IRVINE, Calif., April 17, 2019 – Automotive brands are among the most recognizable, most valued brands in the world. There are few products more ubiquitous in our day-to-day lives than the automobile and capturing the hearts and minds of car shoppers could mean more sales in the long run. Recognizing automakers’ outstanding achievements in creating and maintaining brand attributes that earn the attention and enthusiasm of new-car buyers, Kelley Blue Book today announces the 2019 Brand Image Award winners, based on annual new-car buyer perception data. Award categories are calculated among luxury, non-luxury and truck shoppers.

“Building familiarity and loyalty among car shoppers has never been more important to automakers, especially as the market is flooded with all-new and redesigned models competing for market share,” said Hwei-Lin Oetken, director of strategic insights for Kelley Blue Book. “Compelling product and marketing communications continues to influence purchase consideration. This year’s winners have attracted car shoppers based on many attributes that are important to consumers and motivate them toward their ultimate purchase decision.”

2019 Brand Image Award Winners: Non-Luxury Brands

2019 Brand Image Award Winner: Truck Brand

2019 Brand Image Award Winners:  Luxury Brands

For 2019, Honda wins Best Overall Brand for the second consecutive year. Honda achieved the highest average score across all ratings of non-luxury models. Honda’s sterling reputation for quality and breadth of its lineup is what makes it a repeat winner. On the luxury side, Lexus wins Best Overall Luxury Brand for the fourth year in a row, achieving the highest average score across all ratings of luxury models. The Lexus RX, LS, NX and ES consistently received high ratings among consumers, helping to drive the brand win. Most noteworthy, Toyota dethroned Ford and wins its second-ever Best Overall Truck Brand award. The Toyota Tundra and Tacoma received the No. 2 and No. 3 highest model rating in the latest Brand Watch study, pushing the brand to victory.

New to the winners’ circle for 2019 are Acura with it’s Best Value Luxury Brand win, Porsche for Best Car Styling Luxury Brand, Dodge for Best Car Styling Brand and Toyota as the Best Overall Truck Brand.

The 2019 Brand Image Awards are based on consumer automotive perception data from Kelley Blue Book Strategic Insights’ Brand Watch study. Brand Watch is an online brand and model perception tracking study, which taps into more than 12,000 in-market new-vehicle shoppers annually on KBB.com. The highly comprehensive study offers insight into how shoppers perceive important factors driving their purchase decisions and captures brand/model familiarity and loyalty among new-car shoppers. For more information about the 2019 Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards, visit https://www.kbb.com/new-cars/brand-image-awards/.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb, and follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kbb_com/ (or @kbb_com).

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)

Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry. Each week the company provides market-reflective values on its top-rated website KBB.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In Values and Kelley Blue Book® Price Advisor tool, which provides a range for what consumers can reasonably expect to pay for a vehicle in their area. Car owners looking to sell immediately can also get a redeemable, transaction-ready offer with Kelley Blue BookSM Instant Cash Offer. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies, and governmental agencies. Kelley Blue Book is a Cox Automotive brand.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. coxautoinc.com

ATLANTA, April 15, 2019 – According to a new study released today by Cox Automotive, budget-minded, time-strapped, tech-savvy U.S. car buyers are spending a higher percentage of their shopping time online and less total time in market as they hunt for their perfect ride. The 2019 Cox Automotive Car Buyer Journey study also indicates consumers continue to be frustrated by new-vehicle prices and are more likely than ever to be shopping for used vehicles.

“While better online tools are helping people find the information they need, there is still more work that needs to be done to improve the car buying experience, according to our latest study,” said Isabelle Helms, vice president of Research and Market Intelligence for Cox Automotive. “At the dealership, filling out paperwork and negotiating a price remain top frustrations for most consumers.”

The study indicates only 39% of car buyers believe the process has improved since the last time they bought a car, an indicator the industry still has ample room for progress. And less than 10% of car buyers are negotiating price online or filling out paperwork, activities that are known to improve the overall experience.

Adds Helms, “However, we found that consumers are spending more of their shopping time online while making faster decisions and spending fewer days in market.” The findings: Car buyers spend an estimated 61% of active shopping time online – up from 57% in 2017 – and are in market an average of 96 days, a drop of more than 20 days in the past two years. What’s more, approximately 50% of used-car buyers and 44% of new-car buyers are now spending 30 days or less in-market.

The number of dealerships visited in the car-buying process also continues to drop. On average, according to the 2019 Cox Automotive Car Buyer Journey study, car buyers who purchased from a dealership visited 2.3 dealers. In 2017, the average buyer visited 2.7 dealership. Further, 41% of buyers now visit just one dealership during the car-buying process, up from 30% in the 2017 study.

