In time for end-of-summer shopping, Cars.com recently released a list of the most popular convertibles among consumers.
The site’s latest study on shopper's online activity revealed what convertibles are most popular and where in the U.S. shoppers are buying these models most. Turns out, being named as America's favorite was the Chevrolet Camaro.
And the state where convertibles are most popular is right in America's Heartland — Nebraska.
Using the site’s shopper data, Cars’ analysts researched the data to make its determinations, according to the car shopping site.
“There are 30 models categorized as convertibles that are currently available, which is 11.2 percent of all new vehicles on the market, yet convertibles only capture 0.8 percent of sales at dealerships,” Cars.com data analyst David Greene said in a news release.
“When compared to a segment like minivans, which has just seven models available and double the sales market share of convertibles, it is obvious just how aspirational the convertible segment is,” he said.
The convertible models to make it on the top 10 list range from affordable and more expensive options.
The top 10 most popular convertibles based on Cars.com site activity include:
1. Chevrolet Camaro
2. Mazda MX-5 Miata
3. Mercedes-Benz S-Class
4. Jaguar F-TYPE
5. Chevrolet Corvette
6. Ford Mustang
7. Porsche 911
8. Mercedes-Benz C-Class
9. BMW 4 Series
10. Fiat 124 Spider
The top 5 convertible-loving states according to Cars.com site data include:
1. Nebraska
2. New Mexico
3. Connecticut
4. New York
5. Hawaii
“It’s no surprise that states like Florida, California and Hawaii made the most-popular lists,” added Greene. “They’re all among the wealthiest states as determined by household income, and of course the year-round sunshine in those states makes convertibles a sensible lifestyle choice.”
For additional information about the study, visit cars.com/news.
The year was 2001, and the state was Maryland.
The vehicle was a silver Honda Insight.
It was the first used hybrid ever sold by CarMax, according to the company.
Since then, CarMax said last month in this blog post, it has sold more than 100,000 used hybrids and electric vehicles, with choices of model in this segment growing rapidly.
All told, the company estimates there are close to 4.5 million hybrids/EVs in the overall U.S. vehicle population.
In light of this growth, CarMax shared the most popular used hybrids/EVs at its stores (based on 2016 sales) as well as the top 10 states for used hybrid/EV sales (based on percentage of hybrids/EVs to total CarMax sales last year).
Not surprisingly, the Toyota Prius was the top used hybrid/EV at CarMax, and California was the top state for sales.
The company said close to a fourth of its hybrid/EV sales last year (so, 23,000-plus) were in the Golden State.
But the interest in used hybrids and EVs goes far beyond California’s borders. While the Pacific Northwest was well represented with three of the top 10 states (including No. 1 California and No. 2 Oregon), six of the top nine were Midwestern states.
In 10th was Kentucky, a Southern state.
The lists below shed some light on the proliferation of used hybrids/EVs throughout the country:
Top 10 States for Used-Hybrid Sales
(based on 2016 sales at CarMax stores)
1. California
2. Oregon
3. Iowa
4. Minnesota
5. Kansas
6. Washington
7. Indiana
8. Missouri
9. Wisconsin
10. Kentucky
In 2017, CarMax said its used hybrids are hot in these states: Arizona, California, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Virginia and Washington
As for models, the top five are below:
Most Popular Used Hybrids/EVs at CarMax
(based on percentage of hybrids/EVs to total CarMax sales last year).
1. Toyota Prius
2. Ford C-Max
3. Ford Fusion
4. Lexus CT
5. Kia Optima
One-third go used
In a separate study in which it worked with CleanTechnica and surveyed that site’s readers, CarMax found that most hybrid/EV owners lived in Pacific states. In fact, 26 percent of buyers surveyed lived in the states of California, Washington or Oregon.
The study, which was conducted in June, found that the Mid-Atlantic (Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia) and the East North Central regions (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio) were next on the list, respectively.
That survey also showed that a third of hybrid/EV drivers in the survey had purchased the car used.
Overall green car volume grows
In a similar analysis, but on the new-car side, Edmunds examined the sales of green vehicles, which it said includes hybrids, EVs, PHEVs and hydrogen-powered cars.
This group of vehicles had seen their sales dip for three straight years, but they climbed 21.5 percent in the first six months of the year, Edmunds said.
