Purchasing a car can feel overwhelming. It’s a major choice packed with many smaller decisions — new or pre-owned? Sedan or pickup? Fabric or leather? Gasoline or electric? Add to that the flood of information online, and sizing up your options can become a challenge.
Don’t close your browser just yet. Your laptop (or phone) is one of your most powerful tools when shopping for a car in 2023. You can research everything online and use spreadsheet programs (Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice, etc.) to make a car comparison sheet that organizes the details most important to you in one clear place.
How to Use Our Car Comparison Spreadsheet
Creating a vehicle comparison spreadsheet is extremely useful for sorting through the heap of information you should gather when doing proper research on a new or used car. If spreadsheets intimidate you, feel free to use this free template to line up your options.
The spreadsheet works for both new and used cars, though the specific metrics you track will vary between the two (more on that later). After you collect all the relevant facts in one neat layout, it’s much easier to evaluate your top choices across the items that matter to you and reach a conclusion.
Where should you gather the information for your comparisons? Consider these reliable sources when hunting for a new or used vehicle:
Manufacturer Websites
Shopping for a new car? You can build and configure it on the automaker’s website. Common brands include Ford, Subaru, Toyota, Honda, Kia, Chrysler, Hyundai and Chevy. These sites list new vehicle pricing, equipment and specs. Many also offer built-in comparison tools that pit their models against rivals. Keep in mind automaker comparisons may emphasize metrics that favor their products, so keep a critical eye.
Review Websites
Visit sites such as Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, Consumer Reports and JD Power for unbiased reviews. These outlets evaluate the latest models and also maintain archives of older reviews, which is handy for used-car shopping.
KBB, especially, is valuable for used-car buyers. It estimates what a particular used model should sell for given its features and condition. With KBB’s guidance, you’ll be better prepared to spot when a used listing is overpriced.
Dealer Websites
If you plan to buy from a dealership, browse local dealer inventories online. This is especially useful for used-car shopping: dealers can list and customize new vehicles, but when it comes to used cars, you’re constrained by what’s actually on their lot.
Used-Car Listing Sites
If you don’t mind traveling to find the right used vehicle, you can widen your search across the state or country. Instead of checking every dealer’s site, search aggregators like CarGurus, Cars.com, Autotrader and CarsDirect, which collect listings from dealers and private sellers.
Vehicle History Reports
For used cars, get the full backstory. Vehicle history reports reveal accidents, maintenance records, owner count and more, helping you see if a car’s past includes significant issues.
Useful Government and Industry Sites
- For fuel economy details, check the EPA.
- For crash-test ratings, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- For additional safety evaluations, consult the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
What to Look for in a New Car
Different buyers prioritize different new-car features. Parents often focus on rear-seat space, cupholders, teen-tech and built-in vacuums (yes, really). Salespeople who regularly transport clients may favor something stylish and impressive. Environmentally conscious shoppers — or drivers who rack up miles — may look for fuel efficiency, hybrids or full EVs. Outdoor enthusiasts often need SUVs with towing capacity big enough for trailers or boats.
Still, some baseline items are worth checking on every new vehicle. Consider these key attributes:
- Price. Many modern vehicles now include driver-assist systems and smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) as standard, blurring differences between models. For many buyers, cost — and the resulting monthly payment — will be the tiebreaker between similarly equipped rivals.
- Warranty. A manufacturer’s warranty might not sound exciting, but long warranties — like Hyundai’s extended powertrain coverage — can make shorter warranties less appealing.
- Fuel economy. Gas prices have eased from their 2022 spikes but remain higher than pre-pandemic levels. Prioritizing strong fuel efficiency — or opting for a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle — can reduce fuel expenses.
- Safety ratings. As active safety features (blind-spot alerts, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, etc.) become standard, checking NHTSA and IIHS scores is important to pick the safest option in a class.
- Cost to own. Predicting five years out isn’t exact, but KBB’s 5-Year Cost to Own gives a solid estimate of what you might spend on maintenance and ownership over the initial years. Need help budgeting? Here’s typical car maintenance and repair cost information.
