Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, today published comparison test results created by six consumers who were selected as “Edmunds.com Editors for a Day.” Selected applicants were invited to experience and write about a professional comparison test of three popular midsize sedans: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, 2008 Honda Accord and 2007 Toyota Camry.
Edmunds.com is a Web site built for consumers, and we have known since launching our Forums in 1996 that consumers really appreciate hearing from each other,” said Kevin Smith, Editorial Director for Edmunds.com. “This is the first time we invited real consumers from around the country to work with us on an actual road test, and we fully expect that the results will help consumers feel even better about their next vehicle purchase.”
The six consumers were a demographically diverse group, hailing from Monroe, Conn., Red Lion, Pa., Sagamore Hills, Ohio, Roanoke, Texas, Eagle River, Wis. and Lyman, Maine. Two are women, and four are men. Some have children, and some do not. In applying for the opportunity, one expressed a preference for domestic vehicles, another indicated that he favors imports, and the rest declared no vehicle origin preference at all.
The six were flown to Los Angeles, given appropriate accommodations and training, and encouraged to put the comparison test vehicles through a series of driving exercises at Willow Springs International Raceway on November 29. They carefully evaluated the vehicles and wrote up their own comparison test results which were published on Edmunds.com at http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/123972/article.html.
When electing winners, three preferred the Malibu and three chose the Accord for first place. Excerpts of the commentary follow:
“The Malibu is hands-down the best-looking car in this comparison,” said Ramona Redding, a 28-year old registered nurse from Sagamore Hills, Ohio. “The Malibu is the most fun to drive and feels the most alive during cornering.”
“The [Accord] does everything extremely well,” said Philip Jensen, a 65 year-old retired airline pilot from Eagle River, Wis. “It looks great, appears to be the roomiest, is well appointed and keeps its value. It’s darn near bulletproof.”
“The Camry’s exterior and interior styling is attractive,” said Deena Dwyer, a 37-year-old former radiation therapist who is now a full-time parent living in Roanoke, Texas. “It drove well, the features were fine and the car had plenty of room, but it did disappoint me some on the course.”
About Edmunds Inc. (http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/)
Edmunds Inc. publishes four Web sites that empower, engage and educate automotive consumers, enthusiasts and insiders. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive consumer information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its most popular feature, the Edmunds.com True Market Value®, is relied upon by millions of people seeking current transaction prices for new and used vehicles. Edmunds.com was named "Best Car Research Site" by Forbes ASAP, has been selected by consumers as the "Most Useful Web Site" according to every J.D. Power and Associates New Autoshopper.com Study(SM), was ranked first in the Survey of Car-Shopping Web Sites by The Wall Street Journal and was rated "#1" in Keynote's study of third-party automotive Web sites. Inside Line launched in 2005 and is the most-read automotive enthusiast Web site. CarSpace launched in 2006 and is an automotive social networking Web site and home to the oldest and most established automotive community. AutoObserver.com launched in 2007 and provides insightful automotive industry commentary and analysis. Edmunds Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit.