Cox Automotive released the results on August 4. The survey covers new-car shoppers who use Kelley Blue Book and plan to buy within a year. Brand Watch runs about 12,000 interviews each year.
The study asks which brands, car types, and features shoppers may choose. It does not count sales, registrations, stock, or prices. It is not a sales forecast.
Hybrid and SUV consideration increased
Hybrid interest rose from 20% to 22% in the first half of 2026. EV interest fell from 11% to 10%. These shares apply to the people in the survey, not all U.S. car sales.
SUV interest hit 71% among non-luxury shoppers and 79% among luxury shoppers. Both were Brand Watch records. Cost and fuel use grew in importance, while safety and durability stayed at the top.
How buyers can use the trend
Choose models that fit your passengers, cargo, parking, and trips. A popular body style may not be your best fit.
Use the federal fuel economy tool to check ratings and estimated fuel costs for each car.
Compare the full price, insurance, energy, service, and expected loss in value.
For a loan, compare the APR, term, amount financed, interest, and total payments. Do not focus only on the monthly bill.
What sellers should take from the survey
Interest in hybrids and SUVs may help some listings get attention. Still, a national survey cannot set one car's value or promise a quick sale. Use recent local prices for cars with the same year, trim, miles, condition, and engine type.
Give buyers clear service records, fuel data, equipment details, and condition notes. A broad survey cannot prove that one car will gain value or sell for a set price.
Primary references
Sources and methodology
MyFavi links to the original material so you can verify the details, reporting period, and later updates.
An FTC complaint says Greenway Auto Group charged more than $3,350 above the advertised price, on average, in over 92% of transactions; a proposed order would require prominent total prices.
A final federal rule lowers projected 2031 fleetwide fuel-economy requirements and estimates lower compliance costs but higher fuel use than the standards it replaces.
A proposed multistate settlement would erase an estimated $634 million in auto-loan debt, fund $60 million in restitution, and add protections for future Credit Acceptance borrowers.
FTC staff says a dealer's advertised price must be available to any buyer and include mandatory dealer fees, leaving out only government-required consumer charges.
Arizona guidance says dealer-sold used cars have a 15-day or 500-mile defect window, while vehicle purchases generally lack a three-day cancellation right.
The FTC warns that scammers are cloning real dealership websites and demanding upfront payment for vehicles the legitimate dealer does not have or know about.
Experian reports that completed auto refinances lowered payments by $83 a month on average in Q2, while hybrids had the lowest average new-vehicle payment by powertrain.
Observed auto-loan data put average monthly payments at $785 for new vehicles and $544 for used vehicles, with amounts financed also higher than a year earlier.
An FTC and Connecticut deal would put $4 million toward buyer refunds. It would require one dealer to show its top total price and get consent for each fee.
A 68,084-owner study found passenger screens were rarely used and among the most problem-prone new-car technologies, while simpler background features scored better.
A federal court temporarily halted a credit-repair network after the FTC alleged false promises, creditor impersonation, illegal advance fees, and unauthorized recurring charges.
TransUnion finds auto-loan fraud losses climbed far faster than fraud rates from Q3 2018 to Q3 2025, as fraudsters increasingly target higher-value accounts and 'credit washing' erases an estimated $10 billion in charged-off debt.
Cox Automotive's mid-August Manheim index fell 1.2% from July while holding roughly flat versus a year earlier, as wholesale values eased after a strong spring.
EIA's October 20 release puts regular gasoline at $4.284 a gallon nationwide and diesel at $6.276, with gasoline down but diesel up from the prior week.
The Fed raised its target range by a quarter point to 3.75%-4%. Auto-loan offers do not move one-for-one with that benchmark, so shoppers still need current quotes.
