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Auto Comparing Is Made Simple with this Handy Free Tool
Buying a car can be a stressful experience. It’s a big decision with a ton of little decisions roped in — new or used? Car or truck? Cloth or leather? Gas or electric? Not to mention, there’s way too much information floating around on the internet, making it challenging to compare your options.
But don’t slam that laptop shut just yet. Your computer (or smartphone) is your biggest asset when buying a car in 2023. Not only can you do all your vehicle research online, but you can also utilize your favorite spreadsheet software (Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice, etc.) to craft your own car comparison spreadsheet that puts all the data that matters to you in one easy, digestible place.
Building a vehicle comparison spreadsheet is super helpful for processing the mountains of data you should be compiling if doing your due diligence when shopping for a new or used car. But if you’re not savvy with spreadsheet programs, you can use our free template to compare cars.
You can use this car comparison spreadsheet to analyze new cars or used cars. The data points you measure and compare will differ for each (more on that below). After you’ve compiled all the data in one easy-to-read format, you can then compare your top choices across the criteria that matter to you and come to a decision.
But where do you collect the data points for your car comparisons? Here are a few key resources when shopping for a new or used car:
If shopping for a new vehicle, you can build and customize it directly on the automaker’s site. Common car manufacturers include Ford, Subaru, Toyota, Honda, Kia, Chrysler, Hyundai and Chevy. You can use these automakers’ (and others’) sites to find new vehicle costs, features and specifications. Many automakers have built-in comparison functions that let you compare their models against competitors. But keep your critical thinking cap on: The automakers are likely to limit comparisons to data points that make them look better than the competition.
Go to sites like Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, Consumer Reports and JD Power for honest reviews. These sites review the newest vehicles released by car manufacturers, but they also have old reviews of dated models, which can be useful when used car shopping.
In particular, Kelley Blue Book (KBB) is a useful tool when shopping for used vehicles. This site can give you an understanding of what a specific used model should be selling for, based on features and condition. With KBB in your digital back pocket, you should be able to recognize when a used vehicle costs more than it’s worth.
If you plan to purchase from a dealership (rather than privately), look at the inventory of local dealers online. This is particularly helpful if shopping for a used vehicle: Any dealership can let you customize and special order the exact new vehicle you want on their site, but when shopping used, you’re beholden to the inventory they physically have on their lot.
If you’re willing, you can drive elsewhere in your state (or even across the country) to find the specific used vehicle you want. Rather than browsing every possible dealership website, you can scour used car websites like CarGurus, Cars.com, Autotrader and CarsDirect that compile listings for specific models from various dealerships and private sellers.
If you’re comparing used cars, get a true picture of what happened with previous owners. Vehicle history reports can tell you if a car was in an accident (and how many), its maintenance records, the number of previous owners and more.
The top features you’re looking for in a new car won’t be the same for every buyer. For example, parents might be more concerned with rear passenger capacity, cupholders, teen driver technology and in-car vacuums (yes, that’s a thing). Salespeople who visit and sometimes drive clients will want something flashy and sleek. Environmentalists (or even just Uber drivers) will want something with great fuel economy — maybe even a hybrid or an EV — while outdoor adventurers might need an SUV with enough towing power to haul their trailer or boat.
That said, there are some standard features to consider when shopping for a new vehicle. Here are some of the top ones to look out for:
When comparing different cars from different automakers, keep these tips in mind:
If you’re using our template to compare cars that had a previous owner, you’re going to compare some data points that you wouldn’t for new car comparisons. When shopping for new cars, you might be comparing cars from several different automakers, but when shopping for used cars, you might be looking at multiple versions of the exact same make and model. You’ll need to consider things like condition, price and vehicle history to decide between vehicles that have all the same features.
Our vehicle comparison spreadsheet has a special section specifically for used cars. Here, we encourage you to compare features like:
When browsing for used cars, remember to:
Here are even more tips for buying a used car — without getting ripped off.
Ready to compare cars? Download our vehicle comparison spreadsheet and input the years, makes models and trim levels of all vehicles you’re considering.
Our spreadsheet encourages you to collect data points for:
Once you’ve made an editable copy of our template, you can add or remove features for your comparisons and add as many or as few cars, trucks, vans and SUVs as you would like. Happy shopping!
The automotive market is likely different since your last car purchase due to the effects of COVID-19, specifically regarding purchase process and vehicle costs.
More dealerships have turned to an online ordering process, with some even delivering the vehicles to your driveway so you never have to set foot inside the dealership. Many shoppers are foregoing the traditional dealer experience altogether, with options like Vroom and Carvana offering an online alternative.
Over the last couple of years, the automotive industry has also suffered from supply shortages. Initially it was a steel shortage, and then it was the chip shortage (which is still ongoing). Decreased supply and increased demand meant that new and used vehicle prices hit all-time highs in late 2022 and early 2023.
That could be about to change, however. Though we’re still dealing with the chip shortage, automakers have been able to increase production, just as consumer demand has started to cool. In fact, a new report from UBS, an investment banking company, shows that global car production will exceed demand — and thus sales — by 6%. That means more inventory sitting on dealer lots and, eventually, lower prices.
If you can hold out until near the end of 2023, vehicle pricing might look a whole lot different than it did at the start of the year.
Timothy Moore covers banking and investing for The Penny Hoarder from his home base in Cincinnati. He has worked in editing and graphic design for a marketing agency, a global research firm and a major print publication. He covers a variety of other topics, including insurance, taxes, retirement and budgeting and has worked in the field since 2012.
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