Comparative Analysis of Car Websites: Edmunds, CarGurus, etc.

This report presents a comparative analysis of five car websites: Edmunds, CarGurus, Kelly Blue Book, TrueDelta, and Car Complaints. The analysis focuses on the Honda Civic LX 4door Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT), evaluating each website based on ease of use, features, navigation, data reliability, and depth of analysis. Edmunds is identified as the top performer, providing the most authentic and detailed information in a user-friendly format. The report highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each website, offering insights into their respective user interfaces, data accuracy, and overall value for prospective car buyers. The conclusion emphasizes the benefits of using multiple websites for comprehensive car research, despite some limitations and subjective reviews. The report includes a reference list with the sources used.

Running head: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CAR WEBSITES
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CAR WEBSITES
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Author Note:

1COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CAR WEBSITES
Criteria/points
of comparison
(below):
Edmunds Car
Complaints
Car Gurus Kelly Blue True Delta
Easiest to use
overall

Most difficult
to use overall

Best features 
Easiest
navigation

Most reliable
data

Most in-depth
analysis

INTRODUCTION
This paper provides a comparative analysis of five different websites which provide data
pertaining to cars. One particular car that had been chosen for this analysis was Honda Civic, with
special attention on ‘LX 4door Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT)’. The research experience started off excellently
with ‘Edmunds’ providing almost all the necessary information accurately and in detail. After that
other websites could not stand up to the volume of expectation, although ‘True Delta’, in the end,
showed considerable efforts in providing detailed information.

2COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CAR WEBSITES
Thesis Statement: ‘Edmunds’ is the best website and provides most authentic and detailed
information in a user-friendly manner.
BODY
a) Ease of Overall Usage:
1. ‘Edmunds’ is the most user-friendly website of all the five, where detailed information
and reviews can be easily accessed and navigated by a user.
2. The interface of ‘Car Complaints’ appear a little haphazard, but the specific areas are
well categorized and easily accessible.
3. ‘Car Gurus’ provides limited information and is easy to use.
4. The ease of using ‘True Delta’ is limited. After a certain portion of usage, cannot be
accessed anymore and asks for membership in order to proceed.
5. ‘Kelly Blue’ is the most difficult to use. It is difficult to elicit detailed information about a
single car, and cannot be accessed without a zip code ("Compare New & Used Cars |
Kelley Blue Book", 2018). Even the in comparisons, only the basic specifications are
provided, and other information is difficult to access.
b) Best Features:
1. ‘Edmunds’ offers the best features which covers possibly all areas of a car.
2. The features offered by ‘True Delta’ cover a fairly large area.
3. The features offered by ‘Car Complaints' are limited to negative reviews ("2018 Honda
Civic problems", 2018).
4. ‘Car Gurus’ provide excellent reviews, but other information are inadequate.
5. Due to its lack of accessibility, detailed features of ‘Kelly Blue’ could not be accessed,
and the basic information available are inconsequential.

3COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CAR WEBSITES
c) Easiest Navigation:
1. ‘Edmunds’ tops the chart of easiest navigation. Unlike the others, a single entry is
sufficient enough to open up a lot of information, where the user can move around
flexibly.
2. ‘Car Complaints' also offers flexible movement across pages.
3. The navigation system of ‘Car Gurus’ is considerably easy.
4. ‘True Delta’ requires multiple entries for moving from one broad category to another of
the same car.
5. ‘Kelly Blue’ is largely inaccessible without a zip code and hence there is no question of
navigation.
d) Most Reliable Data:
1. ‘Edmunds’ provides the most authentic data which matches with most of which matches
with those presented in the official websites of the car companies.
2. The reviews presented by ‘Car Gurus’ and ‘Car Complaints' offer subjective perspective
and hence their authenticity are debatable (Williams, 2018).
3. The specifications provided by ‘True Delta’, although covers a fairly large area, the data
give an overall impression and are not specific ("Honda Civic Features at TrueDelta:
Standard and optional features by trim", 2018). Hence, reception of the impression that
goes may differ from one person to another.
4. In case of ‘Kelly Blue’, inaccessibly hinders reliability.
e) Most In-depth Analysis:
1. ‘Edmunds’ covers a large area and offers detailed description of the concerned car, its
making and usage ("Compare Cars - Car Comparator Tool • Edmunds", 2018).
2. The reviews in ‘Car Gurus’ are also detailed.
3. The objections highlighted in ‘Car Complaints' are brief and concise.
4. Although voluminous, ‘True Delta’s information are more impressionistic than detailed.

4COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CAR WEBSITES
5. ‘Kelly Blue’s propositions lack in-depth analysis.
CONCLUSION
Therefore it may be concluded by saying that ‘Edmunds’ provides the best possible
information to a prospective customer, who intends to buy a car. In spite of several drawbacks and
mixed reviews, a comparative study of one or more cars through multiple websites would be
immensely helpful for a person for choosing the right car.

5COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CAR WEBSITES
Reference List
2018 Honda Civic problems. (2018). Retrieved from
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Civic/2018/
Compare Cars - Car Comparator Tool • Edmunds. (2018). Retrieved from
https://www.edmunds.com/car-comparisons/?veh1=401735656
Compare New & Used Cars | Kelley Blue Book. (2018). Retrieved from
https://www.kbb.com/compare-cars/#zipo=f3f75981ab80a5d9c27268b30f52bb75
Honda Civic Features at TrueDelta: Standard and optional features by trim. (2018). Retrieved from
https://www.truedelta.com/Honda-Civic/features-109-2018
Williams, K. (2018). Honda Civic. Retrieved from https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/2018-Honda-Civic-
Overview-c27153