Guide to Getting the Best Values

How to use our criteria for ranking the top cars when you go car shopping.

From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, March 2009

We pick Best in Class and Best New winners based on performance, value and safety. About half the score is awarded for performance and value, including resale value, power, fuel efficiency, front and rear legroom, headroom and cargo space (the space in the trunk or the space behind the second-row seats in a wagon, SUV or minivan). Sedans are ranked within price categories. With sports cars, SUVs, crossovers, minivans and wagons, we also score on a scale that rewards lower prices.

SPECIAL: 2009 CARS
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A vehicle's safety features, such as anti-lock brakes, side-curtain (head) airbags and electronic stability control, count for about 35% of the total score. The remainder of the score comes from our impressions while test-driving the new cars. We assess exterior styling, interior design and comfort, and dashboard layout.

Keys to a great deal. Only the most desirable vehicles actually sell for the suggested retail price. That's why we also list the dealer, or invoice, price (all prices reflect automatic transmission unless denoted "manual" and include the destination charge). Ideally, you'll negotiate a price as close to the dealer's cost as possible. But not everyone has the skill -- or will -- to wear down the dealer. At least aim for Kelley Blue Book's New Car Blue Book Value, which represents the most common selling price for the vehicle. Before you shop, check kbb.com for price updates and current market information. Or check the Car-Bargains shopping service.

Another measure of a vehicle's worth is the Best Resale Value three and five years down the road. These figures, also supplied by Kelley Blue Book, are the estimated price a dealer would pay if you traded in the vehicle, expressed as a percentage of the sticker price.

Don't neglect to take into account the longer-term costs of ownership when you're shopping for a vehicle. In our tables, service cost is an estimate of the cost of maintenance and unscheduled repairs over five years. Insurance cost is an estimate of the annual premium for each vehicle for a middle-aged driver with a clean driving record. This year, we have included a column in the tables that indicates which vehicles are top safety picks of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Finally, we choose the Most Fuel-Efficient vehicles based on the annual fuel cost, using gasoline prices of $2.20 a gallon for regular, $2.40 for premium and $2.90 for diesel. Fuel costs assume 15,000 miles of combined city and highway driving each year.

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