A major catalyst for this turnaround has been the more diverse offering that now includes more light trucks, the company said in an analysis. Since 2012, light trucks have seen their slice of the green-vehicle pie climb from 5.2 percent to 22.9 percent.
“If automakers want car shoppers to adopt green technology, they can’t just offer it exclusively in a little econobox,” Edmunds executive director of industry analysis Jessica Caldwell said in a news release. “While the styling of the iconic Prius used to be trendy, consumers today don’t necessarily want a vehicle whose design screams ‘green car.’
“And as tastes have taken a dramatic turn away from passenger cars, and battery technology improves, automakers have an opportunity to drive adoption forward by offering electric powertrains in vehicles shoppers actually want,” she said.
Edmunds also noted the momentum in the plug-in segment of the green car market. Thought it is still a “marginal subset of overall sales,” volume is up 45 percent this year.
Below is data from Edmunds on how new green cars were sold in the first half of each of the last six years.
2017: 266,488
2016: 219,342
2015: 242,104
2014: 288,861
2013: 294,989
2012: 230,056
Toyota, Kia and Tesla are the brands that online consumers are shopping for the most this year, according to Jumpstart Automotive Media's latest shopper study released on Monday.
Jumpstart’s June Path to Purchase report highlights the vehicle segments, makes and models that captured the largest share of online car shoppers during the first half of 2017.
Toyota's overall brand share increased to 7.1 percent, a 15-percent increase over the past year. The Toyota Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid and C-HR each saw gains of 56-percent, 84-percent, 65-percent and 728-percent, respectively.
This year, Kia raised its overall brand share to 3.1 percent, a 36-percent increase compared to June of last year.
In addition to its popular Soul and Sorento models, much of Kia’s popularity stems from its recently launched new 2017 hybrid subcompact SUV Niro and its redesigned Rio model, according to Jumpstart.
“New and redesigned models will often win the attention of car and truck shoppers, especially when new styles, features and performance are highlighted,” Jumpstart vice president marketing and strategic insights Libby Murad-Patel said in a news release. “That being said, we’re keeping a close eye on the subcompact utility space, which offers a unique blend of versatility, comfort, value and functionality that appeals to a wide range of consumers.”
Additionally, though Tesla has an overall small percentage of shopper interest on Jumpstart sites, its brand share has risen to 1.0 percent, a 122-percent increase for the growing U.S. brand.
With a sizable 224-percent increase in interest over the past year, Tesla’s Model X has impacted much of its overall shopper interest growth, according to Jumpstart.
Autotrader’s newly released Hottest Cars for Summer 2017 list names the current 10 most-searched new, used and certified pre-owned cars on its site.
The company looked at search volume from January to the end of May and found that American consumers currently favor domestics.
Autotrader editors found that nine of its 10 most-searched models are from a U.S. brand.
More specifically, SUVs and pickups are trending, in particular, taking eight out of 10 spots on the list.
"Summer has a kind of patriotic, nostalgic feel and it’s a good time to shop for a car. Shoppers looking for American vehicles should check out our list of Hottest Cars for Summer 2017, since many are popular names made by domestic automakers," Autotrader executive editor Brian Moody said in a news release.
"Of course, the trend away from sedans is in full swing, with the majority of the most-searched vehicles on Autotrader being trucks and SUVs like the Jeep Wrangler. Notable exceptions are performance coupes like the Chevy Corvette and Ford Mustang,” he said.
Autotrader’s Hottest Cars for Summer 2017 List:
1. Ford F-150
2. Jeep Wrangler
3. Chevrolet Silverado 1500
4. Ford Mustang
5. Ford F-250
6. Chevrolet Corvette
7. Toyota Tacoma
8. Jeep Grand Cherokee
9. Chevrolet Silverado 2500
10. Chevrolet Tahoe
Currently, Autotrader has over 3 million vehicle listings from 40,000 dealers and 250,000 private owners, according to the company.
For additional information regarding the Hottest Cars for Summer 2017 list and Autotrader editorial commentary on the vehicles featured click here.
Thanks to a new patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Cars.com produced what the company said is a first-to-market solution that can pinpoint key mobile shopping data from consumers actively looking for vehicles on dealer lots nationwide.
