BEST IN CLASS: SEDANS UNDER $20,000

Volkswagen Jetta S
Sticker Price: (Manual tr.) $17,990
Dealer cost: $17,346
New Car Blue Book Value: $17,810
Five-year service cost: $2,744
One-year insurance cost: $1,412
Resale value after 3 years: 54% -- 5 years: 43%
City: 21 mpg -- Highway: 30 mpg

VW’s Jetta offers excellent value with a roomy, spiffy interior and European driving dynamics. Its 2.5-liter, five-cylinder engine puts out 170 horses, and it's fully equipped with safety features -- a rarity in this price category.

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How We Ranked the Cars