Kbb.com Names Most-Researched New Vehicles, Brands Of 2011

Kelley Blue Book, new and used car information provider, announced on December 13 their most-researched new vehicles of 2011 on the company’s website, www.kbb.com. In addition, the resource reveals the top five brands with the greatest share of market interest for 2011.

The top twenty most-researched new vehicles of 2011 were: Honda Civic; Honda Accord; Toyota Camry; Honda CR-V; Ford F-150; Hyundai Sonata; Hyundai Elantra; Chevrolet Equinox; Toyota Prius; Volkswagen Jetta; Nissan Altima; Toyota Highlander; Honda Odyssey; Toyota Corolla; Ford Fusion; Ford Focus; Ford Explorer; Toyota RAV4 19; Chevrolet Silverado 1500; and the Ford Escape.

This year’s success story is the Hyundai Elantra, entering the top twenty most-researched new vehicles list at No. 7. Elantra’s victory can be attributed to the vehicle’s top-rated fuel efficiency, affordability, redesign, and Hyundai’s increased popularity among consumers.

"Hyundai’s Elantra resonated with visitors earlier this year with its redesign releasing as gas prices were soaring, and due to its styling it remains top-of-mind among new-car shoppers," said Arthur Henry, Manager of Market Intelligence for Kelley Blue Book. "Hyundai was able to knock it out of the park two years in rows with the Sonata and now the Elantra, which is maintaining brand loyalty and changing public perception."

2011 Top Five Brands with Greatest Share of Market Interest among New-Car Shoppers:
Toyota, Ford, Honda, Chevrolet, Hyundai (respectively) are the top five brands with the highest share of market interest, defined as the percent of new-car shopper activity for a particular brand, for 2011.

Making its big appearance this year as a top brand is Hyundai, closing in the fifth position on the 2011 top five most-researched brand list, replacing Nissan from last year. Hyundai’s increased popularity among car shoppers can be accounted for in part due to Honda and Toyota delivering their vehicles at a low production rate because of the Japanese tsunami and recent Thai floods.  Many consumers turned to Hyundai for their new-car purchase during this time with the lack of vehicles in the marketplace. Hyundai’s roll out of the Equus and Veloster, in addition with the redesign of the Accent and Azera, were also considerable factors that translated into Hyundai’s increased market share. The Hyundai Elantra and Sonata had a high level of prosperity this year, which generated brand interest among car shoppers.

Toyota retained its number one spot and the brand’s market share increased one percent. This year, Ford moved up one position to the second brand researched most from 10.2 percent in 2010 to 13.5 percent this year. Honda moved down to number three on the list, while Chevrolet remained the fourth brand researched when compared to 2010.
 
Significant to this year’s list is the absence of luxury brands among the top twenty most-researched new vehicles. The BMW 3 Series held position eighteen last year; however, with uneasy economic conditions and rising gas prices during Q1 and Q2 2011, many luxury owners and intendeds moved toward non-luxury brands on the site. Rising fuel prices also allowed the hybrid segment to thrive earlier in the year with the Toyota Prius benefiting most, moving eight spots this year to number nine.

"Luxury brands were hit the hardest this year; not one luxury vehicle made it on Kelley Blue Book’s 2011 most-researched list," said Henry. "They simply didn’t fit into many consumers’ budgets, especially with the gas price hike earlier this year."

Since 2004, the Honda Accord, Honda Civic, and Toyota Camry remain the top three most-researched new vehicles. While these models remained among the top three again in 2011, several other vehicles entered the list for the first time or shifted position.

A number of popular new or redesigned models also increased their standing for 2011 versus 2010, including the Volkswagen Jetta, up ten positions to number ten, and the Chevrolet Equinox, up five positions to number eight. The Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and Ford Explorer are new to this year’s list compared to 2010.

Many vehicles that are standard candidates on the annual most-researched vehicle list dropped in ranking during 2011. The Toyota RAV4 fell eight positions to number eighteen, while Nissan Altima decreased five positions to number eleven, and the Ford Escape fell four spots to number twenty. Toyota Highlander dropped three spots to number twelve and the Honda Odyssey fell one position to number thirteen. The vehicles that claimed a top twenty spot on the 2010 list, but unfortunately did not make the cut this year were the Honda Pilot, Ford Mustang, Toyota Sienna, BMW 3 Series, and Chevrolet Camaro.