The Honda Torneo is the most frequently stolen car in New Zealand for the third consecutive year, according to AA Insurance (scroll to bottom for full list).
The Subaru Impreza also continues to be a target, retaining its second place spot since last year.
However other Subaru models, Forester and Legacy, have been jostled down the list by new Mazda entries, Premacy and Familia.
Nissan models also prove a favourite with thieves, with the Cefiro and Sunny making the list once again however, the Nissan Skyline and Honda Integra were both pushed off.
AA Insurance says owners of newer cars on the list should not be alarmed, as thieves prefer older cars as they have less sophisticated security features. The average value of a stolen vehicle claim from the top 10 list is $4977.
The company has found that 92% of theft claims for models in the top 10 list were for cars manufactured more than 10 years ago.
According to AA Insurance claims data, a car manufactured before 2000 is over four times as likely to be stolen as a car manufactured from 2005 onwards.
AA Insurance head of customer relations Suzanne Wolton says New Zealand has a large number of ageing, imported cars.
“Our claims show that older models, which have less-advanced or no security features than newer vehicles, are easy targets for thieves,” Ms Wolton says.
Despite vehicle theft remaining a concern, itheft has decreased by more than 13,000 cars over the last four years. New Zealand Police crime statistics report that there were 48,301 motor vehicle thefts and related offences in 2012/2013, compared to 55,618 in 2011/2012, 58,299 in 2010/2011, and 61,363 in 2009/2010.
Top 10 Stolen Cars (Source: AA Insurance claims data 1 May 2010 – 30 April 2014)
1. Honda Torneo
2. Subaru Impreza
3. Mazda Premacy
4. Mazda Familia
5. Subaru Forester
6. Mazda Atenza
7. Subaru Legacy
8. Mazda MPV
9. Nissan Sunny
10. Nissan Cefiro
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Top 10 stolen cars revealed
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