Using Lot Insights technology, Cars.com created the new On-the-Lot Trends Report by analyzing mobile consumer shopping behavior throughout the month of May to identify the top viewed makes and models by segment for both used and new vehicles.
First introduced in 2015, Lot Insights technology (Patent No. 9686646) can identify mobile consumers on or near dealership lots to provide valuable insights for automotive advertisers. The patented technology allows for more precise, accurate, location-based consumer data for Cars.com dealer partners.
“While most digital companies are interested in clicks, likes or impressions, Cars.com is focused on efficiently driving buyers into dealer showrooms,” Cars.com chief executive officer Alex Vetter said.
“Mobile data intelligence, like Lot Insights, allows us to analyze those consumer behaviors and directly measure how digital activity impacts sales,” Vetter continued. “We have been at the forefront of the mobile revolution in our industry, and this new Lot Insights patent is an example of how Cars.com is leading mobile innovation.”
Cars.com chief product officer Tony Zolla added, “By mapping and geofencing the perimeter around dealerships with this level of precision, we can better understand today’s shopping trends & behaviors, which is critical to making value-added connections between consumers and dealers.”
Here are the top viewed lists for used and new vehicles searched that appears in the May report:
Used Luxury Vehicles:
1. Mercedes-Benz C-Class
2. Mercedes-Benz E-Class
3. BMW 328
4. BMW X5
5. Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Used Compact Sedans:
1. Honda Civic
2. Volkswagen Jetta
3. Toyota Corolla
4. Mazda Mazda3
5. Subaru Impreza
Used Midsize Sedans:
1. Honda Accord
2. Dodge Charger
3. Toyota Camry
4. Nissan Altima
5. Ford Fusion
Used Full-size Sedans:
1. Nissan Maxima
2. Chevrolet Impala
3. Chrysler 300
4. Ford Taurus
5. Toyota Avalon
Used Trucks:
1. Ford F-150
2. Chevrolet Silverado 1500
3. Toyota Tacoma
4. Toyota Tundra
5. Ford F-250
Used SUVs:
1. Jeep Grand Cherokee
2. Jeep Wrangler
3. Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
4. Ford Explorer
5. Chevrolet Tahoe
6. Toyota 4Runner
Used Luxury SUVs:
1. BMW X5
2. Acura MDX
3. Land Rover Range Rover
4. Land Rover Range Rover Sport
5. Porsche Cayenne
New Luxury Vehicles:
1. Porsche Panamera
2. Alfa Romeo Giulia
3. Land Rover Range Rover
4. Mercedes-Benz E-Class
5. Porsche Macan
New Trucks:
1. Ford F-150
2. Chevrolet Silverado 1500
3. RAM 1500
4. Toyota Tacoma
5. GMC Sierra 1500
New Compact Sedans:
1. Honda Civic
2. Hyundai Elantra
3. Volkswagen Jetta
4. Subaru WRX
5. Subaru Impreza
New Midsize Sedans:
1. Dodge Charger
2. Honda Accord
3. Toyota Camry
4. Ford Fusion
5. Hyundai Sonata
New Full-size Sedans:
1. Nissan Maxima
2. Chrysler 300
3. Chevrolet SS
4. Chevrolet Impala
5. Ford Taurus
New SUVs:
1. Jeep Grand Cherokee
2. Jeep Wrangler
3. Jeep Unlimited
4. Toyota 4Runner
5. Ford Explorer
New Luxury SUVs:
1. Land Rover Range Rover
2. Porsche Macan
3. Land Rover Range Rover Sport
4. Audi Q7
5. Porsche Cayenne
The Cars.com annual ranking of the "most-American" vehicles has not only been revamped this year, but for the first time, the Jeep Wrangler/Wrangler Unlimited tops the company's list, followed by the Jeep Cherokee in second place.
All engines and roughly all transmissions for the Ohio-built SUVs from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles originate from the U.S., according to Cars.com.
The models’ domestic-parts content percentage is among the highest Cars.com has reported this year.
The Wrangler received a score of 74 percent; the Wrangler Unlimited 75 percent and the Cherokee 70 percent.
