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Kiplinger's 2009 Auto Buying Guide
Search by price category, type of vehicle or manufacturer, then use the sorting
arrows at the top of each column to rank by miles per gallon, resale value, and more.
Not enough information? Click on any vehicle for a complete data sheet. Kiplinger's
2009 winners are denoted with a red star (
).
Top safety picks are denoted with a blue star (
). All transmissions are automatic unless denoted "manual".
How to Use Our Rankings
See all Sedans $20,000-$25,000
Sedans $20,000-$25,000
Make/Model
|
Suggested retail price
|
Dealer cost
|
New Car Blue Book Value
|
Service cost (5 yr.)
|
Insurance cost (1 yr.)
|
Resale value (3 yr.)
|
Horse- power
|
MPG city/hwy.
|
Cargo Room (Cu. ft.)
|
| Chevrolet Cobalt SS 4dr (manual) | $23,435 | $22,182 | $22,959 | $3,284 | $2,288 | 49% | 260 | 22/30 | 13.9 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS 4dr | 23,795 | 22,528 | 22,978 | 2,747 | 1,344 | 37 | 211 | 19/29F | 18.6 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr | 21,395 | 20,254 | 21,632 | 2,748 | 1,412 | 47 | 169 | 22/30 | 15.1 |
| Ford Fusion SE 4dr (manual) | 20,000 | 18,472 | 19,026 | 3,600 | 1,412 | 46 | 160 | 20/29 | 15.8 |
| Ford Fusion SE V6 4dr | 22,805 | 20,997 | 21,627 | 3,672 | 1,489 | 49 | 221 | 18/26 | 15.8 |
| Ford Taurus SE 4dr | 24,950 | 22,988 | 24,950 | 3,636 | 1,412 | NA | 263 | 18/28 | 21.2 |
| Honda Accord LX 4dr (manual) | 21,425 | 19,500 | 20,996 | 2,528 | 1,376 | 56 | 177 | 22/31 | 14.0 |
| Honda Civic Hybrid 4dr | 24,220 | 22,345 | 24,710 | 2,710 | 1,533 | 66 | 110 | 40/45H | 10.4 |
| Hyundai Sonata GLS V6 4dr | 23,145 | 22,161 | 22,798 | 3,685 | 1,489 | 41 | 249 | 19/29 | 16.3 |
| Hyundai Sonata SE 4dr (manual) | 21,215 | 20,131 | 20,897 | 3,611 | 1,489 | 36 | 175 | 21/32 | 16.3 |
| Kia Optima SX 4dr | 21,815 | 20,340 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 175 | 22/32 | 15.0 |
| Mazda3 Mazdaspeed Sport 4dr hatch (manual) | 23,410 | 21,956 | NA | 3,866 | 2,129 | 54 | 263 | 18/25P | 16.5 |
| Mazda6 i Sport 4dr | 21,820 | 20,227 | 21,602 | 3,690 | 1,533 | 48 | 170 | 21/30 | 16.6 |
| Mercury Milan Premier 4dr | 24,135 | 22,209 | 23,097 | 3,891 | 1,489 | 50 | 160 | 20/28 | 15.8 |
| Mini Cooper Clubman S 2dr hatch (manual) | 24,350 | 21,980 | NA | NA | NA | 73 | 172 | 26/34P | 9.2 |
| Mini Cooper S 2dr hatch (manual) | 22,600 | 20,405 | 23,052 | NA | NA | 76 | 172 | 26/34P | 5.7 |
| Mitsubishi Lancer GTS 4dr | 20,115 | 19,178 | 19,914 | 4,011 | 1,376 | 56 | 168 | 21/27 | 11.6 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4dr (manual) | 21,735 | 20,423 | 21,518 | NA | NA | 58 | 175 | 23/32 | 15.3 |
| Saturn Aura XE 4dr | 23,080 | 21,622 | 21,811 | NA | NA | 43 | 169 | 22/33 | 14.9 |
| Toyota Camry 4dr | 20,915 | 19,196 | 20,252 | 2,893 | 1,313 | 60 | 158 | 21/31 | 15.0 |
| Toyota Camry LE V6 4dr | 24,935 | 22,271 | 23,496 | 2,893 | 1,412 | 61 | 268 | 19/28 | 15.0 |
| Toyota Prius 4dr hatch | 24,095 | 22,244 | 24,024 | NA | NA | 68 | 76 | 48/45H | 14.4 |
| Volkswagen GTI 2.0T 2dr hatch (manual) | 23,640 | 22,084 | 23,404 | 3,116 | 1,972 | 60 | 200 | 21/31P | 15.1 |
| Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr (manual) | 22,640 | 21,393 | 23,093 | 2,841 | 1,412 | 55 | 140 | 30/41D | 16.0 |
| Volvo C30 T5 2dr hatch (manual) | 24,625 | 23,197 | 24,625 | 3,549 | 1,448 | 56 | 227 | 19/28 | 20.2 |
NA - Information not available. e - Estimate. P - Premium gasoline. D - Diesel fuel. F - Flex-fuel vehicle. H - Hybrid vehicle. SOURCES - Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com (new vehicle data); Vincentric (service and insurance costs).
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