Articles
Consumer Choice Awards
The most popular vehicles of the year, according to Autobytel online shoppers
by Brian Chee
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The Autobytel Consumer Choice Awards provide a broad overview of online shopping behavior - shedding light on an exploding automotive marketing medium (the Internet) that now has more influence on new car-buying decisions than either TV or newspaper ads. This year's Consumer Choice Awards once again revealed some striking differences between Autobytel's online shoppers and traditional buyers - notably, a relative online tendency toward import cars (as opposed to domestic trucks) and a strong responsiveness to pricing, performance, and feature specifications. Awards were presented to the manufacturers who built the cars and trucks that were the most popular among the 7.7 million average monthly unique visitors who researched and shopped on Autobytel's web sites during 2003, based on Purchase Request data amassed by Autobytel throughout the year. Because of this, the Awards are based on the strongest indicator of online shopping preferences, and provide unique insight into the cars and trucks online automotive shoppers prefer most.
Read the 2004 Online Automotive Market Report
Check out this week's most popular vehicles
Create a personal "My Showroom" page.
Sound off about Consumer Choice
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Research the Accord
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Richard Szamborski, vice president of sales for American Honda Motor Company, accepts one of several Autobytel Consumer Choice Awards. Presenting the award is Jeffrey Schwartz, CEO of Autobytel.
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Honda Accord
Top Overall New Consumer Choice Award
The Accord is the kind of car that keeps on going -- on the road and in its seemingly endless popularity. Few other vehicles have captured the combination of practicality, fun, value and affordability as successfully as the Accord -- which is why it has reclaimed its spot as the Top Overall New Consumer Choice Award winner.
Internet shoppers know a bargain when they see one -- and, even though it was not a heavily discounted vehicle throughout the year, the Accord's mix of value and competitive pricing convinced many that is was the kind of vehicle they wanted to purchase. The 2003 model year, in fact, showcased several changes to the powertrain and exterior, all desined to make the Accord sexier, more powerful, and -- more popular. Apparently, it worked. The Accord is available as a coupe and a sedan, in a variety of trims.
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Research the Hummer
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Research the MINI
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Jack Pitney, general manager for MINI USA, accepts the Autobytel Consumer Choice Award from Jeffrey Schwatrz, CEO of Autobytel.
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Hummer
Top Overall Consumer Choice Award, Growth in New Vehicle Requests
If bigger truly is better, then the Hummer H2 is, perhaps, the best vehicle on the road. And apparently, during 2003, the allure of driving above it all -- in a vehicle that boasts an aggressive stance -- was too much to resist for many online shoppers, which is why Hummer is one of the two Autobytel Consumer Choice Winners for Overall Growth. Between 2002 and 2003, Hummer experienced a remarkable 250% increase in purchase requests. For Hummer, this award signifies more than sales volume percentages. Our analysis of purchase requests echoes Hummer's claim that up-market buyers want more, and they want it bigger.
MINI
Top Overall Consumer Choice Award, Growth in New Vehicle Requests
But then there's the flip side. According to our online shoppers, the smallest car is the biggest winner, as MINI was also awarded the Autobytel Consumer Choice Award for Overall Growth. Between 2002 and 2003, MINI -- like Hummer -- experienced approximately a 250% increase in purchase requests.
So online shoppers are split between the more of everything crowd, and a sizeable group of people who want their driving experience to be big on economy, value, personality and flair.
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Research the Civic Hybrid
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Honda Civic Hybrid
Consumer Choice Award, Most Fuel Efficient
It wasn't "unique". Or different. Or any of the things normally associated with hybrid vehicles. The Honda Civic Hybrid was just a twist on an ordinary vehicle that most everyone likes -- take a Civic and put a hybrid system inside. What you get is a virtually-zero polluting vehicle that gets even better gas mileage than most other Civics. Autobtel online shoppers caught on quickly, and made the Civic Hybrid their choice for most fuel efficient vehicle of the year. With fuel economy that is rated at 46 city and 51 highway, the Civic Hybrid will get down the road for quite a while before bothering its owner for a drink. The Civic Hybrid is available as a sedan, in up to four styles.
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Research the Tahoe
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Marcia McGee, director of dealer communications for General Motors, accepts the Autobytel Consumer Choice Award from Jeffrey Schwatrz, CEO of Autobytel.
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Chevrolet Tahoe
Consumer Choice Award, Most Requested SUV
You may think that Internet customers, given their cutting edge reputation, would automatically select a trendy new SUV for this award. Not so. Online shoppers are first and foremost educated buyers, and an educated sport utility shopper searches to find the vehicle that fits their lifestyle needs -- and offers substantial value.
