Vote for the Cars.com's Shoppers' Choice Award

Cars.com's annual popularity award is back. We have found the 10 most popular new-car models that shoppers are not only searching for on Cars.com but are contacting dealers about. These models also receive positive consumer reviews.

This fervent interaction delivers a top 10 that might surprise some enthusiasts, but probably not the people who buy and sell cars.

Voting for this year’s Shoppers' Choice awards will be conducted entirely on Facebook, so go vote, share it with your network and get your favorite car the shiny trophy when it's announced Jan. 10 on the eve of the Detroit auto show.

Shoppers' Choice finalists (in alphabetical order):

• Audi Q5
• Dodge Challenger
• GMC Terrain
• Honda Accord
• Honda Pilot
• Kia Soul
• Ram 1500
• Subaru Outback
• Toyota Highlander
• Toyota Sienna

Audi Sales Held Back by Slim Inventory

You would think setting sales records month after month would be a good thing, but it’s also had a negative side effect for luxury brand Audi. There aren't enough cars on lots for all the shoppers walking in the door to buy.

Audi’s 227 dealerships collectively have about 10,000 cars on their lots, which is equivalent to a 27-day supply for the entire lineup. A 60-day supply is considered healthy, according to Ward’s Auto.

That situation is somewhat of a mixed-blessing, said Johan de Nysschen, president of Audi America. At least people want Audi vehicles, but the situation is causing some shoppers to desert the brand. Audi cannot satisfy demand for its A4, A5, Q5 and Q7 crossovers, or the redesigned A8 flagship; all these models have less than a 20-day supply.

Such short supply means the desired vehicle — right trim, powertrain and color — often aren’t available without custom ordering it from the factory and waiting for delivery. Audi says preorders make up 31% of sales currently. That’s not a good thing because many car shoppers don’t like purchasing a vehicle in this manner. “[It’s] unsustainable because we’re losing business … and some of our dealers are unprofitable,” de Nysschen told Wards Auto. He also added that his company could be selling twice as many diesel Q7 crossovers if they were available.

Audi hopes the rollout of the 2012 Audi A6 and A7 will take pressure on some off of its more constrained models. The 2012 Audi A7 went on sale earlier this month, and the A6 goes on sale later this summer. However, we don't see how that will please Q5 fans who might be prefer to buy a new BMW X3 or Volvo XC60 rather than waiting for a Q5.

Audi Constrained by Vehicle Supply (Wards Auto)

Nine More Cars, SUVs Earn Top Safety Pick Status

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety added a new test for roof strength to its Top Safety Pick award requirements, so it takes more time to test every new car. As the institute continues to test new vehicles, new Top Safety Picks are named.
 
Today, IIHS announced nine new picks all from the 2010 model year, including some brands’ top sellers.

Ford did well with the Fusion sedan and its twins, the Lincoln MKZ and soon-to-be-put-to-pasture Mercury Milan, getting the nod. The large three-row crossover Ford Flex and its Lincoln MKT twin also earned the award.

The Audi A4 sedan and Q5 SUV joined the company’s smaller A3 as award winners. The Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen is the fourth VW, and the Hyundai Tucson became the third Hyundai to get the Top Safety Pick nod.

For those keeping score, Ford now has seven vehicles that have earned the award. Toyota and Lexus have six, Subaru and Chrysler five, GM and Volvo four, Kia three, Honda two, Mercedes-Benz two and Nissan one.

Cars.com Compares Luxury Crossovers

Luxury crossovers have gained popularity, and as more models hit the market, it becomes harder to know which ones are the standouts. In this Cars.comparison, editors Mike Hanley, Kelsey Mays and Joe Wiesenfelder put three popular models side by side: the 2010 Acura ZDX, 2010 Audi Q5 and 2010 Lexus RX 350.

Cars.comparison: Luxury Crossovers

Cars.com Reviews the 2010 Audi Q5

This is our second time reviewing the Audi Q5. When it debuted in 2009, Kelsey Mays reviewed the Q5, and the relatively unchanged 2010 model was just taken to task by Bill Jackson. Reading the two reviews side by side, it’s interesting to hear that the spotty steering is still an issue, along with wind noise and a cramped backseat. But our editors still love the luxury SUV’s power.

2010 Audi Q5 Review

Recall Alert: 2009 Audi Q5

Volkswagen has issued a recall for 6,054 Audi Q5 vehicles from the 2009 model year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall affects vehicles manufactured between Nov. 25, 2008, and June 4, 2009. The vehicles may have an incorrectly manufactured left and/or right A-pillar trim cover clip. In these cases, the A-pillar trim could become loose when the sideguard head protection airbags deploy during an accident.

If this were to happen, a stray trim piece could injure one of the front-seat occupants.

Dealers will inspect the clip in the middle of the left and right A-pillar covers and replace it for free if it does turn out to be faulty. Owners can contact Audi at 800-253-2834 or the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

2009|Audi|Q5

Luxury Car Sales Rebound in September

Do you ever watch the business news and wonder who’s making money in the stock market when most people you know are cutting back? Inexplicably, luxury automakers saw sales bounce back in September.

While sales of Toyota were down 19% in September, Lexus saw sales go up 7%; that’s mostly because of the new RX crossover, which had an uptick of 70%.

Ford sales were down 6%, but sales at its Swedish Volvo brand were up 16%, thanks largely to the new XC60 crossover.

With relatively no new models in its lineup, BMW sales were up 3%.

Even at GM where sales were down 45%, Cadillac sales were down just 8% because of swift sales of the redesigned SRX crossover.

Audi Announces Pricing for 2010 A4, A5 and Q5

Audi has released pricing information for three of its 2010 models. The A4 will begin at $31,450, a mild increase over the 2009’s $31,000 sticker price. With a number of different trims, the A4’s ultimate price will depend on the goodies you want, but it tops out at $42,250 for a Prestige trim with the Tiptronic automatic gearbox.

The A5 gets a price reduction from the $40,700 2009 model, thanks to Audi trading the 3.2-liter six-cylinder engine for a turbocharged 2.0-liter four in the base model. Starting at $36,000 for the 2010 A5 2.0T Quattro coupe, the A5 can climb as high as $45,500 for the automatic Prestige model, which keeps the 3.2-liter six.

Finally, the 2010 Q5 stands as the priciest of these models, with a starting MSRP of $37,350. This a miniscule increase over the ’09, which started at $37,200. The Q5 only comes with an automatic transmission, and the Prestige trim pushes the price up to $48,850. We would have liked to have seen the 2.0-liter turbo make its way into the Q5 and lower the price like Audi did with the A5.

2010|Audi|Q5

2010|Audi|A5

2010|Audi|A4

Weekend Athlete: 2009 Audi Q5

I don’t know who Audi has in mind to drive this car, but it isn’t Weekend Athletes.

Yes, you could take it camping in the way you could take any car camping. And you could take a bike in it, just like you could in any midsize SUV. But as far as I’m concerned, it would be like taking your grandmother’s irreplaceable china as the place setting for a picnic. You could do it, but why on earth would you want to?

On to the tests.

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Audi Q5

Cars.com’s Kelsey Mays compares the 2009 Audi Q5 with pistachio-mint ice cream. Why, you ask? Mays believes that for Audi faithful, the Q5 will be an instant winner, but if you don’t like the taste of mint all that much, well, you’ll end up on his side of the fence. Read Mays’ full review to find out why the Q5 didn’t send him into a tizzy and which other luxury SUVs rank higher in his estimation.

2009 Audi Q5 Review