Destination unknown: Almost half of Quebec residents are parking their summer road trip plans, due to rising costs of fuel Français
40% are considering more fuel-efficient electrified vehicles to avoid high prices at the pump down the road
MONTREAL, May 14, 2019 /CNW/ - Whether travelling to the province's charming historical capital, through vineyards in the Eastern Townships, or marveling at scenic views along the Gaspé Peninsula, la Belle Province offers a myriad of beautiful summer road trip destinations – and even with the costs of hotels and entertainment, a trip by car can be more affordable than flying. But with gas prices at an all-time high, the price at the pump may just be too much for the average Quebecer's travel budget. Will they be staying close to home this summer to avoid paying at the pump? 44% of Quebec respondents in a national survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Toyota Canada this month, say yes.
78% of national respondents factor the estimated costs for fuel when developing their vacation budget and unfortunately this summer, the numbers just aren't adding up. Not only do 44% of Quebec respondents (compared to 47% national) say high gas prices are making it less likely that they will take a summer road trip, but more than one in four (26% in Quebec and 27% nationally) are actually considering changing their existing plans because of the high prices at the pump. The survey, conducted with 2005 respondents across Canada, including 409 Quebec residents from May 3-6, 2019, revealed that 62% say rising fuel prices are not just impacting their summer vacation plans - but their general household finances as well. The good news is, that Quebecers aren't willing to give up their vacations so quickly – turning to longer-term alternate solutions, such as electrified vehicles to control the impact fuel has on their daily lives.
"Looking ahead, we're not surprised that 55% of respondents in Quebec are likely to consider purchasing an electrified vehicle in the next five years. As a leader in this space, Toyota is thrilled to see that the people of Quebec and across Canada are recognizing their value – not just for their impact on the environment, but for the potential impact on their wallets too," says Stephen Beatty, vice president, Toyota Canada. "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."
As consumers continue to search for ways to improve their fuel efficiency amidst record gas prices, Toyota sees a correlating growth of the electrified vehicle market. In fact, Toyota Canada Inc. reported that electrified vehicles accounted for a record 16.7% of its total sales in April. Led by the popularity of the all-new made-in-Canada Toyota RAV4 hybrid (2,112 units sold, up 246.8%), the momentum from TCI's best-ever month for electrified vehicle sales (3,876 units sold, up 82%) led the company to a 6.1% overall sales increase in April. Nearly 1/5th of Toyota vehicles sold in British Columbia in 2018 were electrified vehicles, with leading increases occurring in other markets, such as Quebec and Ontario, where gas prices are also a concern.
With recent launches further expanding its line-up of fuel-efficient, low emission options, Toyota now offers an electrified vehicle for every Canadian driver, including:
Vehicle |
Type |
Category |
Combined Fuel Consumption |
2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid |
Hybrid Electric |
Compact SUV |
6.0L/100km* |
2020 Toyota Prius Prime |
Plug-in gasoline-electric |
Sedan |
4.3L/100km* |
2020 Toyota Corolla |
Hybrid Electric |
Compact Sedan |
(Anticipated) |
2019 Toyota Mirai |
Hydrogen-powered fuel- |
Sedan |
(Estimated) 500 km |
*Fuel efficiency estimates were determined using approved Government of Canada Test Methods. Actual fuel consumption will vary based on driving habits and other factors.
"There's a hybrid out there for everyone - from the adventure-seeker, to the bustling large family, to the commuter looking to shave some pennies off their daily drive," continues Stephen Beatty. "Now that summer's arriving, and plans for vacations are well underway, I'd recommend a visit to your local Toyota dealership to cross this item off your road trip essentials shopping list."
For the 47% of Canadians who confirmed that high gas prices are making it less likely they'll take a summer road trip, don't throw in the towel yet! In addition to considering an electrified vehicle to maximize fuel-efficiency, follow these tips from Natural Resource Canada to decrease your fuel consumption and associated costs any time you hit the road this summer.
- Accelerate gently and maintain a steady speed.
- Consider using cruise control for highway driving. Where traffic patterns permit, allow your speed to drop when you travel uphill, then regain your momentum as you roll downhill.
- Avoid idling your vehicle
- Don't carry unnecessary weight and remove roof or bicycle racks when not needed.
- Use air conditioning sparingly
- Use a fuel consumption display and learn how to track it
- Plan ahead - map out your route, especially if it's long
- Listen to local traffic reports and avoid accidents, road construction and other trouble spots
- Avoid roads that cut through major cities and are dotted with stoplights, intersections and pedestrians
- Use four-lane highways when you can
To learn more about Toyota's range of lower-emissions, electrified vehicles such as the RAV4 Hybrid, Corolla Hybrid, Prius Prime, Prius AWD-e, Mirai and more, visit Toyota.ca
About the Study
These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between May 3 and 6, 2019, on behalf of Toyota Canada. For this survey, a sample of 2,005 Canadians aged 18+ was interviewed online via the Ipsos I-Say panel. Quota sampling and weighting were employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within ±2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadian adults been polled. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
About Toyota Canada Inc.
Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Toyota has sold over eight million vehicles in Canada through a national network of 287 Toyota and Lexus dealerships. Toyota is dedicated to bringing safety, quality, dependability and reliability to the vehicles Canadians drive and the service they receive. TCI's head office is located in Toronto, with regional offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax, and parts distribution centres in Toronto and Vancouver. Toyota operates two manufacturing facilities in Canada. Having produced more than eight million vehicles, popular Canadian models built at these facilities include Toyota RAV4, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid. Recent investments at its facilities in Ontario will allow for increased production of the top-selling Toyota RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid models.
About Ipsos
Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks fourth in the global research industry.
With offices in 89 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across five research specializations: brand, advertising and media; customer loyalty; marketing; public affairs research; and survey management.
Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.
Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of €1,780.5 million in 2017.
For more details, including a full list of media contacts, digital images and product details please visit media.toyota.ca.
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Toyota Canada Inc. | 1 Toyota Place | Toronto, ON | M1H 1H9 | Canada
SOURCE Toyota Canada Inc.
Media Contact: Philippe Massé (Quebec), [email protected], 514.430.6295
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