Which Vehicles Offer Most Value?

Despite IntelliChoice reducing the amount of honors by more than half, two brands, in particular, still led the industry on the firm’s list of the 2011 Best Overall Value of the Year Awards, released Monday at the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Expo.

Combining to claim 11 of the 21 spots were Toyota and Lexus. The only OEMs to have more than one accolade were Mini and General Motors, which had a Chevrolet and a GMC model honored.

IntelliChoice tapped seven Toyota vehicles, including the Prius (passenger car), Avalon (premium passenger car), RAV4 (compact crossover/wagon – four-cylinder), Sienna (minivan), 4Runner (SUV), Tacoma (compact pickup) and Tundra (full-size pickup).

The firm picked four Lexus models, including the IS 250 (premium compact passenger car), IS 250C (premium convertible), RX 350 (premium crossover/wagon) and GX 460 (premium full-size SUV).

“Dominating the IntelliChoice’s 2011 Best Overall Value Awards is another example of how Toyota and Lexus continue to produce vehicles that retain their outstanding value,” stated Don Esmond, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales USA.

“In a tough economy, finding a dependable vehicle that also holds its value over an extended period is one of the most important aspects of buying a new car,” Esmond continued.

Intellichoice reiterated that these annual awards are aimed help to identify best-in-class vehicles that deliver outstanding value and lower-than-expected costs over time. The firm wants to offer consumers a quick reference to determine which vehicles “give them the most bang for their buck.”

Unlike previous years when there have been as many as 46 winners, Intellichoice explained this year’s list was distilled to highlight a collection of 21 class winners, honing in on specific buyer market segments.

Analysts believe the vehicles in each category represent best values and illustrate the results of a careful and practical analysis of ownership costs, including depreciation, maintenance, repairs, fuel, fees, financing and insurance.

The 2011 Best Overall Value of the Year Awards winners are as follows:
 

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Beyond the performance by Toyota and Lexus, IntelliChoice mentioned repeat winners include the Chevrolet Corvette and Mini Cooper Convertible. Analysts thought both models made the list again because of their class leading value retention and lower cost to insure.

“The most important thing about choosing a car wisely is knowing that it’s not just about the lowest sticker price,” noted IntelliChoice executive editor Charlie Vogelheim.

“In fact, the purchase price is just the first cost; there are many other factors to consider when gauging overall cost,” Vogelheim continued.

IntelliChoice reiterated that it aggregates and analyzes data on nearly 1,800 vehicle models to determine its Best Overall Values. Data gleaned from manufacturers, the U.S. government and third-party data resources is used to determine the actual costs of ownership for new vehicles over a five-year period.

After determining ownership costs, IntelliChoice explained that it assigns a value rating to each vehicle and compares that rating relative to their peer models to determine a Best Overall Value in vehicle class.

“As the economy slowly builds back up, consumers are getting ready to re-enter the buyer’s market, but they are concerned of what’s going to give them the most value for the longest period of time,” Vogelheim insisted.

“That’s where we come in with a mission that has remained the same for the last 25 years. We empower consumers to make better purchase decisions, by providing independent and essential automotive information and tools,” he continued.

“The Best Overall Value of the Year Awards are another tool that help consumers recognize cars and trucks whose total cost of ownership is significantly lower than expected compared to their peers,” Vogelheim went on to say. “In essence, the awards provide a quick reference to highlight vehicles that promise the best value over duration of ownership.”