10 Most Popular Cars of the Year
What’s the hottest car on the market? Depends on who you ask. But Yahoo! knows which car it is, thanks to an exhaustive tracking plan that factors in numerous criteria. Yes, user interest is high on that list, but so too is the intent and satisfaction of each Yahoo! visitor, which is measured not only by search queries and leads submitted, but also by ratings and reviews.
And you know what? The results may surprise you. While 2008 has seen the introduction of some of the most powerful sports cars ever, concerns over gas prices have focused buyer attention like a laser on fuel-efficient transportation. Smoky burnouts may be fun, but great fuel economy,affordable sticker prices and dependability are top priorities in today’s market.
This shift in consumer attitudes is best reflected in the top 10 Yahoo! cars. The list is dominated by compact and subcompact fuel sippers, hybrids and two of the most popular family sedans on the market today. Still, the fact that the Ford Mustang cracked this elite group shows that even in a time of volatile gas prices, the American love affair with the automobile is still alive and well.
The list of top 10 cars of 2008 is arranged alphabetically, with pricing, fuel economy, competitive set, hot features and capsule summaries of each provided by the editors of Road & Track magazine. The top car of 2008 as determined by Yahoo! users will be announced at the 2008 Los Angeles International Auto Show in November.
Up First: Ford Focus
Top 10 Contenders for Yahoo! Autos Excelerator Award:
1. Ford Focus
2. Ford Mustang
4. Honda Civic
5. Honda Fit
6. Kia Rio
7. Toyota Camry
9. Toyota Prius
10. Toyota Yaris
More at Road & Track
Photos: Car of the Year Contenders
Mega Slideshow: New Cars for 2009
The Yahoo! Autos Excelerator Award is an annual award designating the #1 car on Yahoo! Autos, a leading independent automotive web site. The award criteria are based on user interest, intent, and satisfaction as measured by search queries, leads submitted and ratings and reviews. This award is not sponsored by any automotive advertiser on Yahoo! Autos, and Yahoo! is not being paid for this initiative.
