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CarMax Says Online Searches Rise for Fuel-Efficient Cars


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RICHMOND, Va., July 25 -- CarMax, Inc. the nation's largest retailer of used cars, reports that searches on carmax.com for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles increased in June. According to carmax.com, search frequency rankings for several vehicles with higher estimated miles per gallon (mpg) have increased.

-- The Mazda3, with an estimated 24/32* mpg, leaped from 39th in March to 16th in June.

-- The Toyota Corolla, with an estimated 28/37* mpg, jumped from 9th to 4th place over the same time period.

-- Outside the top 20, the Volkswagen Beetle, with an estimated 21/28* mpg made a big leap from 71st place to 40th since March.

"With gas prices continuing to rise, fuel efficiency has increased in importance for many shoppers," said Ann Yauger, director of carmax.com. "On carmax.com, we offer a robust research section that allows consumers to find the best car for their needs."

Of the three makes and models highlighted, there are a combined total of nearly 1,000 of them, as of this release, available on carmax.com for sale and can be transferred to the nearest CarMax store.

The CarMax website can be used to research information on vehicles of various makes and models. Online shoppers can search the company's inventory of more than 25,000 new and used cars. The website showcases vehicles with multiple photos, the no-haggle price, and information on features, options, fuel economy and customer reviews. Visits to carmax.com continue to increase, and approximately 70 percent of in-store customers visit the website before coming to the store.

About CarMax

CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2008 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 98 used car superstores in 46 markets. The unique CarMax consumer offer provides our customers the opportunity to shop for vehicles the way they shop for items at other national retailers, and it is structured around four customer benefits: low, no-haggle prices; a broad selection; high quality vehicles; and a customer-friendly sales process. During the twelve months ended February 29, 2008, the company retailed 377,244 used vehicles and sold 222,406 wholesale vehicles at its in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at http://www.carmax.com/.

* Note: Miles per gallon as displayed above is city/highway miles based on 2006-2007 models and is provided by the EPA at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/.