AutoTrader.com Names "Must Test Drive" Cars and Trucks for 2014

ATLANTA--April 16, 2014: For consumers who are doing a bit of spring cleaning in their garage to make room for a new car or truck, AutoTrader.com's expert editorial team is making the process a bit easier. For the second year in a row, editors at AutoTrader.com, the ultimate automotive marketplace, have named their picks of the cars and trucks shoppers "Must Test Drive" if they're considering a new vehicle this year.

"We decided to expand the list this year to include separate categories for cars and trucks/vans/SUVs so we could offer recommendations that would help shoppers no matter what their needs are," said Brian Moody, AutoTrader.com site editor. "The cars and trucks we picked offer a combination of value, performance, style and features that deliver more than consumers may initially expect."

According to AutoTrader.com research, the test drive is considered one of the most influential parts of the decision making process for car shoppers, with 67% of those surveyed saying it's "extremely important" to test drive a vehicle before purchase. Car shoppers test drive an average of three vehicles before making their final purchase decision, and activities where they see a car in person, such as on the street or on a dealer lot, are the lead motivating factors when deciding which cars to add to their test drive list. Shoppers cite comfort, driving performance and styling as the top three factors that influence if a car stays on their shopping list once the test drive is over.

"We leveraged this research to make sure that the vehicles we recognized offer the things that consumers are paying close attention to during the test drive," Moody said. "But, in order to make the final cut, the cars and trucks we picked also had to offer a little something extra – something unexpected – that shoppers will really appreciate once they get behind the wheel."

AutoTrader.com's Must Test Drive Cars for 2014 include:

2014 Mini Cooper 2014 Chevrolet Corvette 2015 Chrysler 200 2015 Ford Mustang 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid 2015 Hyundai Genesis 2015 Kia K900 2015 Mercedes Benz C-Class 2014 Mazda Mazda3 2015 VW GTI

AutoTrader.com's Must Test Drive Trucks/Vans/SUVs for 2014 include:

2014 Acura MDX 2015 GMC Canyon 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe 2015 Porsche Macan 2014 Jeep Cherokee 2014 Nissan Rogue 2015 Ford F150 2014 Honda Odyssey 2014 Toyota Highlander 2014 Kia Soul

In addition to the previously mentioned criteria, in order to be selected for this accolade cars and trucks had to be available for sale by October of 2014, be widely available for sale in the U.S. (at least half of 50 states), have a base price under $75,000 and there must be at least 10,000 of that particular make/model produced or planned to be produced. This was done to ensure that the recommendations were most relevant to the majority of in-market car shoppers.