FAQ Friday: Why Is Edmunds Pricing or Specs Different on Other Car Sites?

Welcome to FAQ Fridays, a new weekly blog feature that answers some of the most frequently asked questions Edmunds readers send in.

First up: Folks want to know why the prices, specs or options on Edmunds might be different from what they see on other automotive sites. Good question! There are several reasons why this might happen, and we'll outline them here.

Destination Charges and Other Fees: On our site, we always make it clear when destination charges or other fees are included in a vehicle's price, but to determine this elsewhere you may need to examine the pricing details or window sticker closely.

Vehicle Styles: Most vehicles are available in many different styles, and sometimes this leads to confusion when making comparisons. Styles listed on our site include the vehicle's trim, number of doors, body type, drive type, engine and transmission. For example, here's a style currently available for the 2009 Honda Pilot: EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 5A).

Sometimes a style contains a Special Identifier (SI) when a manufacturer wants to specify a unique feature. For example, rear entertainment is the SI on the following style of the 2009 Honda Pilot: EX-L 4dr SUV w/Rear Entertainment AWD (3.5L 6cyl 5A).

Options vs. Styles: Because different manufacturers have different listing standards, some major features such as engine, transmission and drive type can be listed either as an individual style or as an available option. For instance, BMW traditionally lists an automatic transmission as an option, while Honda lists it as a separate style.

Manufacturer Updates: Over the course of the model year, manufacturers sometimes release updates to prices or available features for their vehicles. We always list the latest information as soon as it's available. But you may find discrepancies in your comparisons when these updates are not yet reflected on other sites or at the dealer.

I hope that helps. Stay tuned for more FAQs each Friday afternoon. In the meantime, you can find answers to many FAQs here. You can also ask directly for an answer on any automotive topic on Edmunds Answers.

Posted by

Joanne Helperin January 16, 2009, 12:00 PM

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