U.S, Finland, Italy, others best country for car enthusiasts
Global car sales reached approximately 75 million units, marking a 6% increase from the previous year. A recent study by an online gaming company analyzed car statistics across the world to identify the best countries for car enthusiasts. The research compared countries across key metrics, including road quality, fuel pricing, car brands, and insurance and maintenance costs to calculate the drive-friendliness score. Over 20 countries are ranked from the best to the worst, taking into account the described characteristics.
The best country for car enthusiasts is the U.S., with a drive-friendliness score of 100. The U.S. has the cheapest fuel prices in the ranking, with $0.83 per liter, as well as 231 native car brands. The country also has the second-highest road quality, showing extensive car-oriented infrastructure.
Finland ranks 2nd among the best countries for car enthusiasts, with a score of 91.5. Finland has the most cars per capita, at 950 per 1,000 residents. The fuel here is twice as expensive as in the U.S., but insurance is much more affordable, at $839 yearly.
Italy holds third position, with a score of 68.6. The country has lower road quality than Finland, but over 60 car brands have a home in Italy. The car maintenance is the cheapest here, at $420.
Australia takes fourth place, getting a score of 62.4. Maintenance here is a little more expensive than in Italy, but still very affordable at $432, while the road quality is higher, with an index of 4.7.
France is fifth in the ranking of the best countries for car enthusiasts, with a score of 57.6. The country stands out with the best road quality in the top 10, getting an index of 5.9, higher than in the U.S. France is also home to 72 car brands.
Germany follows closely with sixth place and a driver-friendliness score of 55. The country has the third-most car brands in the ranking, with 114, including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. Germany also offers the cheapest car maintenance in the ranking, amounting to $388 annually.
In seventh place is the Czech Republic, earning a score of 49.4. The country has the cheapest car insurance in the top 10, costing only $521 annually, over 2 times cheaper than in the U.S. At the same time, the road quality in the Czech Republic is worse than in other countries on the list, getting an index of 3.9.
Canada ranks eighth, with a score of 48.2. Canada has the second most affordable car fuel, closely following the U.S., with $1.07 per liter. In Canada, there are 677 cars per 1K residents, a higher rate than in Germany or France.
The UK is ninth, getting a drive-friendliness score of 46.4. The U.K. has the second most car brands in the ranking, with 157, still over 70 less than the U.S. Insurance here is a little more affordable than in the United States, at $1,031 annually, but car maintenance is a little more expensive.
Spain closes the ranking of the best countries for car enthusiasts, with tenth place and a score of 46.2. The country has the third-highest road quality, right after the U.S. and France, and offers cheap insurance, averaging $620. Car maintenance is also among the cheapest in the top 10, at $398.
A spokesperson from an online gaming company commented on the study: “Car enthusiasts are increasingly drawn to regions where a combination of high-quality roads, affordable fuel, and diverse vehicle options intersect. While the U.S. is a car lover’s haven thanks to its vast selection of native brands and cheap fuel, European countries show that the joy of driving extends beyond the pricing; they’re about creating environments that make driving enjoyable and accessible.’