Used is the New “New” for a Majority of U.S. Car Buyers
As the price of a new vehicle in the U.S. continues to increase – the average price paid for a new vehicle purchased in December 2018 was $35,671, according to data from Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book – more buyers are turning to used-car lots to fulfill their mobility needs. According to this most recent study, nearly two-thirds of car shoppers (64%) are now leaning toward a used vehicle.

According to Cox Automotive research, the average monthly new car loan payment in Q1 2019 was $567, up 3.4% from a year earlier, while the average lease payment rose 2.7% to $500. The average monthly payment for a used car, however, rose less than 1% to $414.

Affordability is a top factor for vehicle buyers according to Cox Automotive. In 2012, approximately 54% of vehicles were priced under $30,000. That number has dropped to 35% today. Meanwhile, the number of vehicles priced over $50,000 jumped fourfold, from 6% in 2012 to 24% today. It comes as no surprise then that 48% of consumers feel that owning or leasing a vehicle is becoming too expensive, up from 42% in 2015.

Purchase Process is Better, but Still Needs Improving
Although shopping for a vehicle has increasingly become an online activity and, in turn, is taking less time to complete, most consumers are not noticing a change. According to the study, an estimated 52% of buyers believe their most recent car-buying experience was unchanged from their previous experience; 39% believe it was better than before; 9% believe it was worse.

Buyers who negotiate and complete their required paperwork online are notably more satisfied with the buying process, as are those who spend less than 2 hours total at the dealership. Completing paperwork and negotiating a final price are the top frustrations with car buyers today.

According to the 2019 Cox Automotive Car Buyer Journey, few buyers perform those tasks online, despite the fact they would likely be more satisfied if they did. Less than 10% of vehicle buyers report negotiating the final price of their new vehicle online; only 5% filled out all the required paperwork. Yet, consumers who negotiated online or completed paperwork online spent 45 minutes less time at the dealership and reported being more satisfied with the dealership experience. 

Looking for Car Buyers? Look Online. 
Following a 20-plus-year trend sparked in part by the launch of Autotrader.com in 1997, the percent of car-shopping time spent online continues to increase. The 2019 Car Buyer Journey shows car buyers are spending 61% of their total shopping time online, up from 57% two years ago. Overall shopping time, however, has dropped for both new- and used-vehicle buyers. According to the Cox Automotive study, consumers today spend an estimated 13 hours and 55 minutes researching and shopping for a vehicle, down from 14 hours and 44 minutes in 2017.

Third-party online sites such as Autotrader.com and KBB.com, two Cox Automotive brands, continue to be the most trusted sources for helping consumers choose the right product. When asked, 52% of buyers indicate a third-party website was used to make the final decision on a vehicle brand. Dealer websites were cited 34% of the time, while official auto manufacturer websites were cited by 33 % of buyers. Only 10 % of vehicle buyers trusted social media sites such as Facebook to help with their final decision on a vehicle brand.

When ready to purchase, the study found that 34% of new-vehicle buyers and 43% of used buyers visit only one dealership.

Product is Still King
According to the 2019 Cox Automotive Car Buyer Journey, roughly one-third of new-car buyers ultimately choose a brand they have never owned before, with their decision mostly driven by product attributes and the deal offered.

In courting new-vehicle buyers, automakers focused heavily on traditional television advertising are mostly wasting their time and money, according to the new study, which indicates only 13% of new-to-the-make buyers became aware of the make through television advertising. Word of mouth from friends and family is the most cited source of influence, followed by the internet, where third-party sites are the top driver of awareness.

“For new-vehicle buyers, product is king,” said Helms. “Our study found buyers to be most interested in product details and vehicle specifications, followed by brand reputation and the deal offered.” 

About the 2019 Cox Automotive Car Buyer Journey
Cox Automotive’s Car Buyer Journey is a reoccurring study to monitor key changes in consumer vehicle buying behaviors. In 2019, over 3,000 recent vehicle buyers participated (1,047 used-vehicle buyers and 2,039 new-vehicle buyers). Results are weighted to accurately reflect the market. For more details on the findings, you can access the report here: https://www.coxautoinc.com/market-insights/2019-car-buyer-journey-study

About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

New integration enables J.D. Byrider store operators to connect more consumers with inventory online

EXTON, PA – April 10, 2019 – J.D. Byrider today announced it has partnered with HomeNet Automotive to bring SnapLot 360 technology to its store operators, delivering a more transparent online customer experience through immersive vehicle imaging.

