Sales of 4x4s and comfort saloons have increased in spite of higher fuel prices, higher road tax and obvious environmental concerns, new statistics suggest.

According to figures statement by The Times, sales of new off-road vehicles made up 7.6% of all new car sales in the first five months of 2006.The market share for the cars evidence over the same period last year was 7.2%. The paper said that the Range Rover Sport Supercharged was the best-selling opulence petrol 4x4.

The vehicle achieved the rank despite being placed in the top excise duty band and having short fuel economy.The European Automobile Manufacturers Association exposed that total new passenger car registrations in Europe in May amounted to 1,422,408 units, which represents an increase of 9.6 per cent on the May 2005 figure.