Carbuzz car comparison website launched

A new car comparison website has been set up to give people independent news and reviews about the latest vehicles on the market.

A range of features on the Carbuzz site are designed to help those who are looking for a new car select the best vehicle for them.

The site is simple to use. Every new car from major manufacturers is listed on the site so people can choose by manufacturer or model.

Alternatively they can input the features they want in a car, including how much they are willing to spend, running cost, acceleration and number of seats.

An extremely useful feature is the way the site links to reviews, ratings and opinions. Currently there are around 8,000, each categorised by model and engine type.

Although a search will bring up some sound bites about the car, some of which are from people who own a particular model, many of the links to reviews and comments are from experts working on leading UK publications.

These include Auto Express, Autocar, Car Enthusiast, Car Magazine, The Independent, Top Gear, Fifth Gear and What Car? The cars each have a ‘buzzscore’, which rates the car based on the nature of the reviews left by these experts.

“We believe the sources we link to are the most helpful for new car buyers, so we urge people to not just read the quotes we provide. Clicking on the link to read the full article, will give them a far better understanding of the reviewers’ opinion.

"Plus many of the sources we use provide important information that we don’t include, such as depreciation estimations, car tax calculators etc. That way they can make a more informed decision and won’t end up with a car that doesn’t suit them,” a representative for Carbuzz said.

The site, which has been in development for nearly a year, has been funded by a 23 year-old car-enthusiast James Hind.

As well as reviews and opinion, the site offers useful videos, images, statistics and a feature that allows users to compare the specifications of up to three cars side by side.

Once someone has found the car they like, or want to re-visit at a later date, it can be added to a feature called ‘My Garage’ to save searching again.

James Hind said: “I spotted a gap in the market around a year ago for an independent website dedicated to helping consumers make informed decisions quickly on which new car to buy.

“It’s often difficult to know which car to choose, because it’s all too easy to believe what the manufacturer tells you about their latest model.

"A new car purchase is most people’s second biggest purchase in life, after a house, so it’s important that they can access a range of opinions to know which car would suit them best.”