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Vehicles With the Best Value for 2013
January 3, 2013
A wise man (or woman) once said, "You get what you pay for".
That goes for everything, including cars. Just because a car is low-priced does not mean it's necessarily a good value. A low-priced vehicle could end up costing you a lot more on maintenance, repairs and depreciation cost.
So how do you determine which cars have the best value? Luckily, Consumer Reports has done the research and has just released their picks for 2013.
They started with 200 vehicles, separated them into 10 categories, and picked the best values based on 5-year ownership costs, reliability ratings, and road tests. This year's winners was dominated by Toyota, which took half the field, as well as the #1 best overall value spot with the Toyota Prius, unseating the four-time champion Honda Fit.
The following are the best and worst vehicles when it comes to value. If you're in the market for a new car, make sure to include the winners in your consideration and test-drive list and be sure to use the RydeShopper to get the best deal.
Best Value Winners
| Category | Best Value |
|---|---|
| Small Hatchbacks | Toyota Prius Four |
| Small Sedan | Toyota Corolla LE |
| Family Sedan | Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE |
| Upscale Sedan | Acura TSX (I4) |
| Luxury Sedan | Cadillac CTS |
| Sports Car/Convertible | Mini Cooper |
| Wagon/Minivan | Toyota Prius V Three |
| Small SUV | Honda CR-V EX |
| Midsize SUV | Toyota Highlander Limited (V6) |
| Large/Luxury SUV | Lexus RX 350 |
Worst Value Losers
| Category | Worst Value |
|---|---|
| Small Hatchbacks | Ford Focus SE |
| Small Sedan | Nissan Versa SV |
| Family Sedan | Chrysler 200 Limited (V6) |
| Upscale Sedan | Dodge Charger SXT Plus (V6) |
| Luxury Sedan | BMW 750Li |
| Sports Car/Convertible | Volvo C70 (T5) |
| Wagon/Minivan | Chrysler Town and Country Touring-L |
| Small SUV | Mini Countryman |
| Midsize SUV | Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara |
| Large/Luxury SUV | Nissan Armada |
3 Steps Every Car Buyer Needs to Take to Save Maximum Money
The key to getting the best deal is to gather price or lease bids from as many local dealers as possible. Then shop that best price around until no one can beat it. Here are the steps:Step 1 Get Prices From My Trusted Network
Select the vehicle you're interested in to see if there are local dealers in my network who will provide you with their best upfront price. You will get direct access to an internet sales manager who you can further negotiate with online (no need to visit dealership).Select Vehicle to Get Local Pricing
Step 2 Get Prices From TrueCar / CarsDirect
TrueCar, and CarsDirect are my top 2 online price quote recommendations. These services show you pre-negotiated prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually pretty decent. But remember, you can still negotiate further.Step 3 Complete my Checklist
Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.- Gregg Fidan
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About The Author
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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