Are European drivers boring? These are the preferred colours for our cars

The body colours of the cars we buy are related to many things. They are important for understanding the tastes of buyers in a given market, so manufacturers focus on offering colours that appeal to buyers, helping them in choosing their next car. But do you know which body colours are preferred by Europeans?

The results of a recent study that collects data on this kind of thing are quite revealing. Europeans prefer our cars to have a “serious“ colour, with finishes in white, black and greys predominating. Brighter colours are relegated to models aimed at a younger audience with more diverse tastes.

According to the study carried out by Jato Dynamics in the seven main European markets, 70% of new cars are painted white, grey or black. Among them, grey is the most popular, accounting for a total of 27.3%, followed by white, with 22% of sales. In third place, the best-selling colour is black, with 18%.

Going further, the fourth most used colour on new cars is blue, with sales accounting for 12.1% of new cars. Red is present in 7.4% of new cars sold, while silver covers 5.4% of these cars and, finally, green represents 2.8% of new car sales.

There are models such as the Renault Clio that are offered in brighter colours, but even these are often chosen in more discreet bodywork. Other models, such as the FIAT 500 or the Renault 5, are chosen in more dynamic colours. In the case of the FIAT 500, 14% of sales correspond to units with black bodywork, although yellow follows in importance, with 12% of cars sold in this colour.

Yellow shares its percentage with gold, which also accounts for 12% of total sales. Other colours, such as red, green or pink, are quite popular on this model. However, grey represents only 2% of FIAT 500s sold.

Inside too

As far as the interior is concerned, buyers in Germany and the United Kingdom prefer luxury finishes, with leather upholstery and higher-quality trim. These buyers represent 57% of those surveyed. By contrast, the countries of southern Europe, which include Spain, prefer cloth trim, which is cheaper.