Aug
29
Chevrolet TrailBlazer and Scion xB Offer Most Legroom for Commuters Craving Extra Inches Behind the Wheel According to Autobytel QuickView Report
Filed Under Chevy Cars
IRVINE, Calif. — Americans are commuting farther and longer than ever before which translates to a lot of time crammed behind the wheel. This new lifestyle can prompt many to seek out a more comfortable vehicle with additional legroom. To that end, Autobytel Inc.’s (Nasdaq:ABTL) Q3 2006 Quarterly QuickView1, powered by its Automotive Information Center (AIC) division, reveals the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and Scion xB inch out the competition on legroom. The Scion xB in particular is a great option among smaller vehicles, and when Autobytel evaluated it on additional criteria such as cost and fuel economy, it was named best pick for commuters.
According to a recent U.S. Census Bureau report, extreme commuters spend more than 90 minutes behind the wheel each day and as people move farther out into the suburbs, those drive times are dramatically increasing. Last year, Americans spent more than 100 hours commuting to work on average, and even with rising gasoline prices, nearly nine out of 10 American workers commute by car.
All of this time spent in a vehicle can leave commuters feeling confined, which is why additional legroom is a sought-after commodity for many consumers when searching for cars. The need for extra legroom is rapidly spreading to all forms of travel. In fact, airlines such as United’s TED are capitalizing on the trend by offering special legroom-only upgrades for a fee.
“Consumers want roomier vehicles to make long, stressful commutes more bearable and additional legroom can be a key comfort factor for many drivers,” said Autobytel senior analyst Christian Wardlaw. “Commuters think ‘If I have to be in the car for a long period of time, I might as well be comfortable.’ Autobytel’s QuickView guide to legroom should bring added comfort to long-legged car shoppers who currently feel squeezed behind the wheel.”
