Get behind the wheel of Kiplinger's Best Cars. Click one of the links below to see which 2006 models rank higest among cars in five different price ranges, plus see which sports cars, SUVs, minivans and wagons came out on top:

• Best in Class

• Best New Cars

• First for Safety

• Most Fuel Efficient

Each slide contains a brief scorecard on each winner that reveals pricing, specifications, maintenance and repair costs, insurance costs, fuel costs and resale value after three and five years (see below for details).

For information on hundreds more cars and SUVs, plus Kiplinger's picks for Best Resale Value and Best Seller, see the December issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. And for up-to-date information on options, pricing, rebates and more, take Kiplinger's Car Finder for a spin.

How we picked the winners

About half of the score is awarded for performance and value. That includes resale value, power (based on horsepower and torque), fuel efficiency, front and rear legroom, headroom and cargo space. Cars are ranked within defined price ranges. Sports cars, sport utility vehicles, minivans and wagons have their own categories, so in rating them we also score price on a scale that rewards lower prices.

Safety counts for about 35% of the total score. Each vehicle's safety score is based on whether it has anti-lock brakes, side-curtain (head) airbags and electronic stability control. Side-impact airbags and traction control (if available), plus injury-claims data collected by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), also contribute to the safety score. Note that the injury-claims data reflect the safety not only of the car but also of the driver.

We test-drive new cars as they are introduced and make subjective judgments about interior design, exterior styling and dashboard layout. That assessment makes up the remaining 15% of the score.

Best New Car honors go to the new or significantly redesigned vehicles with the highest scores in each category. Best in Class winners are the top-scoring vehicles in each category. First for Safety awards are based on HLDI injury claims as well as crash-test scores and the availability of safety equipment. Our Most Fuel-Efficient award is based on annual fuel costs as calculated by Vincentric, a Bloomfield Hills, Mich., automotive-research firm.

MORE: Kiplinger.com | Spending Wisely | Cars

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