2009 Top 20 most researched auto nameplates on Kelley Blue Book

2009 Top 20 most researched auto nameplates on Kelley Blue Book

The long-standing, gold-standard information resource of new and used car information, Kelley Blue Book, has released its end-of-year report on the most-researched new vehicles of 2009 on the company’s top-rated Web site, www.kbb.com.  In addition, Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com reveals the top five brands with the greatest share of market interest for 2009.

The Honda Civic, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry have been the top three most-researched new-vehicles on kbb.com each year since 2004 (in varying orders each year), however, many vehicles made noteworthy jumps into the top 20 most-researched new-vehicles for 2009 that were not on the list in 2008.  Chevrolet’s all-new redesigned Equinox and Camaro models both grace this year’s list for the first time.  Also new to this year’s top 20 are the recently revamped Lexus RX 350 and the popular, fast-selling Ford Fusion.

The stabilization in gas prices for 2009 has indicated a trend away from smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles troughout 2009, and thus some popular small cars that were among the most-researched in 2008 have fallen off the list.  

Subcompact cars like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit, along with the compact MINI Cooper, were among the most-researched new cars to hit the top 20 last year, but do not hold court among the most-researched models this year.  In addition, Chevy’s Malibu, redesigned for the 2008 model-year and featured on last year’s ‘most-researched’ list, has seen some of its popularity fade in 2009's most-researched statistics.

The List:

Kbb.com’s Top 20 Most-Researched New Vehicles of 2009

1. Honda Accord	6. Toyota RAV4	11. Ford Escape	16. Ford Mustang
2. Honda Civic	7. Toyota Highlander	12. Chevrolet Camaro	17. Volkswagen Jetta
3. Toyota Camry	8. Toyota Prius	13. Honda Odyssey	18. Toyota Sienna
4. Honda CR-V	9. Nissan Altima	14. Ford Fusion	19. Lexus RX 350
5. Toyota Corolla	10. Honda Pilot	15. Mazda3	20. Chevrolet Equinox

 

Of the Top Five Brands with Greatest Share of Market Interest on Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com for 2009, Ford saw the most growth throughout the course of the year, with its share rising steadily in the first half of the year and peaking during the summer months, benefitting as the only domestic manufacturer that did not require a Federal Government bailout or undergo bankruptcy.

The List:

Kbb.com’s Top Five Brands with Greatest Share of Market Interest  

1.      Toyota

2.      Honda

3.      Ford

4.      Chevrolet

5.      Nissan

“The site traffic on Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com demonstrates what is on the minds of today’s new-car shoppers, especially when examining the most-researched new-vehicles of 2009,” said James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com.  “Declined interest in smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles and increased popularity in attractive, recently redesigned models is an accurate reflection of the marketplace in 2009.  We also see that consumers are reacting well to new models and redesigns from domestic manufacturers like Chevy and Ford, which bodes well for their future sales numbers.”

... notes from The EDJE