Final Tips for New-Car Shopping
When weighing cars from various makers, remember these pointers:
- Match trim levels. Don’t stack a base-level Ford F-150 against a fully loaded Chevy Silverado 1500 — the feature and price gaps will be misleading. Compare comparable trim and option levels for a fair assessment.
- Test drive every contender. You can compare specs online, but driving a car tells you about seat comfort, acceleration, audio quality and other subjective factors that matter to you.
- Include taxes and insurance. While you may focus on down payment and monthly financing, remember to include taxes, insurance premiums and other fees when totaling the cost of the vehicle.
What to Look for in a Used Car
If you use the template for pre-owned cars, you’ll track some different metrics than for new models. Used-car shopping often means comparing multiple examples of the same make and model, so condition, price and vehicle history become key differentiators among otherwise similar vehicles.
Our spreadsheet contains a dedicated section for used cars. It suggests comparing items such as:
- Mileage
- Number of prior owners
- Vehicle history (flood damage, accidents, maintenance history, etc.)
- Exterior condition
- Interior condition
Final Tips for Used-Car Shopping
When hunting for a used car, keep these rules in mind:
- Always get a test drive and an inspection by a trusted mechanic. You don’t need a paid inspection for every vehicle you shortlist, but any car you’re ready to bid on should be examined by an independent mechanic. If they find issues you’re unwilling to fix, walk away — even if the price seems attractive.
- Never skip the vehicle history report. Dealers (especially franchises) are held to higher standards, but private sellers may be more likely to hide problems. Order a vehicle history report to uncover potential issues — you might even get the seller to cover the cost. Use the report to compare cars and as leverage when negotiating price.
- Act promptly. New-car shopping allows leisurely research and often the ability to custom-order a vehicle without fear of losing it. Used cars are one-offs. If you find the exact used car you want and delay, someone else could buy it before you have a chance.
For more guidance, check our additional tips on buying a used car without getting scammed.
Start Comparing Now
Ready to begin side-by-side comparisons? Make a copy of our vehicle comparison spreadsheet and enter the years, makes, models and trims of the cars, trucks and SUVs you’re evaluating.
The template asks you to gather details in categories such as:
- Cost: Sticker price, monthly payment, insurance, estimated annual maintenance, warranty and estimated monthly fuel cost
- Interior: Seating capacity, passenger volume and cargo volume
- Exterior: Color, off-road features, bed dimensions (for trucks), tires and wheels
- Performance: Horsepower, torque, max towing and fuel economy
- Safety: NHTSA score and IIHS score
- Used car only: Mileage, number of previous owners, vehicle history notes, exterior condition, interior condition
- Additional features: Any other options you care about (infotainment, safety tech, headlights, sunroof, power seats, climate control)
After making an editable copy, you can tailor the sheet — add or remove categories and include as many vehicles as you like. Good luck with your search!
A Note on Car Shopping in 2023
The car-buying landscape may have shifted since your last purchase due to COVID-19’s impact on the buying process and vehicle pricing.
More dealers now rely on online ordering and some even deliver to your driveway so you avoid visiting the lot. Many buyers skip the dealership visit entirely, using online retailers like Vroom and Carvana for a digital-first experience.
The industry also wrestled with supply-chain issues in recent years — from steel constraints to the ongoing chip shortage. Lower supply and stronger demand pushed new and used car prices to record highs in late 2022 and early 2023.
That trend may be easing. Although chip shortages persist, automakers have raised production while consumer demand shows signs of cooling. A UBS report indicates global car output could exceed demand by about 6%, which translates to more inventory at dealers and potentially softer prices.
If you can wait until later in 2023, you may find vehicle prices looking very different than they did earlier in the year.
Alex Harper covers personal finance and automotive topics for Savinly from his home base in Cincinnati. He has experience in editing and design for agencies and publications and writes about insurance, taxes, retirement and budgeting.
