Edmunds Reviews

Edmunds.com Inc. was founded in 1966 by Ludwig Arons with the purpose of publishing new and used automotive pricing guides to assist automobile buyers. In 1988, the company was purchased by Peter Steinlauf, whose family has owned a majority stake since. Before the World Wide Web became mainstream, Edmunds.com's new car pricing data was first posted on the Internet through a "gopher site" known as "The Electronic Newsstand" in 1994. This was the first time consumer automotive information had been provided through the Internet. In 1995, www.edmunds.com became the first automotive information Web site, predating the advent of automobile manufacturer Web sites and all other online automotive destinations. In 2000, Edmunds.com launched the first of the True Market Value (TMV) pricing tools after a year of behind-the-scenes development. Today these tools consist of the TMV New Vehicle Calculator, the TMV Used Vehicle Appraiser, and the TMV Predicted Price Trends. The company is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains an office in downtown Detroit, Michigan. After making a minority investment, Carmax purchased the whole company at an enterprise value of $404 million in 2021.

Edmunds.com is a platform that provides information about new and used cars, including prices, reviews, and dealer inventory listings. However, it does not sell cars directly. Instead, it connects buyers with dealerships. So, while you can find a car you want to buy on Edmunds.com, the actual purchase will be made from a dealership.

Edmunds.com calculates its prices using a system known as Edmunds True Market Value (TMV), also referred to as Edmunds Suggested Price. This estimate represents the current average transaction price, meaning what others are paying for new or used vehicles in a specific area. The aim is to provide a fair price for customers to begin their negotiations.

For customers looking to sell their vehicles, the TMV is specifically for used vehicle trade-ins, providing an understanding of how much one might expect to receive when selling a vehicle to a dealer. These prices are determined based on a variety of factors, including actual transaction data from dealers.

The TMV is based on an analysis of millions of data points, including supply, demand, incentives, options, and recent nearby transactions. It is essential information for auto shoppers because cars sell at very different prices depending on their availability and popularity. Knowing this figure allows one to make an offer that a dealer will immediately recognize as reasonable, making negotiations less time-consuming and more relaxed.

For used car appraisals, the TMV is based on factors such as the car's year, make, model, trim, mileage, depreciation, and features. The appraised value is presented with three or four automobile values: trade-in, private party, dealer retail, and certified used. The trade-in price is what one can expect from car dealerships if trading in the current vehicle for the next car. The private-party amount is what a seller can expect if planning on doing a private sale. This option takes more work, however, because it involves dealing with buyers directly. The dealer retail value is for used-car customers and represents an average of what a shopper may expect to pay when visiting a dealership to buy the pre-owned car.

It's important to note that Edmunds collects data from multiple sources, including dealerships, auctions, private sellers, and other industry experts. This data is analyzed using advanced algorithms to provide users with reliable pricing insights.

Yes, Edmunds.com is a platform where one can discover, price, and buy a car. It offers tools such as New Car Ratings and Comparison tool to help users get started. It also provides a Price Checker ™ tool to learn about True Market Value. Users can find local inventory on the site. Edmunds also offers used car dealership listings and sales reviews, loan information, expert reviews, consumer car reviews, car cost comparisons, vehicle appraisal calculators, images and videos, technical features and specs, user forums and more. So, it's a comprehensive platform for car buyers.

Edmunds.com offers a variety of services and products. The platform provides car reviews, pricing, and rankings for new and used cars. It also offers tools for car shoppers, including video test-drives, deal ratings on new and used listings, budget calculators, financing tools, and instant online appraisals for trade-ins.

Popular new cars searched on the site include the New Acura MDX, New Chevrolet Bolt EUV, New Ford Bronco, and New Honda Accord among others. Popular used cars include the Used BMW 5 Series, Used Chevrolet Impala, Used Ford Fusion, and Used Honda Accord among others.

The site also features car rankings in various categories such as Best Midsize 3-row SUVs, Best Midsize sedans, Best Large trucks, Best Electric SUVs, Best Plug-in hybrid SUVs, Best Luxury sport coupes, Best Small hatchbacks, and Best Small SUVs.

In addition to these, Edmunds.com also provides first drives & first looks at upcoming models and recognizes the best vehicles on sale today with the Edmunds Top Rated Awards.