With approximately 30 corporate stores and 120 franchise stores in the Buy Here Pay Here auto retail space, J.D. Byrider is working to reimagine what it means to shop for a car in this segment by using new digital technology that helps consumers make a connection with a vehicle online before they enter a store. Using HomeNet’s SnapLot 360 solution will enable J.D. Byrider to deliver on these objectives and help store operators improve online merchandising efforts by boosting vehicle turn and reducing time to market.

Launched earlier this year, HomeNet’s SnapLot 360 is a 360-degree image capture solution that drives increased visibility to dealers’ online sales platforms through an iOS and Android compatible application. Through the application, dealers can capture both exterior and interior 360-degree images and syndicate them to top website and listing providers in the industry, including Dealer.com and Autotrader. Additionally, the new solution enables dealers to tag specific features as hot spots, helping to increase customer engagement and provide a deeper understanding about the vehicle.

“At J.D. Byrider, we’re invested in being the consumer choice in helping people get a fresh opportunity to finance and own a quality vehicle,” said Marie Lafkiotes, chief marketing and digital officer of J.D. Byrider. “By integrating with SnapLot 360, our store operators will be able to provide an elevated online experience that will separate them from competitors and enable customers to easily shop our inventory from anywhere on any device. This is a key component of our digital transformation.”

A pilot of the SnapLot 360 integration will take place in approximately 12 J.D. Byrider stores, split between corporate and franchise locations. The integration with HomeNet’s flexible inventory platform will enable inventory photos to be housed online and automatically populate on J.D. Byrider website listings. Store operators will also have the ability to display pricing specifics — key to driving a more transparent experience for consumers. HomeNet’s photo backgrounding, a turnkey image enhancement offering, will also be available to enable dealers to change the background of vehicles to save time on staging, ensure consistency and ease integration with third-party sites.

“Bringing SnapLot 360 to J.D. Byrider is a significant milestone that will help drive greater transparency and engagement in the Buy Here Pay Here shopping experience,” said John Hensman, vice president and general manager of HomeNet. “With SnapLot 360, we’re helping dealers increase trust and enabling consumers to make more informed buying decisions.”

For more information about SnapLot 360, visit: https://www.homenetauto.com/products/snaplot-360.asp.

About HomeNet

HomeNet Automotive gets inventory out of your systems and in front of online shoppers. Today’s car shoppers are researching, locating and evaluating cars online before they ever set foot in a physical dealership. Yet, dealers struggle to ensure inventory is consistently updated and distributed to all online destinations with speed, accuracy and quality. At HomeNet, we help dealers and industry partners merchandise and distribute their inventory from one unified platform and seamlessly push this information to their own website and all their third-party advertising sources. Based in Exton, PA, with offices across the U.S., HomeNet is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cox Automotive.

About J.D. Byrider 

J.D. Byrider is the Indianapolis-based leading used car sales and finance business consisting of over 140 franchised and company-owned dealerships in over 30 states.

ATLANTA, April 11, 2019 – Finding your perfect match can be difficult, and everyone is searching for that one vehicle that checks all the boxes. With more than 300 vehicle models available, this becomes a daunting task that leaves consumers with more questions than answers. The options are endless, examining vehicle technology, safety features, driving condition options, style, make, model and trim level. Autotrader can help narrow down that shopping list. After spending the past year testing nearly every model on the market, the experts at Autotrader have decided on a list of 12 vehicles that are the best of the best.

“Not only are consumers often overwhelmed by the sheer number of vehicles on the market, but they also get lost in the frenzy of constantly changing technology, features and vehicle capabilities,” said Brian Moody, executive editor of Autotrader. “Our team selected a diverse group of vehicles that will benefit car shoppers with a variety of needs and lifestyles. These vehicles are good looking and handle well, plus they have features everyone will love.” 

The Autotrader 2019 Best New Cars were chosen on a wide-ranging set of criteria, including interior comfort and materials, build quality, available features and ride quality. Each vehicle was agreed upon unanimously by the entire editorial and data team at Autotrader. To be considered, a vehicle must be of the current or next model-year and available for purchase at the time of the awards announcement. We also capped the price at $75,000, meaning the cars and trucks on our list offer a significant value for the asking price. Not only was value a top priority, vehicles were also judged on available technology and a rewarding or dynamic driving experience. 

These models truly have something unique that separates them from their competition. The variety of award-winning models below are weighted equally and are unranked. 

