Driving home for Christmas? New research by Honda UK reveals Brits’ travel plans for the festive season

• More than three quarters of Brits (81%) will be relying on their car over the festive period
• Presents (64%), food (47%) and shopping (47%) are the most popular items to travel with
• More than a quarter of people (26%) will be listening to festive music while on the road
• The multiple award winning 11^th generation Civic e:HEV which launched earlier this year, is the perfect family hatchback to get you from A to B this Christmas

Santa’s sleigh is set to be the second most important mode of transport in the UK this Christmas, as new research from Honda UK has revealed that 81% of Brits will be relying on their car over the festive period. The all-new Civic e:HEV features updated hybrid technology that delivers superior levels of refinement and real-world efficiency.

Honda UK conducted a survey of 2,000 people in the UK, and it’s clear that Chris Rea was right – driving home for Christmas is on the cards for many.

With Christmas just around the corner, Honda’s research offers an insight into how people plan to travel this holiday season.

Driving During the Festive Period

Honda UK’s survey revealed that the most common number of trips that Brits plan on making is between four and six (35%), covering a distance of less than 50 miles (29%).

People in Northern Ireland will be most reliant on a car over the festive period (94%), followed by people in the East Midlands, the South West, and Yorkshire and the Humber (each 85%). Those in London are set to be the least reliant on a car, with just 28% hitting the road over Christmas.

Roads are typically busier at this time of year, and the weather conditions can be more volatile, so it’s important to drive carefully and be aware of other road users. The new Honda Civic e:HEV offers the latest Honda Sensing technology as standard across all grades. Features include and are not limited to; 11 airbags, collision mitigating technology, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control.   

Travelling Together

Honda UK’s research suggests that people prefer to travel with company as more than two thirds (70%) are joined in the car by a partner, friend and or child/children.

Travelling alone is significantly less likely. With only 11% of those surveyed doing so over the festive period.

The new Honda Civic e:HEV lends itself to carrying a full car of passengers comfortably. The cabin has been designed to encourage outside light to filter through, increasing the sense of space for passengers in the back. The boot offers a 400-litre capacity.

A Balancing Act

The festive period is a time for families to come together and celebrate, with presents, food and beverages. But first, you have to get it all in the car. The below table reveals the most popular things to travel with.

Above: a table containing survey data gathered by Honda UK.

While this may look like a lot to get in one car, especially once all of the passengers are fastened in, it’s clear that Brits have some tricks up their sleeves.

One in six people (15%) carefully and meticulously plan their packing, and almost half of people (46%) pack their belongings in bags to maximise space. Just 11% of people intend to use built-in car storage, such as parcel shelves and hidden compartments, and only 7% will be using a roof box.

Honda offer a range of exterior accessories including bike carriers, roof boxes and ski & snowboard attachments, all of which are designed to store and transport those extra items without impacting on storage inside of the car.

Most Common Passenger Activities Revealed

In keeping with the festive season, more than a quarter of people will be listening to a Christmas playlist (26%) while on the road. Gen Z is most likely to enjoy a festive soundtrack for their car journeys, with more than half of people between ages 18 and 24 (52%) listening to a Christmas playlist.  

A surprising number of survey respondents (14%) admitted to arguing with family whilst travelling at Christmas time.

The top five passenger activities are as follows:

Above: a table containing survey data gathered by Honda UK.

With so many people travelling over the festive period, Honda UK recommend a number of activities to keep children entertained whilst on long journeys, such as playing the word association game or road trip bingo.

Rebecca Adamson, Head of Automobile at Honda UK, comments: “2022 has been a very busy year at Honda UK with the launch of the all-new Civic e:HEV and most recently the Civic Type R. We look forward to more excitement and joy in 2023 and in the meantime wish everyone safe and enjoyable journeys over the holiday period.”

To find out more about the Honda Civic e:HEV, visit  https://www.honda.co.uk/cars/new/civic-hybrid/overview.html.

-ENDS-

Note to editor

The festive period refers to 22^nd December – 2^nd January.

Methodology

Audience: 2,000 UK adults.

Survey period: 17/11/22 – 23/11/22.

The survey was unbranded for all respondents.

Panel Provider: Honda via OnePoll.

Data

Q – Do you rely on your car over the Christmas period (22^nd December – 2^nd January)?

Q – How many trips in a car are you planning on taking between 22^nd December and 2^nd January? (including shopping, visiting friends/family etc)

Q – How far do you plan on travelling by car (in total) over the festive season (22^nd December – 2^nd January)?

Q – Do you rely on your car over the Christmas period (22^nd December – 2^nd January)? (by region)

Q – When travelling during the Christmas period (22^nd December – 2^nd January), how many people will you typically travel with?

Q – How do you pack the car for Christmas? Select all that apply.