Spanish Cities Where People Spend the Most Time in Cars

In Spain, the city you live in significantly affects the daily time spent commuting. Knowing the time spent on daily commutes can indicate one's city of residence.

Generally, a significant portion of the population requires considerable time just to commute. A recent Consumer Trends Study for 2025, conducted for Sofinco, reveals that 25% of Spaniards are forced to spend more than 40 minutes a day on their usual journeys.

The report's data confirms an expected reality: geographical location directly influences the time spent on daily commutes. Residents in Madrid and its surroundings bear the brunt, with over 29% of inhabitants exceeding 40 minutes of travel.

In contrast, Andalusia is the region where the least time is spent on long commutes, with around 20% of its citizens spending more than 40 minutes, a figure similar to northern Spain. The eastern part of the country is in the middle, with 25% of its residents spending more than 40 minutes.

Overall, one-third of Spaniards manage their daily commutes in less than 20 minutes. However, the largest group (44%) spends between 20 and 40 minutes. Within the 25% that exceeds 40 minutes, the situation is even more critical for some: 15% take between 40 and 60 minutes, 7% need between 1 and 2 hours, and an alarming 2% spend more than two hours daily commuting.

The study also highlights that nearly half of the respondents (48%) would be willing to pay more for sustainable alternatives, a sentiment more prevalent among those living in large municipalities and the eastern zone. 15% are undoubtedly willing to pay more, and 33% would be willing depending on the final price. In contrast, 52% of respondents do not prioritize sustainability in choosing their mode of transport (37.6%), do not consider it necessary to pay more for greater sustainability (8.9%), or simply cannot afford a higher expense (5.4%).

According to the study, 6 out of 10 Spaniards plan to purchase a car in the next two years. A particularly revealing fact is that 4 out of 10 of these buyers will opt for an electric vehicle, marking a clear trend towards electrification. This electric buyer profile mainly corresponds to high-income men, living in large municipalities, with children under 16, and saving habits.

Interestingly, and contrary to general perception, the study points out that Generation Z shows a greater interest in combustion engines, likely attracted by their lower selling price. While nearly 9 out of 10 future electric car buyers will choose a new vehicle, in the fossil fuel segment, almost 4 out of 10 will opt for a second-hand car.

In general, the majority (approximately 3 out of 4) will lean towards a new car, with this majority profile being men, over 44 years old, with high incomes, with young children, and savers, as opposed to women, young Generation Z, and lower-income individuals who opt more for the second-hand market.

Contrary to these purchase intentions, the reality according to the latest data from the Manufacturers Association Anfac is quite different, as in April 2025, pure electric vehicles (BEV) reached a market share of 6.55%, and in the year-to-date, their share is 6.63%. Also with the "Zero" label from the DGT, plug-in hybrids (PHEV) reached 8.2% of the market share, and in the year-to-date, their share is 6.86%. Pure electric and plug-in hybrids accounted for around 14.75% of the market in April 2025 (for passenger cars).

In contrast, non-plug-in hybrids have been the most sold option among alternatives. In January 2025, they represented 37.27% of the total vehicle market, and 36.35% of accumulated registrations until April. Gas vehicles (LPG + CNG) represent around 2.87% of the market share.

Gasoline and diesel vehicles still hold a significant share, although declining. Thus, gasoline vehicles represented 31.7% of total registrations accumulated until April 2025, and diesel had a share of 5.8% in the same accumulated period.