Most Researched Cars? Imports Dominate As Usual!

Which passenger vehicles do you think were the most researched cars in 2008? If you included a number of Toyota and Honda models, then you're guess is correct.

Which American cars do you think are the most researched by consumers online? If you answered the Ford Escape, Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Malibu, your answers are correct.

But, they are the only three American nameplates to show up on a recently distributed list by Kelley Blue Book (KBB), the top provider of consumer information on new and used cars. Instead, the 2008 list was dominated by Japanese brands, fifteen to be exact. Moreover, Toyota and Honda placed thirteen cars on that list, seven and six models respectively.

The following is a peak at Kbb.com's Most-Researched New Vehicles of 2008:

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

The results shouldn't really come as too much of a surprise by consumers as the cars featured are some of the highest quality vehicles on the market. Furthermore, as gas prices surged earlier this year, consumers began to research which vehicles offered the best fuel economy, a factor which explains why so many mid-size to subcompact cars made the list.

Most interesting about what KBB has shown is that the top three models – the Honda Civic, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry – have finished in the top three for five consecutive years, though the order has changed from time to time. Consumers understand that each model represents some of the best selling cars in America, vehicles known for high quality, exceptional value and longevity.

Will American manufacturers or even their European counterparts have a better showing going forward? Only if the Japanese brands stumble and the newest models are received with rave reviews. As the Chevrolet Malibu demonstrated in 2008, having a knock out model can make all of the difference in the world, but even then you're faced with competing against some stiff competition.

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