary have the longest commutes with an average annual estimate of 21,900kms, followed by Maudsland with an average of 19,300kms.

People from Main Beach had the shortest commute, racking up an average 10,000kms in a year, followed by Coombabah, Bundall, Currumbin and Ashmore.

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Originally published as Revealed: Most popular cars on Gold Coast