An analysis of the search query on Efritin.com for the month of August shows the strength of this love and puts a perspective on Nigeria's most searched cars. It then helps one to understand its implication for the automobile sector of the economy.

ALSO READ: Three smartphones to jumpstart your photography career

Out of a total of about 100,000 search queries on leading online marketplace, Efritin, in the month of August, 25% of it were for different brands of Toyota. In the Toyota ‘family,’ the Corolla brand was the most branding, gulping about 12% of the total search for the brand with Camry trailing closely behind with 10%. Toyota Venza, Avalon and Matrix are bunched up in the remaining 3%.

The reason for this popularity may not be far from the many advantages attributed to the Toyota cars especially in the Nigerian market and economy. One of advantage Toyota brands have is the low fuel consumption rate of the average Toyota car. Another is the ease of maintenance. In this present economic reality, is not exciting to know that you don’t have to spend so much or overly stress yourself to maintain a car.

ALSO READ: How to dress to your next date

Following Toyota cars in the second place is Honda with 12% of the total search query in the month of August. Within this category, Honda Accord (with no particular specification of the year) is the most searched with 9% of the total while Honda CRV is placed a distant 2 at 2% while Honda Civic has 1%.

A major reason for the Honda brand’s popularity in the month of August may not also be far from its low fuel consumption rate. Like Toyota, Honda engineers were careful to make 2015 Honda Accord for example as fuel efficient as possible. Its four-cylinder model has a fuel economy rating of 35 mpg (miles per gallon) and despite the greater power output of the V-6 version still has a rating of 34mpg on a traffic free road.

What these indicate is that Nigerians are presently prioritising functionality over everything else as far as buying a car is concerned. When you also put into consideration the fact that both the Toyota and Honda brands have higher resale value (Tokunbo value) in an economy like ours where Tokunbo cars thrive, it then makes more sense. Let’s not forget that both brands are also comparatively affordable and are available either as used cars or brand new cars.

ALSO READ: MD of classified marketplace inspires teenagers at CEO Apprentice Africa

In the third place is Hyundai with less than 5% of the total search on Efritin in August 2016. Hyundai cars are beautiful and stylish. However, it is not a regular occurrence to buy tokunbo Hyundai cars in Nigeria. Hence, in the light of the present economic reality in the country, I think that while Nigerians love to drive good cars, there are limits to how much they are willing to spend on a car at this time. And this might be a reason why it got a lower search rate in August.

Are you looking to buy a car anytime soon? What car brands are you looking to buy and why?

Efritin is a leading online marketplace with a very rich inventory of tokunbo cars and brand new cars. Click here to buy your next car.