New research commissioned by Chery UK has uncovered the extraordinary lengths that parents of sports-loving children will go to in order to support their chosen activities. The survey of 2,000 dedicated mums and dads found that they spend an average of £1,216 a year on fuel getting their kids to training and matches, racking up some 1,716 miles behind the wheel.
The study also found they spend an average of 3 hours 22 minutes a week chauffeuring their amateur athletes, with football emerging as the most popular sport (61%), followed by swimming (40%) and dance (18%).
The demands this places on parents are considerable: 74% said they had missed something important – such as social events, birthdays or work commitments – to ensure their children can enjoy their sports. Despite this, they are convinced the sacrifices are worthwhile, with 77% saying they’ll miss it when it stops, and 72% believing that the journeys they make together have positively affected their relationship with their children.
The value of taking part in sports was also clear, with 91% of the parents agreeing that the benefits it brings to their children extend beyond just physical health. Confidence (66%), teamwork (63%) and social skills (56%) were the qualities that had most been seen to improve.
Farrell Hsu, Managing Director for Chery UK, said: “Grassroot sport plays a hugely important role in young people’s lives. These findings show just how much dedication is required from parents behind the scenes.
“Football is by far the most popular activity these parents are driving to, and as the official automotive partner of AFC Bournemouth, we see just how sports bring families and local communities together. While managing work, personal commitments and travel costs is a constant balancing act, these car journeys have been shown to provide important bonding time for parents and their children, from early morning training sessions to weekend matches.”
Farrell Hsu continued: “With parents spending an average of more than £1,200 a year of fuel, and more than three hours a week sitting behind the wheel, running costs and travel time will inevitably take a real toll on busy families. What stands out in the data is how local this driving is. For most parents, a full week of training runs and weekend fixtures comes in under 50 miles.
“Our plug-in Chery Super Hybrid models offer between 56 and 91 miles of pure electric range depending on the vehicle, so for many families that whole week could be covered on electric power alone. For anyone able to charge at home, that has the potential to take a real bite out of the annual fuel bill.”
When asked what would make sporting travel easier, 41% of parents pointed to lower fuel or charging costs, while good fuel economy (40%) topped the list of most-wanted vehicle features. With prices rising sharply in recent weeks, this is understandable – RAC Fuel Watch figures showed that diesel in the UK hit an all-time high of 199.18p/ litre at the end of September.
Chery’s range of TIGGO SUVs could help families to make these journeys better all round. Attainably priced, each is offered with a Chery Super Hybrid (CSH) powertrain, enhancing efficiency and refinement. The Chery TIGGO 4 CSH is available from just £19,995 (OTR), while the TIGGO 7 CSH offers up to 56 miles of electric-only range, and fuel consumption of 470mpg (WLTP). For families needing even more space, the TIGGO 8 CSH and TIGGO 9 CSH offer three-row seating, enabling them to carry an entire six-a-side football team and their driver.
Driving at night during the winter months was another concern raised by parents in the survey, so with LED headlights standard on every TIGGO model, parents can enjoy a better view of the road ahead. A comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems – including Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, and Lane Change Assist – is also standard across the range, helping to make every journey safer and more relaxing.
Whether the destination is a football pitch, a swimming pool or a dance studio, these findings capture the reality of grassroots sport in Britain: families bound by shared commitment, long drives and real financial pressure, yet overwhelmingly convinced the effort is worth it. Chery UK’s partnership with AFC Bournemouth is one expression of its support for that community – from the top of the professional game down to the local venues where every sporting journey begins.
