Which?: Brits ditch 4x4s
People in the UK are choosing smaller cars over 4x4s because of the credit crunch.
Increasing numbers of people in the UK are deciding not to buy 4x4s because of the credit crunch, according to the consumer magazine Which?The magazine claimed that "a previously healthy market for 4x4s has virtually collapsed" as more people are downsizing to smaller, cheaper models top reduce the costs associated with car ownership.
Which? claimed that buyers have been turned off by the higher taxes imposed on 4x4s and added that the vehicles have become less socially acceptable in an increasingly environmentally conscious country.
Richard Headland, editor of Which? Car, said: "Times are hard, so it's no surprise that people are downsizing to save money.
"It pays to think carefully about alternatives to the mainstream choices and if you go for a more fuel-efficient car you can cut costs for years to come."
Downsizing, or choosing not to buy 4x4s or luxury cars in the first place, could also help consumers cut their car insurance costs, as smaller models are generally cheaper to insure.
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