CAMPBELL, Calif. -

As an advance of the annual Best Overall Value of the Year analysis and awards announced each January, IntelliChoice identified vehicles from the forthcoming model year believed to demonstrate the highest potential for achieving outstanding value over time.

In what IntelliChoice dubbed as “Best Bets,” three models from Audi, Chevrolet and Volvo were among the 19 total selections from 13 different nameplates.

IntelliChoice’s “Best Bets” for the 2012 model year are:

—Audi A3
—Audi A6
—Audi R8
—Cadillac CTS Sedan
—Chevrolet Camaro SS
—Chevrolet Corvette
—Chevrolet Equinox
—GMC Terrain
—Honda Civic
—Hyundai Tucson
—Infiniti M35h/M37
—Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
—Nissan Altima 4 cylinder Sedan
—Scion xB
—Toyota Highlander
—Volkswagen Golf
—Volvo C30
—Volvo C70
—Volvo XC70

To determine the 2012 Best Bets, IntelliChoice explained each new-vehicle model was compared to the currently available same-model-year vehicles in its respective competitive set.

Analysts said the basis for expected ownership costs used to derive Best Bets included current assumptions for depreciation, costs for fuel, financing, insurance, repairs and maintenance, as well as state fees for all applicable 2012 model year competitors. They pointed out these estimates will be updated again at the end of the year for BOVY consideration when more than 1,800 vehicle makes, models and trims are analyzed.

“As ‘Best Bets,’ each of these vehicles stand above their peers and can be purchased with confidence,” stated IntelliChoice general manager Tyler Schulze.

“Now in its 25th year, IntelliChoice is recognized by both the automotive industry and consumers as a trusted resource for practical car purchasing advice and analysis,” Schulze continued. “As manufacturers have moved up the release dates for some new model year vehicles, we felt it was important to provide consumers with a mid-year update of our cost of ownership analysis.

“We constantly monitor factors that drive overall cost of ownership, so consumers in the market for a new car can benefit from updated recommendations on vehicles that have best-in-class value characteristics,” he added.

When reviewing potential winners, IntelliChoice analyzes data from manufacturers, the U.S. government and third-party data resources to estimate the actual costs of ownership for new vehicles over a five-year period. It then assigns a value rating to each vehicle and compares that rating to the competitive set in each class.

Officials indicated this methodology is employed to determine accolades in the annual Best Overall Value of the Year, Best Bets, Smart Choice and Motorist Choice award series.

“At IntelliChoice, our tagline is ‘Choose Your Car Wisely,’” stressed Eric Anderson, ownership cost supervisor.

“Initial purchase price is an important factor, but there are many other data points to consider when evaluating total cost of ownership over several years,” Anderson went on to say. “We constantly aggregate and analyze the data on more than 1,800 new vehicle models available in the U.S. empowering consumers to make educated purchasing decisions.

“With these Best Bets, consumers can be confident that they are purchasing a vehicle with strong ownership cost characteristics that should translate into superior value,” he concluded.