A recent survey from Toyota Canada reveals that 47 per cent of Canadians are likely to stall or halt their summer road trip plans due to the rising cost of fuel.
The survey, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Toyota Canada in May, indicates that the cost of fuel has many Canadians rethinking their road trip plans. This is because 78 per cent of Canadians will consider the cost of fuel when developing a vacation budget, and at the moment that cost is too high.
“The data we gleaned demonstrates the real-life challenges Canadians are facing as they try to make their summer plans without the costs of getting there taking up the whole budget,” said Stephen Beatty, Vice President of Toyota Canada.
Fuel efficiency is one of the top concerns for Canadians when considering purchasing a vehicle. Broken down by province: 52 per cent of Canadians in B.C. are less likely to take a summer road trip due to rising fuel prices, 53 per cent in Atlantic Canada, 44 per cent in Quebec, 50 per cent in the Prairies, and 45 per cent in Ontario.
What’s more, the cost of fuel has not only pushed many Canadians to reconsider their road trip plans — it has also impacted their household finances (23 per cent a lot, 33 per cent quite a bit).
Forty-four per cent of people surveyed are cutting back on the amount of driving they do around town as a result, 23 per cent are no longer planning a vacation that involves a lot of driving, and 29 per cent are cutting back on dining and entertainment costs.
But the company says not all Canadians are willing to give up their road trip plans just yet; some are turning to alternative solutions, such as electrified vehicles.
“Looking ahead, we’re not surprised that 52 per cent of Canadians are likely to purchase an electrified vehicle in the next five years,” said Beatty. “When it comes to improving the efficiency of your vehicle, there’s never been a better time to try out an electrified option such as a hybrid-electric, a plug-in or a fuel cell option where available.”
The new iZEV federal rebate program, which is stackable with other provincial zero-emission vehicle rebates, is also likely to serve as a strong incentive for many Canadians.
