QUEENSLAND: THE Sunshine Coast is one of the few places in Queensland where sedans and station-wagons out-number trailers.
A special APN analysis of the state’s registration data shows most major regional centres have more trailers than any other vehicle type.
Going against the trend, the Coast’s most popular vehicle body shape is the sedan.
With 37,206 on the region’s roads, they outrank station-wagons by more than 7800.
Utes and hatches are also popular, with the former fuelled along by the region’s blue-collar sector and the latter getting a nudge from the rising popularity of European brands.
RACQ technical and safety policy executive manager Steve Spalding said the high number of sedans was not surprising.
“To some extent the sedan with the large boot has really been an extension of the large family sedan that has been here for decades,” Mr Spalding said.
He said choosing the perfect body type was as simple as keeping your eyes open.
“I think the way a buyer should approach this is if they are shopping for a certain type of vehicle and they see large numbers of a certain shape on the road then that really is the indication of the popularity of that car,” he said.
Mr Spalding said regardless of the shape, safety should always be the key thing when choosing a new or second-hand vehicle.
He urged buyers to look at Australasian New Car Ass
essment Program and Used Car Safety ratings before signing on the dotted line.
“Buy a vehicle that has as many safety features as possible and make sure you ask those very detailed questions about safety and don’t be fobbed of with any comments such as safety is not important. It makes the difference whether you walk away from a crash or not,” he said.
