Environmental concerns rank just 23rd of 26 factors when people choose a car, claims a new survey.

However, fuel economy is one of the top three; is that not an indirect environmental factor?

From The Globe and Mail story:

The notion that fretful Canadians concerned about global warming are racing out to buy more environmentally friendly vehicles is overblown, according to a survey of new vehicle buyers by Maritz Research.

Buying an environmentally friendly vehicle ranked just 23rd among 26 reasons for purchase, the Maritz New Vehicle Customer Study of 38,500 buyers showed.

Protecting the environment ranked well behind value for money, fuel economy and reliability -- the top three reasons for buying a certain vehicle -- and was also less important to those surveyed than towing capability and interior styling. Even buyers of subcompact cars were more interested in storage and cargo capacity than environmental friendliness.

"In actual buying behaviour, it's not manifesting itself in the purchase-decision process," said Chris Travell, vice-president of Maritz's automotive research group. "It doesn't hold a candle to these other issues."

While the issue of fuel economy ranked near the top of the survey list, Canadian buyers appeared to shrug off that concern last year.

They bought more luxury and large sport utility vehicles, the lightning rod for environmentalists who criticize the auto industry.

Sales of large SUVs jumped 17 per cent last year from 2005 levels, while luxury SUV sales jumped 6 per cent, according to data compiled by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants of Richmond Hill, Ont.

The large SUV segment includes some of the largest gas-guzzlers on the road, such as the Dodge Durango, Ford Expedition, Chevrolet Suburban and Toyota Sequoia. Luxury SUVs include such Canadian-built vehicles as the Lexus RX 330, Chrysler Pacifica and Acura MDX.

Increases in sales of those vehicles came in a year when the average price of regular gasoline topped out at $1.13 a litre in August.

That being said, buyers indicated that if given the choice between a hybrid or conventional car, the buyers would likely go with the hybrid if all other factors were the same, Travell said.