Toyota vs Volkswagen:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Toyota had more branded searches than Volkswagen among car brands in the United Kingdom. Toyota had about 799,000 branded searches, while Volkswagen had 659,000. Toyota made up 5.8% of all car brand searches we track, and Volkswagen accounted for 4.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car brands, Toyota appeared in three of the five answers and Volkswagen in two. Toyota and Volkswagen were each mentioned first in two of the four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Toyota, about 21% more searches than Volkswagen
Who does AI mention more?
Toyota, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Volkswagen in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.
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Top car brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Toyota was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Volkswagen was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Toyota and Volkswagen were each listed first in two of the four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Toyota3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Volkswagen2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Tesla2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Kia2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Ford1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
BYD1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Porsche1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
BMW1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Peugeot1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Hyundai1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about car brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which car should I buy in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the most reliable car brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What is the best family car to buy in the UK?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“car brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“new cars”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 26, 2026.
Is Toyota or Volkswagen more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Toyota and Volkswagen by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 55 car brands we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Toyota, Volkswagen. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Toyota | Volkswagen | Ford | BYD | Porsche | Tesla | Kia | BMW | Peugeot | Hyundai | Mercedes-Benz | Land Rover | Nissan | Skoda | Cupra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 5.7% | 4.7% | 5.3% | 3% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 5.9% | 4.7% | 5.3% | 2.8% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 2.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 6.1% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 2.5% | 4.4% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.2% | 3.4% | 3.7% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.8% | 2% |
| Jan 2026 | 5.8% | 4.8% | 5% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 3.5% | 2.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 5.8% | 5% | 5.1% | 2.7% | 3.6% | 3% | 4% | 3.5% | 3.8% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 5.8% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 3% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 5.4% | 4.7% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 4.1% | 4.5% | 4% | 3.4% | 3.6% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.4% |
| May 2026 | 5.6% | 4.8% | 4.7% | 3.7% | 4% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 3.1% | 3% | 2.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 5.6% | 4.4% | 4.8% | 3.4% | 4.1% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 5.9% | 5% | 4.7% | 3.3% | 3.9% | 3.4% | 3.9% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 2.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 5.9% | 4.7% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 4% | 3.6% | 3.9% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2.3% |
| Sep 2026 | 5.8% | 4.8% | 4.6% | 4% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 2.4% |
How has the Toyota and Volkswagen comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Toyota was ahead of Volkswagen in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Toyota’s share of searches among car brands in the United Kingdom moved from 5.7% to 5.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 802K to 799K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Volkswagen’s share of searches among car brands in the United Kingdom moved from 4.7% to 4.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 659K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom car brands in September 2026?
0 changes
Neither Toyota nor Volkswagen moved beyond provider rounding among car brands in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
29 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Toyota’s and Volkswagen’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Toyota
21 branded search terms
- camry
- corolla
- hilux
- land cruiser
- prius
- rav4
- toyota
- toyota aygo
- toyota camry
- toyota cars
- toyota chr
- toyota corolla
- toyota highlander
- toyota hilux
- toyota kluger
- toyota land cruiser
- toyota prado
- toyota rav4
- toyota supra
- toyota yaris
- yaris
Volkswagen
8 branded search terms
- volkswagen amarok
- volkswagen caddy
- volkswagen cars
- volkswagen golf
- volkswagen polo
- volkswagen t roc
- volkswagen tiguan
- vw
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