Mazda says its North American survey of Gen Z respondents aged 14 to 29 found stronger interest in car ownership than home ownership.
As the age range includes teenagers, the survey is best read as a snapshot of preference, not a direct measure of buying intent.
The finding is also specific to North America and should not be treated as a global Gen Z trend.
In South-East Asia, buying decisions are shaped by a different mix of income, property prices, public transport access, car taxes and family support.
In Mazda’s survey, 69% of Gen Z respondents said they would choose to buy a new vehicle rather than a house. That made them 13% more likely to pick a car over a home purchase.
The survey also showed what younger North American respondents associate with vehicle quality. Advanced safety features were rated important by 94%, while 93% cited intuitive technology.
Premium audio ranked highly too. Some 82% said a sound system played a role in how they judge a vehicle, while 64% said they judge a vehicle by its sound system. Another 85% said a high-quality audio set-up pointed to overall vehicle quality.
Mazda vehicle safety director Jennifer Morrison said Gen Z expects vehicles to combine advanced safety systems with easy-to-use technology for a more secure daily drive.
