Edmunds.com Consumer Car Expert Phil Reed (Part 2 of 4) – ‘Econo-Box’ Sales Rising; Honda Fit in league of its Own
Submitted by EnergyTechStocks.com
Motorists who love the Ford Expedition and the General Motors Yukon might want to pay their last respects. Phil Reed, consumer advice expert at the authoritative automotive web site Edmunds.com, believes these two gas-guzzling SUVs are likely to go bye-bye as pump prices continue to surge in the U.S.
They are being replaced in Americans’ garages by what Reed calls “econo-boxes” such as the Toyota Yaris, the Chevrolet Avail, and the Ford Focus. According to Reed, “Anything that’s small and gets pretty good gas mileage” has started to sell very well as pump prices keep rising, reaching and likely topping $4 a gallon in the U.S. during the upcoming American summer.
During a lengthy interview with EnergyTechStocks.com, Reed said Americans are responding to rising gas prices in a way that is “simple and direct.” Translation: if it gets pretty good mileage and doesn’t look completely horrible, it’s going to get driven off the lot. Reed said people are rediscovering the Ford Focus thanks in part to the vehicle’s new high-tech “Sync” system from Microsoft which, among other things, makes the car “music player friendly (yes, I-pod too),” as a recent Edmund.com blog entry noted. Also, Reed said, having achieved nearly 32 miles per gallon in tests his company conducted, the Focus’s gas mileage “doesn’t suck.”
But as much as the econo-boxes are gaining sales momentum, Reed said there is another small fuel-efficient car that could top them all because it’s too good-looking to be called an econo-box. According to Reed, the Honda Fit “is selling like crazy” and may well outdistance all competitors in this new era where a vehicle’s fuel efficiency counts more with car buyers than ever before.
Coming Tomorrow, March 19, Part 3 of Reed Newsmaker – Cars that will “come out of nowhere”
