The search engine's most-searched-for car brands in 2009 were Toyota and Honda. Both of the Japanese automakers shared the spotlight in 2009 with successes ranging from the 2010 Toyota Prius and the continuing sales of mainstays such as the Honda Civic and Accord.
Meanwhile, two of Detroit's "Big Three" automakers, General Motors and Chrysler, emerged successfully from bankruptcies with the help of federal loans. Only Ford avoided bankruptcy or accepting a government bailout in 2009.
Of course, Toyota's ranking at the top of the list might not be entirely due to good news. The company also suffered from unexpected recalls and pulled out of Formula 1 racing to conserve cash.
Ford ranked third, with Nissan fourth and BMW fifth.
When it comes to ranking the most-searched-for individual models in 2009, America's taste for the iconic muscle car apparently beat out the growing popularity of hybrids and the need for better fuel efficiency.
The 2010 Chevy Camaro topped the list, with the 2009 Ford Mustang coming in at No. 3, the 2010 Dodge Charger at No. 7 and the 2010 Dodge Challenger at No. 8. The fifth American-made car on the list was the 2009 Jeep Wrangler at No. 9.
Smaller, fuel-efficient models and imports were well-represented on the list too, with the 2009 Honda Civic coming in at No. 2 along with the 2009 MINI Cooper at No. 4, the 2009 Smart ForTwo at No. 5, the 2009 Honda Accord at No. 6, and the 2009 Mazda3 at No. 10.
source:wmur