"Over the American-Made Index's 11-year history, the number of models meeting our original criteria has fallen due to the globalization of automobile manufacturing – from more than 60 vehicles in the index's inaugural year to eight last year," Cars.com's executive editor Joe Wiesenfelder said in a news release. "By the original requirements, only three 2017 models would have qualified this year. With that, we've revamped the AMI to account for the changing landscape and to reinforce factors representing the domestic economic impact when a buyer purchases one model versus another. Cars.com analyzed more than 100 light-duty passenger vehicles built in the U.S. to arrive at the top 10."
The revamped index now bases its ranking on the following five key criteria:
- Assembly location: The location in which the vehicle's assembly plant is located
- Domestic parts content: Percentage of parts content originating in the U.S. and Canada as determined by the American Automobile Labeling Act
- Country of engine origin
- Country of transmission origin
- U.S. factory employment: Automaker's direct U.S. factory employment relative to its sales footprint
Car shoppers’ preference for American drives has increased in recent years according to Cars.com.
In a recent survey, the company said it found that compared to 13 percent in 2016, 25 percent of respondents would consider buying solely from an American manufacturer.
More than 50 percent of respondents revealed that supporting the local economy and brand loyalty are their primary reasons for buying American.
"In an era of build-American sentiment, a sizable portion of shoppers still care where their car comes from," Wiesenfelder added. "That said, it is important for shoppers to remember that the logo on the vehicle doesn't necessarily tell the full story. The cars on this year's list of the 'most-American' hail from automakers headquartered in Europe and Asia as well as North America. Conversely, some vehicles with distinctively American brand names rank low by AMI standards."
Additionally, Cars.com said almost three-quarters of survey respondents named the Chevrolet Corvette, Ford F-150, Ford Expedition and Ford Taurus when asked which cars they considered to be the most American. The Chicago-built Taurus earned the index’s third-place spot this year.
For additional information about models named on the 2017 American-Made Index and its methodology, visit www.cars.com/news.
In celebration of July 4th, Swapalease.com has come out with some patriotic fun facts about what Americans are driving.
Though men and women may share the same anticipation for the holiday, Swapalease says that males drive American-made cars considerably more than females.
While 67 percent of men drive American-made cars, the site found that just 44 percent of women do.
Men and women also differ where they stand on their pick of colors red, white and blue, according to the online lease marketplace.
The data from Swapalease also shares some state-by-state notes, including states where red, white and blue cars are most prevalent. In what shouldn't come as too big a surprise, Kentucky — The Bluegrass State and home to the Wildcats wearing that color — was one of the top areas for blue.
Below are charts detailing the various differences and other fun facts:
Men vs. Women: Most Popular Car Colors
Men Women
Red: 42% 18%
White: 23% 41%
Blue: 53% 47%
States with the Most Red, White and Blue Cars
Red: South Carolina, Colorado, Michigan
White: Florida, California, Tennessee
Blue: New York, Georgia, Kentucky
States with the Highest Percentage of American-Made Cars
Michigan: 71%
Ohio: 66%
Texas: 54%
States with the Lowest Percentage of American-Made Cars
California: 21%
New York: 28%
Massachusetts: 32%
Swapalease’s data is based on an analysis of thousands of vehicles on its site.
Jumpstart Automotive Media’s newly released share of shopper interest data from last month shows strong gains among domestic OEMs such as Chevorlet and Dodge.
Chevrolet has passed Ford as the brand with the most shopper interest. The brand’s overall share of shopper interest increased to 8.9 percent in April, up from 8.7 percent the previous month, according to the company’s latest insights report.
Jumpstart said muscle car models such as the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 led shopper interest in the performance segment, which jumped 15 percent last month.
“Interest can be attributed to organic research as well as editorial coverage from this year’s New York Auto Show where both vehicles were revealed,” Jumpstart said in a news release.
Up from sixth-most-shopped in March, the Camaro was the most-shopped vehicle on Jumpstart’s portfolio of websites last month.
“It’s refreshing to see some American Classics such as Camaro and Challenger see heightened interest, especially as we head into warmer months where it’s a little more fun to drive with the windows down,” Jumpstart vice president of marketing and strategic insights Libby Murad-Patel said in a news release. “Aside from those classics, April was defined by several other entrants in the market helping to make a splash in their respective segments.”
Jumpstart said its data is based on the shopping patterns of more than 17 million in-market car shoppers who researching vehicles across its portfolio of automotive publishers.