Lifestyle. Value. Last year, online shoppers found both in the Chevrolet Tahoe - Autobytel's 2003 Consumer Choice Winner for Sport Utility Vehicle. The Tahoe attracts a steady stream of buyers - it's one of the best selling full-size SUVs in the country -- thanks to strong styling, constant improvements and its perfectly proportioned size. It's the ideal SUV for family hauling, grocery shopping, city driving or country get-aways - in essence, anything and everything families want to do with an SUV.
This year's model got even better, with more than 40 enhancements - some subtle, such as improved controls, and others obvious - like the all-new Stabilitrak system.
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Research the Mustang
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Marty Collins, general marketing manager for Ford Division, accepts the Autobytel Consumer Choice Award from Jeffrey Schwatrz, CEO of Autobytel.
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Ford Mustang
Consumer Choice Award, Most Requested Sports Car
The Pony car lives. In fact, it's doing quite well as the 2003 Autobytel Consumer Choice for sports cars.
Certainly, the online popularity of the Mustang underlines its overall appeal as the number 1 selling convertible in America. But it also proves how successful a well-designed car with plenty of power and a little mystique can be - and for how long. Since 1964, Ford has built the Mustang, and people have responded. Today, online shoppers continue to discover the Mustang's unique blend of racing feel and cruising style. That should continue in 2004 and 2005, with the introduction of a brand new Mustang.
1964 to 2004. That's 40 years -- a remarkable run as one of America's motoring icons. Previewed during January's North American International Auto Show, the new Mustang is sure to make its mark as the next great American Pony car.
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Research the 3 Series
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BMW 3 Series
Consumer Choice Award, Most Requested Luxury Car
It's smooth. Quiet. Aggressive and stylish. It's the BMW 3 Series, the Autobytel Consumer Choice for Luxury Vehicle. Surprised? Many of you were probably thinking that the online most requested luxury car would be Japanese, or maybe even an American SUV. Not so, and by a wide margin. The reason is clear: the majority of online luxury car shoppers are looking for exactly what the 3 Series delivers: driving style, aggressive performance and impeccable interior comforts.
It also turns out that online luxury shoppers are looking for name stature -- and BMW delivers that in buckets. There's also plenty of choice when it comes to selecting a 3 Series: the 3 Series is a 2- or 4-door, up to 5-passenger luxury sports coupe, luxury convertible, luxury sedan, luxury sports sedan, or luxury wagon, available in 10 trims, ranging from the 325i Sedan to the 330Ci Convertible. And all are well-equipped. The 325i Sedan, for example, is equipped with a standard 2.5-liter, I6, 184-horsepower engine that achieves 20-mpg in the city and 29-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard, and a 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive, and a 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive are optional.
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Research the Silverado
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Chevrolet Silverado
Consumer Choice Award, Most Requested Truck
Truck people - they are fiercely loyal and have high expectations. They expect the truck they buy to haul everything from kids to boulders, without breaking a sweat or, for that matter, making the driver sweat. If that's not enough, truck buyers want their vehicle to last for a long, long, time and look good doing it.
Tough as nails and ready for the ball. That's what truck buyers want, which is why the Chevrolet Silverado full-size pick up is Autobytel's 2003 Consumer Choice for New Trucks. The Silverado provides excellent towing power, hauling capacity, interior refinements and an attractive appearance that appeals to their demographic.
Score one for Detroit power and toughness. In 2003, Chevrolet introduced 40 upgrades to the Silverado, as well as a special 2003 Silverado SS ("Super Sport"). The Silverado SS features a high-output Vortec 6000 6.0L V8 engine for exhilarating off-line acceleration, a unique high-performance chassis package, Silverado's largest-ever 20-inch wheel and tire combination - plus a trim, aggressive stance that distinguishes the SS from all other Silverado models.
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Research the Odyssey
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Honda Odyssey
Consumer Choice Award, Most Requested Minivan
The standard was set almost from the moment this minivan was introduced in 1995. The Odyssey - on dealer waiting lists and in neighborhoods around the country, is the runaway winner of Autobytel's 2003 Consumer Choice Award for Minivans.
Few automakers are criticized for not making enough of a car. But Honda is when it comes to the Odyssey. The reasons for the Odyssey's popularity are well-known: innovative features with class-leading dependability, quality and reliability. Odyssey firsts include a 240-horsepower engine, standard dual-stage driver's and front passenger's airbags, and an optional state-of-the-art DVD entertainment system. The Odyssey also features EPA city/highway ratings of 18/25 mpg, and a quadruple 5-star rating from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Odyssey's four-ring safety shell body is reinforced with front and rear crush zones, and sturdy steel side-impact door beams help minimize the risk of injury in a collision. For 2003, improvements included an intermittent rear window wiper with washer, power windows with automatic up/down driver's window, and a new key with dual toothed sides, making it more difficult to copy and less likely to scratch surfaces.
The Honda Odyssey: It is what families want in a family car - especially busy families who shop online.
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Source: ABT
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