• by Karl Greenberg , November 30, 2011

The automotive market seems to offer data that supports studies by the likes of Ipsos Mendelsohn that the luxury market is returning to health. In October, Atlanta-based firm AutoTrader.com had a strong month for luxury cars. Both the firm's “New Car Insights Report” and its “Used/Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Car Insights Report” delineate a big return by consumers to higher-end vehicles last month.

For the latter, luxury vehicles drove certified-pre-owned research at the level of vehicle category, and in terms of the top 20 most-viewed vehicles according to the firm.

Rick Wainschel, VP of auto insights at AutoTrader, said it's natural to see an increase in luxury CPO interest at the same time as greater interest in new luxury cars.

"There are strong signs of pent-up demand for luxury vehicles among car shoppers, indicating that despite continuing economic headwinds, there are more consumers willing and able to consider higher-end choices," he said in a company statement.

The firm says luxury vehicles made up 11 of the top 20 CPO "Big Movers" -- vehicles that have shown a big gain in consumer interest month over month -- with seven luxury cars and four luxury SUVs getting that moniker.

The certified pre-owned Land Rover Range Rover Sport made the biggest move month-over-month in October, moving up 237 spots to No. 65. The firm says interest was likely spurred by cross-shopping the new and CPO Land Rover SUVs, as Land Rover had three big movers on the new-car front. The Land Rover Evoque had the biggest increase in interest of any new vehicle, rising from 309th most viewed vehicle to 36th.

Tata-owned Jaguar had the most models that were big movers last month, with the XJ Series moving up 34 spots to No. 174, the XF moving up 30 spots to No. 143 and the XK Series moving up 28 spots to No. 177. Other luxury cars that made big moves in October were the Lincoln MKS (up 15), the Volvo C30 (up 14), Hyundai Genesis (up 12) and the Acura TSX (up 10).

Among non-luxury new vehicles, the firm saw big increases in interest in the new Chevrolet Sonic, which went from 109 in September to 67 in October. The new Volkswagen Beetle went from 138 to 83; the new Hyundai Veloster is benefiting from increasing awareness -- rising from 141st most-viewed vehicle to 27th most-viewed, just in front of the new Toyota Camry, which rose from 64th place in September to the 28th spot in October. 

AutoTrader says of all the CPO segments in October, luxury cars and SUVs were the only ones to see month-over-month increases in consumer interest. The BMW 3 Series was the number-one viewed certified pre-owned vehicle in October, a position it held during the same time last year. Although the Audi A4 dropped one spot in its ranking month-over-month, it moved up four spots year-over-year to No. 7.

Other luxury cars included in the top 20 most-viewed list are the BMW 5 Series at No. 12, the Mercedes-Benz E Class at No. 15, the Acura TL at No. 16 and the Mercedes-Benz C Class at No. 20.