Cars for Women: What Types of Cars do Women Prefer?
Are 'cars for women' really a necessity, and what do women really want from a car?
Women have a long history behind the wheel. Photo by anyjazz65
Not surprisingly, men and women often have drastically different tastes and preferences when it comes to cars. Sure, there are women who want the fastest car they can get their hands on or the biggest, brawniest truck imaginable, but most women opt for practicality.
Women like cars too, guys.Photo by lightsight
According to a report done by TrueCar.com, women prefer smaller cars, such as the Volkswagen Beetle, Honda CR-V, Volvo S40, and Nissan Rogue, with women buying these cars over 50 percent of the time. Men, however, are purchasing larger vehicles or sports cars, like the Porsche 911, Ford F-Series, Cadillac Escalade, and Chevrolet Corvette, with over 80 percent of these cars sold to men. Obviously, the men’s preferences are much more drastic than the women’s.
Studies have also shown that when shopping for a car, women have different priorities than men. Based on the brands and models that women buy most, it shows that women prefer cars that offer a good value, have four doors, have good safety features, and have positive reviews.
AutoPacific surveyed 73,000 men and women asking them which features they were looking for in their next car or truck. About 40% of the respondents were women. AutoPacific found that women want more convenience features and high-tech safety features. Women preferred amenities such as automatic parallel parking, top-of-the-line safety features, power trunk/liftgate, hidden storage compartments, and other features that make driving easier and safer.
Men, on the other hand were opting for more visual components, such as a heads-up display, a reconfigurable instrument cluster, high intensity discharge headlamps, and premium wheels.
If you’re looking for a car specifically designed for women, you can always check out the Honda Fit She’s in Japan.
The Honda Fit She apparently offers something called a “Plasmacluster” air conditioning system and windshield glass that eliminates 99 percent of UV rays. Honda says both features are aimed at improving the driver’s skin quality.
From HotWheels to hot wheels.Photo by sean dreilinger
Men and women, which types of cars and features do you prefer in your cars? Tell us what tops your list in the comments below.
Sarah Mahan currently lives in the Bicycle Capital of the Midwest, Xenia, Ohio, with her band director husband and two darling daughters. She loves all things French and the written word.
Sarah writes professionally for the automotive industry. While her forte in cars focuses on new vehicle technology and family-friendly features, she is developing a love for all things fast, maybe in an attempt to get to know her wild side. See more articles by Sarah.