Macho Movers: Male Drivers' 10 Favorite Vehicles

Men want cars that exude power, performance and exclusivity. Vehicles with the highest percentage of male drivers are among the flashiest, loudest and most expensive models on the market.

by BENGT HALVORSON, ForbesAutos.com

The Mercedes Benz G-Class, with its military-inspired look, ranks sixth on our list.

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Imposing SUVs with boxy styling and large grilles have a “big and powerful” look that experts say resonates with men.

Three such examples on our list are the Cadillac Escalade ESV, which takes the eighth spot with 85.13 percent male primary drivers; the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, in sixth place with 88.84 percent; and the second-ranked Mercedes-Benz GL-Class with 90.47 percent. All are exceptionally large, flashy and domineering.

Cadillac designed the Escalade with both men and women in mind, and the brand advertises to both, says Joanne Krell, a spokesperson with General Motors, Cadillac’s parent company. The Escalade is actually popular with women, Krell says, and the numbers might not represent the full picture in this case.

But one of the main reasons Cadillac suspects the Escalade appeals to men is that it’s “usually the No. 1 choice of professional athletes … and that gives it a definite cool factor,” Krell says. The Escalade is also one of the few vehicles where especially big and tall men can get comfortable, she says.

Driving Pleasure

Men are generally more willing than women to sacrifice a smooth ride for sharp handling or to overlook an impractical cargo arrangement for an engine with more pep, experts say. (Read more about what motivates female car buyers here.)

“The key difference between men and women luxury buyers is that more men really love to drive,” , says Alexander Edwards of the California-based consulting firm Strategic Vision. “And it is more often one of their favorite things to do.”

More than 90 percent of Lamborghinis are driven primarily by men — enough to earn it the third spot on our list.

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In a new-vehicle experience study, Strategic Vision found that 31 percent of men said driving is one of their favorite things to do, while only 18 percent of women said the same.

Men are more likely to consider used vehicles if they can’t buy the flashy vehicle they want new, Edwards says. Women are more prone to settle for an affordable new car rather than their dream model, he says.

Four spots in our ranking are held by vehicles made for the sole purpose of looking good and going fast and, as such, are among the most impractical models available. Molnar calls them “testosterone show-off devices.”

Collectively, Lamborghinis occupy the third spot on the list with 90.32 primary male primary drivers. For boutique automakers with extremely low production numbers, CNW does not break out specific models.

Lamborghinis are notoriously loud, in-your-face, cramped inside, and hard to get in and out of — all qualities that run directly opposite of most women’s tastes.

Aston Martins and Ferraris are equally impractical and geared toward driving enthusiasts seeking high-speed thrills. Aston Martin sports cars have 81.25 percent male primary drivers and rank 10th on the list. Ferraris have 85.82 percent and rank seventh.

About Our Ranking

Our list highlights the top 10 vehicles with the highest percentage of male primary drivers based on information from CNW Marketing Research, which includes the company’s own survey data, vehicle registrations and insurance industry statistics. The list does not account for yearly vehicle sales volumes. Go to the slideshow to see the full list.