Study Shows Most Cross Shopped Vehicles

In addition to reporting that online traffic to NADAguides.com is up 112 percent for the first six months of 2007, officials shared the vehicle segments that most often captured consumer attention on the site.

The three top new-vehicle categories consumers visited most included sedans, pickups and SUVs.

When it came to sedans, executives said the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and Toyota Prius elicited the most hits. In the pickup category, the Toyota Tacoma, Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra took the top spots.

As for SUVs, surfers most often viewed pricing and specification details for the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and the Saturn VUE.

"For 74 years, N.A.D.A. has been widely known for its used-car pricing information," explained Don Christy Jr., president and chief executive officer of NADAguides.com.

"Our reports prove that car buyers embrace NADAguides.com as the new-car information source, too. Not only is the new car area of our Web site increasing in popularity; it has seen the largest percentage of growth during the first six months of this year," he continued.

Providing further details, executives said the number of visitors using NADAguides.com side-by-side new car comparison tool was up 58 percent during the first six months, compared to the same period in the previous year.

This tool offers consumers the opportunity to select a starting vehicle and then three additional units to compare it to. It provides side-by-side charts that outline price, gas mileage, powertrain information, dimensions and chassis data.

Executives went on to report that consumers were most often viewing 2007 makes and models against same-year makes and models.

"Even though used-car traffic to NADAguides.com was very strong from January to June of this year, the total number of used-car visitors did not experience the same growth as new-car visitors," Christy said.

"It's obvious car buyers are increasingly turning to NADAguides.com for new-car pricing and specification information," he concluded.

Offering an insight into what consumers are comparing on the site, NADAguides.com reported:

Most Commonly Compared Sedans (all 2007 models)

The Toyota Camry was most commonly compared to the:
—Nissan Altima
—Toyota Avalon
—Hyundai Sonata

The Nissan Altima was most common compared to the:
—Toyota Camry
—Honda Accord
—Honda Civic

The Toyota Prius was most commonly compared to the:
—Honda Civic Hybrid
—Lexus ES350
—Toyota Camry Hybrid

Most Commonly Compared Pickup Models (all 2007):

The Toyota Tacoma was most commonly compared to the:
—Honda Ridgeline
—Toyota Tacoma (different trim levels)
—Ford F-150

The Ford F-150 was most commonly compared to the:
—Toyota Tacoma
—Honda Ridgeline
—Chevy Silverado

The Toyota Tundra was most commonly compared to the:
—Ford F-150
—Nissan Titan
—Toyota Tundra

Most Commonly Compared SUVs (all 2007)

The Honda CR-V was most commonly compared to the:
—Toyota RAV4
—Honda CR-V (different trim levels)
—Lexus RX350

The Toyota RAV4 was most commonly compared to the:
—Honda CR-V
—Lexus RX350
—Toyota RAV4 (different trim levels)

The Saturn VUE was most commonly compared to the:
—Honda Civic Hybrid
—Toyota Prius
—Toyota Camry

Agent009 - 7/3/2007 10:01:21 AM

0 Boost

Ok, this one has a different twist.

But I find it really odd the Lexus keeps coming up when non Luxury cars are compared. Why would a potential Honda CRV owner look at a RX350? Seems like two totally different demographics.

kpaxx - 7/3/2007 10:19:18 AM

0 Boost

Yes it is funny how the RX350 is always compared to the CRV and the ES350 compares with the civich. I wonder why this is?

1970toyotamarc - 7/3/2007 12:01:40 PM

+3 Boost

The RX comparisons do seem odd, it makes a little sense against the 6 cylinder RAV, which is pretty powerful and luxurious. I'll just view the one other showing (against the CR-V) as an anomaly. The RX is one of those vehicles, like the 3, that every secretary just out of college, and every suburban dweller with a slightly upwardly mobile lifestyle, takes a look at.

But the Prius cross-shopped against the ES350 makes perfect sense. It proves a point I have been tirelessly making about it. It is not an economy car, and people buying it arent looking at Fits and Yarises. I'm sure if the list were explanded you would find some 3-series and C-classes cross shopped as well. (and the ES is not being compare to a civic, kpaxx, read more closely.)

Where's a link to the study so we can see some more?

Will_ - 7/3/2007 12:15:35 PM

0 Boost

Where's the Hyundai Santa Fe? The Veracruz? The Azera?

markusck - 7/3/2007 1:16:49 PM

-1 Boost

I think the comparison to Lexus may be a problem Lexus has in that consumers consider it a high end Toyota and not a real luxury brand, ie consumers feel ok with it as its not as flashy or percieved as such.

However, it may be a positive as some consumers dont want the attention/image of a real luxury brand and the high end Toyota seems to fit the bill which could mean more sales for Lexus rather than the euro big boys.

Will_ - 7/3/2007 1:26:04 PM

+1 Boost

In contrast, Lexus consistently beats out the euro big boys when it comes to which brands Americans consider most prestigious. Good assumptions though.

markusck - 7/4/2007 9:43:35 AM

+1 Boost

Americans consider Lexus more prestigious than the Euro big boys?, really? Where did you get this from?

I agree, why would you cross shop vehilce not in the same price range? Could it be that consumers percieve Lexus as sub top tier and almost affordable? Nothing wrong with that, but it sure must be a dillema for Lexus...who do they want to be...upscale Toyota or part of the Euro brat pack..this says a lot about their brand imaging..and the ES makes that all to apparent..