A number of factors affect a car buyer’s decision to purchase a new vehicle including price, safety, offered features, and quality.  However, according to a recent survey from Consumer Report, one very important factor often overlooked is brand loyalty.  Research indicates that car buyers don't switch brands easily.  After 1,700 interviews with adults who own at least one vehicle, 73 percent said they were somewhat likely or very likely to purchase the same brand they currently drive. Gender and age have a noticeable influence on brand loyalty.  Women are more likely to be brand loyal.  54 percent of women compared to 43 percent of men state they are very likely to purchase another car of the same make they currently own.  Loyalty is just as strong with older drivers.  Among drivers 35 and older, at least 50 percent plan to stick with the brand they already own.  Only 41 percent of drivers aged 18 to 34 years old felt the same way.  If they were to be convinced to change car brands, different factors work to influence men vs. women. Women are most drawn to better fuel economy (76 percent), a better safety record (72 percent), and more standard equipment ...

Based on new rollover test results, nine vehicles have been named 2010 Top Safety Picks following a new round of tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Based on results from new rollover tests, the 2010 Audi A4 and Audio Q5, 2010 Ford Flex and Ford Fusion, 2010 Hyundai Tucson, Lincoln MKT and Lincoln MKZ, and the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen (Golf Wagon in Canada), all earned the Institute’s highest safety rating.  The ninth vehicle, the 2010 Mercury Milan, is not sold in Canada. To earn a Top Safety Pick, vehicles had to earn a rating of “Good” in the Institute’s 40- mph frontal offset crash test; the 35-mph SUV side-impact test; a rear head restraint configuration analysis, and a new roof-strength test.  IIHS rates vehicles in all four tests on a scale of Good, Acceptable, Marginal, and Poor. To earn a rating of “Good” in the new roof-strength test, a vehicle must have a strength-to-weight ratio (SWR) of 4:1 or better. Meaning the roof would withstand a force equal to at least four times the vehicle’s weight without deforming more than five inches. The Top Safety Picks achieved the following SWR ratings: 2010 Audi A4: 4.60 2010 Audi Q5: 4.41 2010 Ford Flex: ...

For the first time, Canadians are getting to drive a new trim level on a new model before the United States.  As usual the decision came down to sales. Those sale numbers show that over one quarter of all VW Jetta’s sold in Canada are powered by a diesel engine.  As a result, the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta will be launched first in Canada, with the diesel (TDI) option.  Typically, Canadians must wait patiently to drive new models released from European and Japanese automakers.  The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta is a big part of VW’s plan to make serious sales inroads in North America. The new Jetta is expected to compete with the Toyota Corolla ($15,460 - $24,110), which is the third best selling compact car in Canada.  It had 9,241 sales Year-to-Date (YTD) in May 2010. The Honda Civic ($15,990 - $28,745) was, until recently, the best selling car in Canada before being dethroned by the Mazda3 ($15,995-$32,995).  Mazda's outsold the Civic by 103 units over the fist quarter of 2010.  Hyundai, which accomplished a historic first in May by outselling Honda Canada in overall car sales, has the compact Elantra that sold 6,6615 cars YTD in May.  The Elantra ranges ...

The top selling small SUV in Canada is the Ford Escape.  It sold 8,189 units in April with a basic model starting at $24, 499. The Subaru Forester sold 1,835 units and eleven competitors sit between it and the Ford.  To close the gap Subaru is offering up two new Forester models with the addition of the Outdoor Package to the Forester 2.5X and PZEV. The Forester 2.5X Outdoor Package is priced at $25,995 with a manual transmission, while the PZEV Outdoor Package is $28,095. Subaru also offers a new 2.5X Sport-Tech, with added technology and performance features, at $28,695 with a manual transmission. The Outdoor Packages add aerodynamic roof rail crossbars, trailer hitch, cargo tray and protective mat, retractable cargo cover and rear bumper step pad. The new Sport-Tech package builds on the Forester Touring package and adds 17-inch XT-type wheels, Pioneer AVIC in-dash navigation and audio system with detachable touch-screen and 12 million points of interest, Subaru dealer listing SD card, iPod and USB audio integration with text display, and Bluetooth hands-free system.  For the lowest price on all makes and model vehicles in Canada you want BestPriceExpress.ca

Good news and Toyota haven’t been words that show up together in the news together a lot lately, but Toyota did get some very good news recently from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS is a nonprofit research and communications organization funded by U.S. auto insurers).  Three Toyota vehicles were given Top Safety Pick Awards by the IIHS.  Both the 2011 Toyota Avalon and 2011 Sienna were awarded the institute's highest ratings in front, side, rollover and rear crash tests.  The Sienna is the first minivan to receive the honor of a Top Safety Pick since the IIHS added rollover data to its list of crash criteria in 2010.  The third vehicle is the 2010 Lexus RX.  In fact, the Lexus RX 350, built in Cambridge, Ontario was awarded the highest honour.  All three vehicles share electronic stability control as standard equipment - another parameter for receiving the award. Safety is critical and for the majority of drivers but so is price and while Toyota and Lexus have proven they can deliver the former, BestPriceExpress.ca has hundreds of customer testimonials to demonstrate they deliver the lowest price on any new car in Canada.  Check it out at BestPriceExpess.ca.