Just because you're wealthy doesn't mean you drive the flashiest car on the block, according to a recent TrueCar.com study that reviewed the top vehicles purchased in the wealthiest zip codes. While admittedly, luxury cars may fit into the stereotype lifestyles of these rich and famous, TrueCar data shows there are plenty of wealthy consumers who opt to drive mainstream brands.
TrueCar.com, the authority on new car pricing, trends and forecasting information, examined the car buying preferences of residents in the 10 wealthiest zip codes in the United States, as determined by the Internal Revenue Service to determine the most 10 most popular vehicles sold in America's wealthiest neighborhoods.
Among the top 10 most popular vehicles in America's wealthiest neighborhoods, half are non-luxury vehicles. And in a demographic where a car budget doesn't seem to be much of a concern, all vehicles are priced less than $50,000 -- with the exception of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW X5.
Some of the key findings in the data include:
The Toyota Prius was the most popular vehicle in Ross and Century City, Calif.
Of the top five vehicles purchased in Downtown Chicago, none were from luxury brands
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class was the most expensive model purchased in top ten wealthiest Zip codes
Manhattan represents the city with the wealthiest zip code and the most popular vehicle purchased was the Mercedes-Benz E-Class while the Honda CR-V rounds out the top five
SUV's are popular in Greenwich, Conn. with four out of the top five
The Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey are the only two minivans to make the top five purchased by residents in Medina, Wash.
"Luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus are the top choice for the well-off, but with wealth often comes freedom of choice. The data demonstrates, that wealthy consumers of today make value a top priority as half the vehicles purchased are from mainstream brands including Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen that offer the best in vehicle amenities and comfort that near those of some luxury models," said Kristen Andersson, Senior Analyst at TrueCar.com. "For affluent buyers who live in places where environmental concerns reign supreme, the Toyota Prius is the ultimate status symbol in eco-luxury."
Rank Make/Model Segment MSRP* Market Average** % Discount from MSRP†
1 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Luxury Car $51,365 $48,068 6.4%
2 BMW 328 Luxury Car $35,795 $34,461 3.7%
3 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Luxury Car $36,095 $34,144 5.4%
4 Lexus RX Luxury SUV $39,950 $37,628 5.8%
5 Toyota Prius Small Car $30,565 $29,525 3.4%
6 Volkswagen Jetta Small Car $26,085 $24,978 4.2%
7 Honda CR-V Midsize SUV $29,575 $28,875 2.4%
8 Honda Accord Midsize Car $23,070 $21,210 8.1%
9 Toyota Camry Midsize Car $25,535 $23,871 6.5%
10 BMW X5 Luxury SUV $58,595 $54,995 6.1%
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