We at Team Centennial, the car and truck leasing force at Centennial Leasing & Sales in Phoenix AZ, want to know if you’ve ever wondered what young drivers are buying.

It just so happens that a new TrueCar study asked America’s youth that very question, and the results are in. According to the study, 18-34 year olds are primarily purchasing new Mitsubishis (18.3%), Mazdas (18%), Volkswagens (17.6%), Nissans (15.6%), and Minis (15%). The young folks surveyed are least likely to purchase a Buick (3.6%), Lincoln (4%), or Cadillac (5.1%).

TrueCar research uncovered and revealed a list of the top ten models that these key consumers are buying. Here is the list indicating why the kids like these models. It is shown in descending order:

10. Acura TSX

The Acura TSX is known in car enthusiast circles as the European Honda Accord in new clothing. Equipped with a base 201-horepower four-cylinder and five-speed automatic, the TSX wooed over 13.4% of America’s youth. The polled adolescents ignored the buff mags reviews, stating that the four-cylinder isn’t the best powertrain for a car of such weight. Despite its so-so performance, whippersnappers admire the car’s good value and standard equipment levels for the price.

9. Subaru Impreza

This is not the WRX with the 265-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It’s the base 2.5 liter, 170 hp four-cylinder engine with manual transmission. 13.5% of kids selected this car although the engine isn’t great and the Sahara Desert’s interior has more features than the Impreza’s.

8. Honda Fit

It appears young buyers are taking the “The Fit is Go” commercial’s message to heart, since 13.9% chose the base Fit with a stick shift. Survey respondents most likely bought the Fit because of the ad where the car balloons like a giant blowfish to protect its occupants. Too bad no one has told them that the blowfish feature is fiction.

7. Jeep Commander

The black sheep of the Jeep family has always been the Commander. Based on the Grand Cherokee design, the Commander wasn’t Jeep’s best attempt at an off-roader. Somehow though, 14% of young buyers purchased the base sport model with 2WD. Most people think the reason may be Chrysler’s “come to our dealer and receive a new Commander for free event sale.”

6. Audi A3

14.9% of young buyers opted for the five door hatchback with manual transmission. The mystery question is, why did they buy this when they could have bought a GTI? Interestingly, young buyers reportedly make up just less than 70% of all Audi buyers.

5. Mini Cooper

Small and frisky, it’s not a bird or a plane, it’s not Mighty Mouse… it’s the diminutive Mini Cooper! With its go-kart handling, cheeky attitude and widely held pop culture acceptance, the Mini Cooper has a loyal following amounting to about 15% of this young demographic.

4. Nissan Titan

Next on the list is Nissan’s (some say questionable) attempt to produce a full size pickup. Directly targeting the big three, this hauler brings to mind a missile that crashes soon after take-off. Frankly, sales have been less than weak. The Nissan Titan’s failure to launch hasn’t been helped by its competition, as the big three and Toyota all have introduced new versions of their full size pickups. These make the Titan the senior truck in the group. A full15.6% of young buyers surveyed picked up a Titan King Cab 2WD model, probably because it was part of a “Test-drive-any-new-Nissan-and-win-a free-Titan!” promotion.

3. Volkswagen GTI

This “little brother” GTI boasts of an engine producing 200 hp with the help of a turbocharged 4-cylinder mill. Indeed, it is way above and beyond the original in terms of power. The GTI has a choice of a two-door or four-door hatchback. 17.6% of young buyers take a two door with a manual transmission.

2. Mazda3

With Mazda’s famous tag line of “Zoom Zoom”, one would expect the Mazda 3 with its sedan and five door hatchback choices to be zooming off the lots; and it is. 18.0% of young buyers surveyed choose the sedan with the manual transmission. Plus, the smile on the front end reflects how owners feel about the 3, smiles all the way.

1. Mitsubishi Lancer

In the number 1 slot, the Mitsubishi Lancer is truly a major surprise. Based on rental car fleet royalty, also known as the Chrysler Sebring, the Mitsubishi Lancer somehow turned an awful car known as Sebring into a car a young buyer would be interested in. Offered in a sedan or five-door hatchback, 18.2% of buyers chose the sedan.

So, that’s the latest buzz from Team Centennial group of Phoenix auto leasing and sales professionals. How do these revelations align with your previous notions of what kids are buying?

Source: TrueCar William Maley contributed to this article.

Author Bio: Captain Centennial, whose real name is Monty Buckingham, is the longtime Public Information Officer for Team Centennial at Centennial Leasing & Sales in Phoenix, AZ. Visit us on the Web at www.teamcentennial.com

Category: Automotive
Keywords: Centennial Leasing, auto leasing, centennial leasing and sales, centennial leasing arizona, autos