Speed Digital announced it will partner with HemmingsPRO Auctions to host a battle more than 50 years in the making: Mustangs versus Camaros.
On May 26, the new partners will bring collectors and enthusiasts a Mustangs versus Camaros sale, the first of a series of monthly themed, timed online auctions.
This event will help settle the long-standing rivalry between the two sporsts car brands and determine which American classic is truly most popular, Speed Digital said.
"We look forward to bringing this unique auction format to millions of Mustang and Camaro fans," Speed Digital president Neil Pitt said in a news release. "It will be exciting to see which fan base has a stronger showing. Will a Mustang or Camaro bring in the highest winning bid? Will more Mustangs find new homes or will it be Camaros? Only time will tell, but it will be fun to watch it all unfold on May 26."
Mustangs and Camaros from 1964 to 2017 will be included in the auction and all inventory will be provided by dealers within Speed Digital's Dealer Accelerate network.
Interested buyers can currently bid at hemmings.speeddigital.com. The timed online auction will close on the night of May 26.
During the live auction, a 2017 Petty's Garage King Premier Edition Mustang powered by a 5.0L V-8 engine producing 825 HP will be auctioned off at 7 p.m.
The customized car signed by Richard Petty himself comes in the Petty's Garage signature limited "ghost series" black and silver paint scheme. According to Speed Digital, the proceeds from the sale of the car will go to charity.
"The Petty's Garage Mustang won't be the only vehicle drawing interest during the Mustangs vs. Camaros online auction. You would be hard-pressed to find more premier Mustangs and Camaros in another auction," Speed Digital added. "Two of the most sought-after vehicles that will have bidders reaching for their wallets include a 1969 Ford Mustang estimated to go between $236,000 and $355,000 at the auction and a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro COPO."
Other sought after cars include the 1968 Shelby GT500, the 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 and the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS, which are estimated to go for $133,000 to $187,000, $99,000 to $134,000 and $90,000 to $122,000, respectively, according to Speed Digital.
For more information about the upcoming auction email Bentley@speeddigital.com or visit hemmings.speeddigital.com.
Following an analysis of its online reviews, Cars.com released its latest list of U.S. consumers' both most reviewed and most highly reviewed vehicles on Wednesday.
“Shopper reviews are a critical part of the car shopping process,” Cars.com data analyst David Greene said in a news release. “Cars are one of the largest investments anyone makes, and the car you choose is going to be in your life for years. Shoppers want to know from trusted peers whether or not they’ve had a good experience with certain makes and models.
On Cars.com's list of top five, the Honda brand takes the first, second and fourth spot for most reviewed car.
Greene said, "The Honda Accord is a top-seller, and has been for years, so it’s no surprise that it is also one of the most-reviewed cars on Cars.com."
The following is a list of the top five most reviewed cars on Cars.com:
- Honda Accord
- Honda Civic
- Toyota Camry
- Honda CR-V
- Ford F-150
The iconic Chevrolet Corvette is the review site's highest rated car, followed by the Toyota 4Runner, the only SUV and economy model to take a top five spot on the list.
“It’s surprising to see the Toyota 4Runner get such high ratings as the only sport-utility vehicle among a top five list of sports and luxury cars,” Greene said. “The 4Runner is one of the last SUVs built on a truck frame, while most competitors have moved to building car-like crossovers.”
The following is a list of the top five highest-rated cars by Cars.com reviewers:
- Chevrolet Corvette
- Toyota 4Runner
- Ford Mustang
- Porsche 911
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Additionally, the site's data analysts also identified where U.S. consumers are leaving the most dealership reviews.
“We looked at the data to determine where in the U.S. consumers are most inclined to review their experience at a dealership and found that, by a wide margin, Florida shoppers leave the most dealership reviews,” Greene explained. “Runner-ups include Texas, Nevada and California, where shoppers were all highly inclined to review their experience at a dealership.”
Here is a list of the five states with the most dealer reviews on the review site and respective review totals:
- Florida – 365,000 dealer reviews
- Texas – 255,000 dealer reviews
- Nevada – 249,000 dealer reviews
- California – 247,000 dealer reviews
- New Jersey – 226,000 dealer reviews
