The Best Cars for the Money
January 27, 2011

The rankings are based on the opinions of hundreds of automotive journalists coupled with the cost of ownership for each vehicle compared to the competition.
The results were surprising in that no one brand won the majority of awards - meaning there is long-term value across many different manufacturers.
You just have to know which models to choose and which to stay away from.
2011 Rankings for "Best Car for the Money"
Category | Make/Model |
Subcompact | Ford Fiesta |
Compact | Honda Civic |
Hatchbacks | Honda Fit |
Midsize | Chevrolet Malibu |
Family Sedans | Ford Taurus |
Upscale Compact | Volkswagen GTI |
Upscale Sedans | Buick Regal |
Hybrid | Toyota Prius |
Sports | Mazda MX-5 Miata |
Compact Crossover | Mitsubishi Outlander Sport |
Midsize Crossover | Chevrolet Traverse |
Full Size SUVs | Chevrolet Tahoe |
Luxury Compact Crossover | Infiniti EX35 |
Luxury Midsize Crossover | Lexus RX 350 |
Minivans | Kia Sedona |
Wagons | Hyundai Elantra Touring |
Compact Pickup Trucks | Suzuki Equator |
Full Size Pickup Trucks | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 |
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar, RydeShopper, and CarsDirect are the best way to see the lowest car prices in your area. These sites show you no-haggle prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually really good. This should be the first step you take when negotiating your car price. Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.- Gregg Fidan
Get My Free Weekly Advice on Car Buying
Each week, I'll keep you up-to-date on the latest car deals and news that might affect your purchase. This includes...
- Best Rebates, Incentives, and Lease Deals
- Latest Car Buying Scams and Tricks
- The Best & Worst Time to Buy a Car
- Which Cars You Should Avoid


About: Gregg Fidan
Gregg Fidan is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
Latest Weekly Car Buying Tips
RSS Feed
February 25, 2021
February 18, 2021
February 11, 2021
February 4, 2021
January 28, 2021
January 21, 2021
January 14, 2021
January 7, 2021
December 31, 2020
December 24, 2020
December 17, 2020
December 10, 2020
December 3, 2020
November 26, 2020
November 19, 2020
November 12, 2020
November 5, 2020