The Most Popular Cars in Hong Kong

In 2012, the most popular car to buy in Hong Kong was the Mercedes E-Class. Falling under the category of executive cars, Mercedes E-Class cars are known for their comfort, safety and performance; as well as for having established themselves as a leader amongst large and mid-size luxury vehicles.

Hong Kong buyers purchased 2,327 Mercedes E-Class models last year, making it the most popular car with 5.4 percent of the market share.

Coming in at second place, with 4.5 percent of the new car sales market, was the Toyota Hiace. In 2012, car owners in Hong Kong purchased 1,950 of these vehicles. As a larger-size van, the Hiace is mostly utilized by transportation agencies, along with private businesses or residents looking for a spacious, light-goods vehicle.

The BMW 5 Series was the third most popular car of 2012. With 1,895 models purchased and 4.4 percent of the market, autos from the 5 Series sold nearly as well as well as Hiace vehicles. Indeed, the 5 Series is quite popular around the world, and accounts for around 50 percent of BMW profits every year.

Features such as dynamic appearance, spacious interior, leading technology and efficient engine have all helped the BMW 5 Series become an increasingly popular choice for new car owners.

In the first part of 2013, the BMW 5 Series has taken the lead in new cars sold in Hong Kong. As of March, 472 of these vehicles had been purchased, the 5 Series accounted for 6.9 percent of the market.

Also showing gains in the market are autos from Honda, Hyundai and Nissan. The Honda Freed sold 133 models in February alone, putting it at seventh place in terms of the best-selling cars thus far in 2013. Last year, the Freed ranked 14.

The Hyundai H1 is currently positioned as the third most popular new car purchase in Hong Kong, having sold 261 vehicles during the early months of 2013. The H1 ranked 8 in 2012, and is therefore seeing an impressive rise in market share this year.

Coming in with 3.2 percent of the new car market in February, and 2.4 percent of the 2013 market thus far, is the Nissan Serena. Although Nissan is in general less popular with Hong Kong buyers, the Serena is perhaps gaining favor for its ample size, flexible seating arrangements and stylish interior.

For many Hong Kong residents, hazardous roadside pollution is a subject of much concern. In areas such as Central, Causeway Bay, Kwun Tong and Mong Kok, the Air Pollution Index is nearly always Very High or Severe. Because much of this pollution is due to idling vehicles, traffic congestion and general vehicular emissions, more and more drivers in Hong Kong have begun to explore the possibility of using electric cars.

At the beginning of 2011, HK Magazine reported that there were only 96 electric vehicles in Hong Kong; 22 of which were owned by the government. In 2012, a reporter from the blog Smart Planet found that there were 310 electric autos in Hong Kong. Although these numbers pale in comparison to the over-half-a-million vehicles being driven in the city, the statistics do at least show that interest in electric cars is growing.

New car buyers often choose to purchase a hybrid vehicle. The Toyota Prius, for example, sold 300 models in 2010 and has already seen 51 cars purchased in the first part of 2013.

Adventurous drivers concerned about the environment can enjoy the Tesla Roadster, available now in Hong Kong for the price of HK$1.07 million. The Roadster is an electric sports car. Running on electric power only, the car can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds.

Along with the popularity of luxury auto brands such as Mercedes, Lexus and BMW, many car buyers may choose to import a second hand, deluxe vehicle from abroad.

As reported by the South China Morning Post, the demand for pricy, top-name autos has lead economically viable individuals residing in Hong Kong to seek cars from overseas – nearly ten thousand of these vehicles were imported to the city in 2011.

Luxury favorites include models from Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley. Buyers may turn to car dealers abroad in order to purchase specialty makes, or to take advantage of economic woes in Europe which have forced some luxury car collectors to sell some of their deluxe models.

As in the rest of the world, Hong Kong drivers will often choose their car make and model based on the safety features available. The Mercedes E-Class, number one bestseller in Hong Kong last year, offered innovative safety technology such as blind spot assist, and radar sensors to keep alert for crash conditions and activate the brakes if needed.

Likewise, the Lexus RX, ranked as the fourth most popular car in Hong Kong last year, was rated by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as a Top Safety Pick. The RX also achieved high safety ratings in crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Part of keeping safe behind the wheel is investing in a suitable auto insurance policy. Car insurance might include vehicle repair, roadside assistance, and liability protection. With foresight, the medical or financial damages following a major accident or minor mishap can be reduced.