Gas Mileage Matters to Car Consumers, Despite Dramatically Reduced Gas Prices

CAMBRIDGE, MA - July 20, 2009: CarGurus.com, an online automotive community, today announced the results of its latest survey of 3,391 online automotive consumers worldwide. When asked how important a consideration gas mileage will be in their next car purchase, forty-one percent of respondents said it would be important, and ten percent said it would be the most important factor. These results are of some surprise given the fact that regular gasoline costs 38% less in the U.S. than it did a year ago (source: U.S. government Energy Information Administration). In fact only 19% of respondents said gas mileage would not be a factor at all.

"Automotive consumers have a long memory. Despite the fact that U.S. regular gas prices peaked about a year ago, consumers remember $4.10 regular gasoline and are wary of buying a car with poor gas mileage," remarked Langley Steinert, CEO of CarGurus. "To their credit, car manufacturers do appear to have heard these consumer concerns and are now building smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles."

  Survey Results

  Across the CarGurus Network, 3,391 respondents answered the question:

With gasoline at less than half its peak 2008 price, how important a consideration will gas mileage be in your next car purchase?

  (Total Votes = 3,391)
  --  The most important factor - 10%
  --  An important consideration - 41%
  --  A small consideration - 30%

  --  Not a factor - 19%

  About CarGurus LLC

Located in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA, CarGurus LLC is an online automotive community founded by Langley Steinert, formerly Chairman/co-founder of TripAdvisor LLC, an online travel site.