The Edmunds Top Rated Awards are given to the cars, trucks, and SUVs that rank at the top of their class according to Edmunds' vehicle testing program. Each winner has been tested at the Edmunds test track and thoroughly evaluated over many miles of real-world use. The awards are presented annually and recognize the best vehicles on sale today, irrespective of when they were launched. The winners of the Edmunds Top Rated Awards 2024 include the Toyota Prius, BMW i5, Kia Sportage Hybrid, Kia EV9, Chevrolet Colorado, and Ford F-150 Lightning. The Kia EV9 won the Edmunds Top Rated Best of the Best as the first mainstream three-row EV SUV on the market. The list of winners includes a wide array of body and powertrain types, from sedans to large SUVs and trucks, and from pure-gas to hybrid and all-electric. The list also includes makes at the affordable end of the new car market alongside higher-end mainstream and luxury offerings. The Edmunds Top Rated Best of the Best award recognizes the standout vehicle among Edmunds Top Rated winners, with consideration given to the vehicle's impact, innovation, and relevance to car shoppers.

Edmunds.com calculates car prices using a system known as Edmunds True Market Value (TMV). This system is based on the analysis of millions of data points, including supply, demand, incentives, options, and recent nearby transactions. For customers looking to purchase a vehicle, the Edmunds Suggested Price, also known as Edmunds TMV, is what is recommended to pay, not including taxes or fees.

For customers looking to sell their vehicles, Edmunds TMV helps understand how much one might expect to receive when selling. The appraised value is based on factors such as the car's year, make, model, trim, mileage, depreciation, and features. The data used for these calculations come from a variety of sources, including dealer transactions, car depreciation costs, and consumer information.

Edmunds.com also offers a suite of Financial Calculators to help users crunch the numbers like a salesperson would. Once a car and a financial payment option have been chosen, Edmunds.com automatically fills in the appropriate prices, fees, taxes, and other figures, allowing the user to manipulate the data in a variety of ways. This tool can answer questions like what the monthly car payment will be for various terms and interest rates, whether to buy a car or lease it, what the monthly lease payment will be under various lease terms, and which incentive to take: low-interest financing or a customer cash rebate.

For used cars, Edmunds.com provides an Instant Used Car Value and Trade-In Value tool. This tool gives an accurate price for the vehicle in as little as a minute. The tool appraises vehicles dating back to 1990, and the appraised value is based on factors such as the car's year, make, model, trim, mileage, depreciation, and features. The tool provides three or four automobile values: trade-in, private party, dealer retail, and certified used. The trade-in price is what can be expected from car dealerships if trading in the current vehicle for the next car. The private-party amount is what a seller can expect if planning on doing a private sale. The dealer retail value is for used-car customers and is an average of what a shopper may expect to pay when visiting a dealership to buy the pre-owned car.

In summary, Edmunds.com uses a combination of data analysis, financial calculators, and appraisal tools to calculate car prices, providing users with a comprehensive understanding of the value of their vehicle, whether they are buying or selling.

Edmunds.com is a platform that provides comprehensive information about cars, including reviews, pricing, and comparisons. While it does not directly sell cars, it offers resources to help shoppers find the best deals on new and used cars. Users can find listings for a wide range of cars, from sedans and SUVs to pickup trucks and minivans. However, the actual purchase would be made through the dealership or seller listed on the site. It's a valuable tool for anyone in the market for a car, providing a wealth of information to make an informed decision.

Edmunds.com offers two primary methods for payment. The first method is through their Bill Management Portal. Here, customers can view, print, and pay invoices. To pay an invoice, one needs to select the invoice they want to pay, click "Pay", enter their bank account information, and then click "Continue". The second method is through Credit Card Payment. Customers need to provide their card number, expiration month, expiration year, and security code. By clicking "Enroll", customers accept the terms & conditions of Auto Pay, authorizing Edmunds.com to initiate the credit card or bank account entries that they have entered on the website. Customers represent and warrant that they are authorized to use the credit card or bank account that they have entered on the website. Unless directed otherwise, the card information will be used for the current payment and/or any past due balance.

Edmunds.com provides information on how to handle car returns and shipping. For returns, it's noted that it's not easy to return a car. The return and refund policies are notoriously strict for new cars. However, in some circumstances, it might be possible to cancel or "unwind" the deal and return your car. Used-car buyers will have a better chance of returning the car, but it will depend on state laws and the individual dealership's policies. Be aware that there are mileage and return policy requirements and restocking fees to consider. If the vehicle was transferred from elsewhere, the shipping charges may not be refunded.

Regarding shipping, it's mentioned that auto shipping isn't like shipping a package: It won't happen overnight. Deliveries in the U.S. have roughly a four-week window from when the car is picked up to when it will arrive at its destination. International deliveries will take six to eight weeks. An uncovered or open carrier will typically be the less expensive method to ship a car, but your vehicle will be susceptible to the elements and any debris that may fly in the path of the truck. A covered or enclosed auto transport gives you the most protection, but the average cost is roughly 60% more. Enclosed carriers are often used to ship high-value or classic cars since they offer better protection.