CHICAGO — Riding a wave of new visitors following a well-received Super Bowl commercial, Cars.com has reported increased traffic and released a list of recommended vehicles available for less than $10,000.

In addition to a solid January performance in which contacts to Cars.com advertisers increased 20 percent over the previous year, the site saw a surge in February traffic following the launch of its 2009 marketing campaign on Super Bowl XLIII.

In the week following the game, contacts to Cars.com dealers were up 12 percent over the same period last year, when the company made its Super Bowl debut. At the time, the economic climate was stronger and Cars.com was setting traffic records throughout the first quarter of 2008, according to the company.

"At a time when the automotive industry is dominated by bad news, we are thrilled to deliver positive results for our advertisers and connect them with qualified, in-market shoppers when they need it most,” said Cars.com's president, Mitch Golub. “There is currently pent-up consumer demand for car buying, and this record Cars.com site activity demonstrates how our marketing efforts are drawing these consumers closer to purchase.”

Cars.com also noted a record number of consumers contacting dealers for used cars on Feb. 16, and overall consumer contacts with dealers for used-cars is up 6 percent this year over last.

“Used cars are a great alternative for shoppers feeling the pain of this tough economic climate,” said Cars.com Editor in Chief Patrick Olsen. “It is important for car buyers to consider the entire package when choosing a wallet-friendly model. Our top 10 cars under $10K help buyers find cost-friendly options that don’t skimp on important features like safety and gas mileage. There are even some new models buyers can get into for under $10,000.”

The full list, which includes one 2009 model, can be found here.