Mobile Shoppers Want Pricing, Vehicle Availability, CNW Research Reports
In its automotive retail summary, CNW Research reveals the items shoppers are looking for when they pop onto a dealership’s mobile site.
BANDON, Ore. — Price comparisons are what consumers are looking for the most when shopping for vehicles over the mobile device, according to a new report from CNW Research. Right behind price (73.9 percent) is “models available,” with 68.15 percent of mobile customers saying that’s what they seek out when mobile shopping.
When asked if their mobile usage takes place in a single sitting or over multiple days, the market research firm found that 88 percent of respondents tapped into their mobile device “as time permitted.” The research firm said this translates into: “Looking at a model or two over lunch or during a work break or while sitting in traffic. This is distinctly different from what CNW has seen with computer usage. Shoppers tend to do a large amount of research in a single session while mobile users spread the research out.”
Nearly as important as the model are customers’ individual needs. Of those surveyed, almost 62 percent research potential vehicles to suit their needs or driving habits, according to the report.
“When comparing styling and features, however, the small screen is a hindrance and mobile use diminishes only to increase again at the end of the purchase funnel when price is the key information requirement,” the report stated.
Not only did CNW take note of what mobile consumers are researching, but the company even outlined the purchase process that mobile users are following. “When first considering a new-vehicle acquisition, a consumer looks at his or her personal and family needs,” the report said.
Based upon those results, the typical shopper next looks at the market segments and models to meet those needs, CNW found. In the next phase, shoppers look at styling and personal preferences based on the models being considered.
“The net result is a shopper with four to six specific vehicles on the list before moving on to compare the features each of those models have,” CNW’s Art Spinella wrote in the report. “As with the third stage, the fourth results in fewer vehicles on the list — typically no more than three — which are then price shopped online and directly at dealerships.”
More F&I

Trust Is Personal
Technology, no matter how efficient, can’t replace what the human F&I manager can do, which is to bridge the divide between cyberspace and the in-store experience.
Read More →
Amplify 2026 Billed as Turning Innovation Into Results
Reynolds and Reynolds says its annual retail summit will connect dealers with practical strategies, peer insight, and technology-driven ideas.
Read More →
Own Your Outcome: F&I in the Digital Customer Journey
Finance has historically been the last step in the car-buying process, but it doesn’t have to be. The customer’s journey starts long before they arrive at the dealership, and so should F&I’s involvement.
Read More →
Tariffs Could Raise Insurance Premiums
As U.S. import tariffs affect repair costs, consumers might find it more affordable to replace a damaged vehicle, according to recent Insurify tariff analysis.
Read More →
Smaller Loans, Longer Terms
The youngest generation of car buyers is more likely to finance less expensive vehicles, more than half of generation Z consumers borrowing less than $25,000.
Read More →
New Lifetime Battery F&I Product Meant to Drive Dealer Traffic
EFG Cos. offering is intended to create lifetime auto dealer engagement with customers.
Read More →
The Psychology Behind Menus That Increase Add-On Sales
There is a science to crafting a menu that gives customers confidence in the choices presented, and moving the process outside the F&I office can further boost results.
Read More →
Why Your F&I PVR Is Misleading You
Here’s a handy checklist of the numbers to track in 2026 instead.
Read More →
Auto Consumer Anxiety Presents Opportunity
A survey of U.S. drivers found the majority are concerned about finances and the economy, but those fears make many ready to buy vehicle-protection products.
Read More →
Humble and Hungry: 12 Rules for an F&I Life
Dustin Gingerich, with a decade in the F&I business under his belt, shares his thoughts on leadership, building trust with customers, and the importance of learning and innovation.
Read More →