In a recent online poll(1), Autobytel shoppers cited fuel-efficiency as their #1 car buying consideration and 73% said that high gas prices have impacted their driving behavior and vehicle choices. Those claims are strongly supported by the purchase decisions made on Autobytel car-buying sites during Q3 according to the latest Autobytel Consumer Choice report(2), which provides a snapshot of online auto shoppers' rapidly evolving priorities and vehicle selections in light of rising fuel costs.

The 10 vehicles that were requested most by Autobytel shoppers during the third quarter averaged an impressive 32 mpg/hwy.(3) This emphasis on fuel-efficiency played out across vehicle categories, with the top-10 most requested SUVs averaging 24.3 mpg/hwy, the top-10 most requested luxury vehicles averaging 26.1 mpg/hwy, and the relatively fuel-efficient Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier ranking as the #1 and #5 most requested trucks, respectively.

Q3 Consumer Choice Highlights

   * The Hummer H3 (an exceptionally popular selection among Autobytel buyers) was the only domestic model among Autobytel's top-15 most requested vehicles. The H3 was also the only truck-based SUV to crack the top-15. Remarkably, not a single pickup truck was included in the top-15.
   * Honda and Toyota models represented 9 of the top-10 most requested vehicles on Autobytel sites during the quarter.
   * Small, fuel-efficient cars have been the big winners so far this year. Since Q1, requests are up 15% for the Honda Civic, up 29% for the Volkswagen Jetta, and up 24% for the Toyota Prius.
   * Most of the gains in requests for the Toyota Prius occurred between Q2 and Q3, a period that roughly spans the fuel shock caused by Hurricane Katrina. In Q3, Prius requests spiked 52% versus Q2, making the Prius the 6th most requested vehicle overall among Autobytel buyers.

Trends to Watch in the Fourth Quarter

   * Civic Soars - With a very well reviewed new model, the already-popular Honda Civic appears poised to become the most requested vehicle on Autobytel sites in the fourth quarter.
   * Hatchback Comeback - Thanks to their contribution of fuel efficiency, style and convenience, look for hatchbacks, such as the Mazda 3, to continue to attract online shoppers, and for new hatchbacks introduced in the upcoming year to generate strong online interest.
   * Rise of the Mid-Size - Written off by some industry watchers as a declining category, mid-sized trucks are showing signs of life, thanks to entries like the Dodge Dakota, Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma that combine nearly full-size power, space and off-road capability with 'mid-size' fuel economy.