Hybrid for First Time Makes Internet Top 20 List of Vehicles

What vehicles are Internet users looking at the most?

Kelley Blue Book compiled a list of the most researched vehicles for the first half of 2007, based on 70 million visits to www.kbb.com. The list:

Toyota and Honda again continue to dominate Kelley's most-researched new-vehicles list, with 12 of the top 20 vehicles representing those makes (seven Toyotas and five Hondas).

However, Toyota surpassed Honda for the first time taking the top spot with the newly redesigned Camry.

A hybrid vehicle makes its debut on Kelley Blue Book's most-researched new vehicles list, with the Toyota Prius coming in at No.11. Popular new domestic models that continue to make the most-researched list include the Ford Mustang, Ford Escape and Chevrolet Tahoe.

Vehicle redesigns and updates spark consumer interest in specific models, with Nissan's recently redesigned Altima being the only vehicle among the top 10 that is not a Toyota or Honda.

The Jeep Wrangler places on the most-researched list for the first time this year. It underwent a recent redesign which now includes a more family-friendly four-door model. Honda's redesigned CR-V moved to No.4 on this half-yearly list, up significantly from No.10 at the same time last year.

Mazda's compact model, Mazda3, moved up from number 20 last year to number 15 this year, demonstrating its increased popularity.

The only luxury models included on the 2007 most-researched list are the Infiniti G35 and Acura TL.

“The stranglehold Toyota and Honda have on the top 10 most-researched spots anticipated the sales results in June and demonstrates that those brands are on many consumers' must-shop list,” says Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com.

“Meanwhile, the list shows that prospects for the domestic manufacturers remain bleak, because they offer too few ‘gotta-have-it’ products.”