The Best "Bang for Your Buck" Cars
December 26, 2013
If you're looking for value in your next vehicle, then take note -- Consumer Reports has recently released their list of new cars with the best and worst value for the "automotive dollar."
For the second year in a row, the Toyota Prius was named the best overall value due to its combination of performance, reliability and low estimated five-year ownership costs of 47 cents per mile.
On the flipside is the Nissan Armada, which tops this year's worst list due to its low overall gas mileage and reliability, costing car owners $1.20 per miles to own.
All the scores were reportedly calculated based on the five-year ownership cost for each vehicle, plus Consumer Reports' road-test scores and predicated reliability scores.
If you're considering adding any of these top value picks to your garage, make sure to use the free CarWoo Deal Finder to get the biggest discounts on these vehicles. And be sure to check out TrueCar Pre-Negotiated Prices to compare real prices where you live.
| Category | Best | Worst |
|---|---|---|
| Compact/Subcompact Cars | Toyota Prius Four | Volkswagen Beetle 2.5L |
| Midsized Cars | Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium | Nissan Altima 3.5 SL |
| Large Cars | Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited | Ford Taurus Limited |
| Luxury Cars | Lexus ES 300h | BMW 750Li |
| Sports Cars/Convertibles | Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring | Chevrolet Camaro Convertible 2SS (V8) |
| Wagons/Minivans | Mazda5 Grand Touring | Chrysler Town & Country Touring-L |
| Small SUVs | Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium | Ford Escape SE (1.6T) |
| Midsized SUVs | Nissan Murano SL | Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara |
| Luxury/Large SUVs | BMW X1 xDrive28i | Nissan Armada Platinum |
| Pickups | Honda Ridgeline RTS | Ford F-250 Lariat (6.7L V8) |
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar No-Haggle, Edmunds Price Promise, and 1-800 Car Show are the quickest 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.California Residents - Important:
There is a new online car buying service called Roadster, available only to California residents, which I highly recommend you try - especially if you hate the stress of haggling with a car salesman. They provide an expert concierge who negotiates the price of the car and delivers it to your home with zero hassle - you never have to interact with a dealership. Here is my in-depth review of Roadster and why I recommend it.- Gregg Fidan
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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.
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