Virtual Drive

Think about the last time you purchased a new car. How did you find the right one? Did you visit your local car dealership? Take your friends’ cars on test drives? Or did you research brands, models, and dealers online? With all the different options available, it’s hard to know where to find trustworthy and impartial advice.

These days, it appears that many consumers are turning to online video content for guidance. Earlier this year, Autobytel, a company committed to uniting car buyers and car sellers online, announced that its new car videos, highlighted on the company’s YouTube channel, had reached more than 15 million views.

According to Michelle Naranjo, Autobytel Editor-in-Chief, “Internet car buyers don’t have the luxury of a physical walk around or test drive when they’re researching vehicle information online. Car videos provide a virtual experience that’s closest to actually being in a showroom or behind the wheel.”

Many of the new car videos produced by Autobytel carry the same theme. Each begins by introducing the consumer to the vehicle, identifying the brand, model, and preceding reputation. Following the initial introduction, and if significant, the vehicle’s history is explained. For example, the 2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited video chronicles the vehicle’s past because its body type has remained relatively consistent since its introduction more than 70 years ago. Autobytel’s videos also identify other noteworthy characteristics, such as statistics. For instance, the Honda Accord is among the most popular passenger cars in the nation.

The vehicle’s styling, interior, and exterior features are then examined before the viewer is invited for a virtual test drive in which the handling and engine details are addressed. During the virtual test drive, safety and technology features are highlighted. Lastly, a specs page reveals the vehicle’s MSRP, MPG, and similar models made by competitors.

As a consumer with little automotive expertise, the Autobytel vehicle videos come across as reliable, informative, and insightful. Furthermore, their popularity is a true testament to the shift in the manner by which brands initially reach consumers. In years past, many prospective car buyers would contact a car salesman (often, someone they had previously dealt with) who would initiate their car buying experience. Nowadays, consumers can single-handedly kick off their car buying experience online and prepare themselves with the knowledge they need to confidently walk into a car dealership. You cannot replace the experience associated with a genuine vehicle test drive, but if you’re in the market for a new car, the Autobytel YouTube Channel is a great research tool.