By contrast, list prices across the UK’s new car market as a whole increased by a modest 0.9%, equivalent to an annual rise worth £123.
"The below-inflation uplift in average list prices for all new cars is part of an ongoing trend," says Alan Cole, editorial consultant for Glass’s Market Intelligence Service.
"In the face of falling new car registrations and intense competition, manufacturers remain reluctant to pass on rising steel and energy costs in case they put off more prospective buyers."
The 2.1% fall in average supermini list prices, equivalent to a drop of £209, has been partly influenced by the arrival of a new budget model, the Kia Picanto, which has prices starting at £5,352.
The above-average increase in list prices of compact family cars comes partly as a result of the launch of several new models over the past year – the Astra, Focus and the face-lifted Corolla to name but a few. Typically, these models have come in at around 4 to 6% higher than their predecessors, which has contributed to new car price inflation in the sector.
The volume-brand upper-medium car sector (Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Vectra, Toyota Avensis) continues to have some of the fastest rising list prices, with the sector as a whole up 2.7%, or £435, over the past year. This has been led by upgrades and new model introductions. For example, the entry point for the Renault Laguna diesel range is now more expensive, thanks to the 100bhp engine being replaced with a 120bhp unit.
The list price of the average SUV increased in price by 1.5% over the last 12 months.
The single biggest list price rise in April was for the Audi A6 2.0TD SE saloon, which increased by £510, or 2.2%, to £23,250. The largest single list price reduction last month was for the Renault Vel Satis 3.0 V6 dCi Privilege, which dropped £1,740, or 6.3%, to £25,787, to clear remaining stocks.
Login to comment
Comments
No comments have been made yet.