For anyone in the market for a new or used car, CarGurus should be your first stop. This innovative online automotive marketplace connects buyers with the vehicles and sellers that best match their needs, making the car shopping process incredibly seamless. I’ve used CarGurus multiple times over the past few years to purchase both new and used vehicles, and each time it proved an invaluable resource that saved me time, money, and headaches.
With its comprehensive listings of millions of vehicles across the country, robust search filters, pricing insights and reviews, CarGurus aims to bring transparency and simplicity to the complex process of finding the right car at the right price. Here’s an in-depth look at the key features that make CarGurus a must-use platform for all car buyers:
Unparalleled Inventory
No other site comes close to the expansive inventory available on CarGurus. With listings for over 4 million new and used cars updated daily from thousands of dealers nationwide, you’re guaranteed to find what you’re looking for here. Whether you know exactly what make and model you want or need help narrowing down the choices, CarGurus has you covered.
I especially appreciate that CarGurus doesn’t just include the most common brands like Toyota and Honda but also showcases harder-to-find and specialty vehicles. So if you’re hunting for a vintage truck or a luxury EV, CarGurus should have listings available.
Targeted Search Filters
Sifting through millions of vehicle listings would be impossible without CarGurus’ intelligent search filters to pinpoint exactly what you need. The site makes it easy to filter by make, model, year, trim, price, mileage, location and dozens of other parameters, instantly narrowing your options to the most relevant matches.
As you refine your search, CarGurus proactively recommends additional filters based on your selections to streamline the process even further. This ensures you don’t miss any critical search criteria and see the best results for your specific wants and needs.
Price & Deal Rating
One of CarGurus’ biggest differentiators from other car shopping sites is its proprietary pricing rating system. An algorithm compares each listed vehicle’s price against similar listings based on year, make, model, location and other factors to assign a “Great Deal”, “Good Deal” or “Fair Deal” rating.
As a buyer, this instantly tells me whether a car is attractively priced compared to its competition, removing the guesswork involved in determining if a price is relatively high or low. The deal rating along with the discounted price display lets me zero in on the best bargains on my target vehicles.
Another handy pricing feature is the Price History chart that shows a car’s list price changes over time. This further helps gauge whether the current asking price is relatively high or low compared to past trends.
Dealer Reviews
Today’s car buyers rely heavily on dealer reviews to determine where they feel most comfortable doing business. CarGurus allows customers to rate and review every dealership on its platform based on their buying experience. With over 750,000 dealer ratings and growing, it’s the industry’s most robust dealer review database.
I always check out dealer ratings before reaching out or visiting a lot. This gives me valuable insider knowledge to avoid shops with dishonest sales tactics or hidden fees. Reading about other customers’ experiences helps me find dealers I can trust for a smooth, hassle-free purchase.
Video Listing Tours
One of the cool, unique features on CarGurus is its collection of 360-degree video listing tours powered by Vroom. For many vehicles, you can take a virtual video tour of the actual car you may buy, inside and out.
Being able to visually inspect colours, seat configurations and condition in high-res close detail gives me added peace of mind before purchasing. It’s the next best thing to seeing the car in-person and lets you get to know the vehicle before even stepping onto the lot.
Personalized Email Alerts
CarGurus makes it effortless to stay on top of the market with its customizable saved searches and email alerts. Simply input the year, make, model and trim you’re hunting for and desired price range, mileage, location and CarGurus will continuously monitor listings to match your criteria.
When a new vehicle pops up or price drops on a current listing, you’ll get an email notification so you can immediately check it out and contact the seller before anyone else gets to it. For anyone looking for a hot, in-demand model or waiting for the right deal, this is an invaluable tool.
Mobile Apps
CarGurus puts all the power of its platform right in your pocket with full-featured iOS and Android apps. I love having the freedom to browse inventory, reviews and pricing info, manage email alerts and contact sellers whether at home or on the go.
The mobile apps make it easy to shop for cars whenever inspiration strikes or downtime allows, without needing to be chained to my desktop. With its intuitive mobile interface optimized for smaller screens, CarGurus makes search-to-sale possible from anywhere.
Superior Support & Resources
From buying guides and customer reviews to side-by-side model comparisons and original auto industry research, CarGurus is so much more than just a classifieds site. Its wealth of expert insights and resources help educate me throughout the shopping journey.
Additionally, CarGurus has outstanding customer support available every step of the way. The few times I needed help, their advisors were responsive, empathetic and determined to resolve all issues to my satisfaction. The support staff truly goes above and beyond.
Putting Buyers in the Driver’s Seat
In an industry plagued by obfuscation and manipulation, CarGurus stands out as a transparent platform dedicated to serving buyers’ best interests. By shining a light on things like pricing trends, dealer conduct and ownership costs, it puts more power in the hands of consumers.
And by fostering an open, transparent marketplace connecting buyers with thoroughly vetted inventory, CarGurus simplifies a purchase process that can be overwhelming. After using the site for several car purchases, I’m convinced CarGurus puts car buyers in the best position to find the right vehicle at the right price with minimal stress.
So if you find shopping for a car difficult, confusing, or frustrating, head to CarGurus first. Let its insights and tools guide you to a smarter, simpler car buying experience that saves you time, money and sanity. When it comes to car shopping, CarGurus should be the first and only stop you need to make.