Autotrader’s 2019 Best New Cars

2019 Acura RDX

The new Acura RDX is a full-fledged luxury/sport utility vehicle on par with Europe’s best. Its turbocharged engine is quick, responsive and efficient, averaging 28 miles per gallon. For drivers that love to blast music, they will love the optional ELS sound system – it’s one of the best available in any new car on the market.

2019 Ford Ranger

Ford has resurrected the Ranger name for 2019 and this version is not stuck in the 90s. This Ranger is a competent and agile little brother to the well-established Ford F-150. As the right combination of work-ready and everyday-useful, the 2019 Ford Ranger is perfect for the needs of most Americans.

2019 Genesis G70

The Genesis G70 had the editors at Autotrader uttering a series of “inconceivable” proclamations every time they got behind the wheel. And this time, it does mean what they think it means. The G70 packs a lot of fun into a tidy package and does it for a reasonable price. The interior is a highlight that rivals cars costing tens of thousands of dollars more, but at this price, it’s a no brainer the G70 made the Best New Cars for 2019 list.

2019 GMC Sierra 1500

The Sierra is staking out its own territory in the full-size pickup world. With unique features and a traditional but modern look, the Sierra is a great truck in the full-size pickup world. GMC’s Multi-Pro tailgate is more than just a parlor trick; it gives a wow factor to a feature that that has been taken for granted for years. 

2019 Honda Passport

Finally, “sport” and “utility” tangibly make sense together when describing the Honda Passport. Move over Pilot, the Passport’s rugged look is the newer, hotter version in town.

2019 Jaguar I-Pace

If car shoppers are suddenly going to start buying electric cars based on things like attractiveness, fun and a rewarding driving experience, the I-Pace is the EV to get them there. Tesla started the luxury electric car revolution, but Jaguar takes it to a whole new level. 

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450

The GLE 450 is a luxury SUV that pulls no punches. The GLE 450 offers drivers the best of both worlds: off-road capabilities yet serene on the road. Equipped with forward-thinking technology, this luxury SUV is arguably the world’s most perfect car.

2019 Nissan Altima

Debuting innovative features, the Nissan Altima keeps the overall look of the car similar to previous models. Some highlights are the new high-tech turbo engine, all-wheel drive option and driver assist features that landed this vehicle on the list. And we couldn’t forget Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

2019 RAM 1500

Combining brute strength with class-leading luxury, the RAM 1500 easily pushes other trucks to the side. A few distinguishable features include a high-end audio system, super soft leather and a large touch screen – it all equals a really plush cab, added to an available 12,750-lb towing capacity.

2019 Subaru Ascent

Surprise, the new Ascent isn’t really a surprise. Instead, the Subaru Ascent is exactly what Subaru owners have wanted for years: a three-row SUV that allows growing families to stay in the Subaru family.

2019 Toyota RAV4

Not just redesigned, but the reinvented Toyota RAV4 is more dramatic and masculine look changes the character of the vehicle. If taken off-road, drivers will feel how engineers intentionally fused fun into the RAV4 formula. Roomy inside and reasonably priced, the RAV4 is an excellent compact SUV.

2019 Volvo XC40

The XC40 is a rolling playbook on how to take a luxury brand down-market while still holding your head high. The interior and driving dynamics are unique, making the vehicle feel more premium than its under-$40,000 price. An added bonus – you can get this car on a subscription plan, extending the Volvo vibe on the entire purchasing, owning and exchanging experience. 

To learn more about the Best New Cars for 2019 from Autotrader, including photos, detailed vehicle information and available inventory, visit www.autotrader.com/best-cars/12-best-new-cars-2019-281474979921036.  

For more information and news from Autotrader, visit press.autotrader.com, follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Autotrader_com (or @Autotrader_com), Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/autotrader_com/ (or @autotrader_com), like our page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/autotrader/, add us on Snapchat (@Autotrader_com), and get updates at Google+ at https://plus.google.com/+Autotrader.

About Autotrader

Autotrader is the most recognized third-party car listings brand, with the most engaged audience of in-market car shoppers. As the foremost authority on automotive consumer insights and expert in online and mobile marketing, Autotrader makes the car shopping experience easy and fun for today's empowered car shopper looking to find or sell the perfect new, used or Certified Pre-Owned car. Using technology, shopper insights and local market guidance, Autotrader's comprehensive marketing and retailing solutions allow consumers to build their deal online, and guide dealers to personalized digital marketing strategies that grow brand, drive traffic and connect the online and in-store shopping experience. Autotrader is a Cox Automotive™ brand. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. For more information, please visit http://press.autotrader.com.  

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling and owning cars easier for everyone. The global company's 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

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