The Best New Cars for Your Money
It's the season most Americans dread - tax return season. Hopefully this tax season has been good to you and you are expecting - or have already received - a nice tax return that you can use towards a new car this year.
If that's the case, you want to make sure you're putting your money into a car that is truly worth it. Luckily, US News & World Report just released the winners of its 2013 Best Cars for the Money Awards. These 20 automobiles are the best combination of performance and long-term ownership costs, so you get the most bang for your buck.
Check out the list below, and remember to use the free RydeShopper to get the biggest discounts on these vehicles when you're ready to start negotiating.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Subcompact Cars | Honda Fit |
| Compact Cars | Ford Focus |
| Upscale Small Cars | Buick Verano |
| Hatchbacks | Honda Fit |
| Midsize Cars | Ford Fusion |
| Upscale Midsize Cars | Buick Regal |
| Large Cars | Ford Taurus |
| Hybrid Cars | Ford Fusion Hybrid |
| Sports Cars | Scion FR-S |
| Wagons | Subaru Outback |
| Compact SUVs | Ford Escape |
| Luxury Compact SUVs | BMW X1 |
| Midsize SUVs with 2 Rows | Ford Edge |
| Midsize SUVs with 3 Rows | Hyundai Santa Fe |
| Luxury Midsize SUVs with 2 Rows | Lexus RX 350 |
| Luxury Midsize SUVs with 3 Rows | Acura MDX |
| Large SUVs | Chevrolet Tahoe |
| Hybrid SUVs | Lexus RX Hybrid |
| Minivans | Mazda Mazda5 |
| Compact Pickup Trucks | Toyota Tacoma |
| Full Size Pickup Trucks | Toyota Tundra |
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).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
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 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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