Skip to headerSkip to main contentSkip to footer
Get our Free E-newslettersGet our Free E-newsletters
Kiplinger logoLink to homepage
Get our Free E-newslettersGet our Free E-newsletters
Subscribe to Kiplinger
Subscribe to Kiplinger
Save up to 76%
Subscribe
Subscribe to Kiplinger
  • Store
  • Home
  • Investing
  • Retirement
  • Taxes
  • Personal Finance
  • Your Business
  • Wealth Creation
    • Podcasts
    • Economic Outlooks
    • Tools
    • Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine
    • The Kiplinger Letter
    • The Kiplinger Tax Letter
    • Kiplinger's Investing for Income
    • Kiplinger's Retirement Report
    • Store
    • Manage My E-Newsletters
    • My Subscriptions
Skip advert
  • Home
  • Buying & Leasing a Car
Buying & Leasing a Car

10 Best Values in New Car Models, 2012

New designs and redesigns bring a breath of fresh air with each new year.

by: Jessica L. Anderson
January 11, 2013
Skip advert

New designs and redesigns bring a breath of fresh air with each new year. Usually you pay a premium for these newly minted models. Not this year, however.

When we asked CarBargains, the buying service of the nonprofit Consumers\' Checkbook organization, to help us shop for our Best New picks, they found seven were selling at or below invoice price.

Winners are chosen based on performance, value and safety, plus our own driving impressions. NOTE: There were no new truck-based SUVs or minivans this year.

Source: Data comes from TrueCar.com

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

1 of 11

Cars Under $20,000: Ford Focus

Skip advert

Sticker price: $19,095 (SE hatch)

Invoice price: $17,903

TrueCar national average price: $18,375

3-year resale value: 63%, 5-year: 45%

City mpg: 26, Hwy: 36

Ditching the drab exterior and ho-hum interior of the previous-generation Focus, the redesigned model exudes style inside and out. It boasts more horsepower than most vehicles in its class, and the hatchback has a cavernous 24 cubic feet of cargo space. It also earns Best Resale plaudits.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

2 of 11

Cars $20,000-$25,000: Subaru Impreza

Subaru

Skip advert

Sticker price: $22,845 (2.0i Limited hatch)

Invoice price: $21,732

TrueCar national average price: $22,343

3-year resale value: 59%, 5-year: 43%

City mpg: 27, Hwy: 36

Subaru’s lowest-price car proves that all-wheel drive doesn’t have to cost you a bundle. A low sticker price is matched by high resale values and stellar fuel efficiency -- up to 36 miles per gallon on the highway. Surefooted handling comes baked in.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

3 of 11

Cars $25,000-$30,000: Toyota Camry Hybrid

Toyota

Skip advert

Sticker price: $26,660 (LE)

Invoice price: $24,589

TrueCar national average price: $25,847

3-year resale value: 57%, 5-year: 43%

City mpg: 43, Hwy: 39

The redesigned Camry features a revamped hybrid system, boosting both power and fuel efficiency. The new 2.5-liter engine puts out 200 horsepower when combined with the electric motor and gets 41 miles per gallon (on the LE) in combined city and highway driving -- 24% better than the previous model.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

4 of 11

Cars $30,000-$40,000: Volkswagen Passat TDI

Volkswagen

Skip advert

Sticker price: $30,265 (SE w/Sunroof & Nav)

Invoice price: $29,056

TrueCar national average price: $29,484

3-year resale value: 54%, 5-year: 38%

City mpg: 30, Hwy: 40

Although it takes styling cues from last year’s Jetta, the all-new Passat has an aura all its own. As clean-cut as a new recruit on the inside, it has ample room for passengers and cargo. The only diesel powertrain in the midsize segment, it gets 40 miles per gallon on the highway and has torque to spare.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

5 of 11

Cars $40,000-$50,000: Audi A6

Audi

Skip advert

Sticker price: $42,575 (2.0T Premium)

Invoice price: $39,657

TrueCar national average price: $41,211

3-year resale value: 55%, 5-year: 39%

City mpg: 25, Hwy: 33

Behind the wheel of the redesigned A6, you’ll sit in the lap of luxury, surrounded by technology. Safety gets a boost with standard knee airbags, plus optional rear side airbags and collision-warning system. Getting 33 miles per gallon highway, the A6 also wins Most Fuel-Efficient.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

6 of 11

Cars $50,000 and Over: Porsche Panamera Hybrid

Porsche

Skip advert

Sticker price: $95,975

Invoice price: $86,295

TrueCar national average price: $93,057

3-year resale value: 53%, 5-year: 38%

City mpg: 22, Hwy: 30

With a 380-horsepower supercharged engine and a zero-to-60 time of just 5.7 seconds, Porsche’s Panamera Hybrid might be the fastest, most fun fuel-sipper out there. Capable of operating in electric-only mode at speeds up to 46 miles per hour, it gets 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

7 of 11

Sports Cars: Porsche 911 Carrera

Porsche

Skip advert

Sticker price: $79,950 (base model)

Invoice price: $71,870

TrueCar national average price: $77,852

3-year resale value: 61%, 5-year: 43%

City mpg: 20, Hwy: 26

The seventh-generation 911 gets a smaller engine but puts out more power -- 350 horses. Start/stop technology that shuts down the engine at stoplights and when you’re cruising downhill on the highway improves fuel economy about 15% over the previous model. The new Carrera features a new seven-speed manual that’s a first for passenger cars and makes it even more fun to drive.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

8 of 11

Small Crossovers: Honda CR-V

Honda

Skip advert

Sticker price: $24,355 (LX AWD)

Invoice price: $22,721

TrueCar national average price: NA

3-year resale value: 51%, 5-year: 40%

City mpg: 22, Hwy: 30

Honda’s fourth-generation CR-V wraps classic value in an updated exterior and boasts more of everything -- power, gas mileage, cargo space and standard features. The interior is more functional than ever, including one-touch fold-down rear seats, a standard rearview camera and Pandora radio.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

9 of 11

Midsize and Large Crossovers: Mercedes-Benz M-Class

Mercedes-Benz

Skip advert

Sticker price: $51,365 (ML350 BlueTec)

Invoice price: $47,831

TrueCar national average price: $49,046

3-year resale value: 54%, 5-year: 36%

City mpg: 20, Hwy: 27

For 2012, the redesigned M-Class gets a more rugged exterior and a sleeker, sedan-style interior, with lots of technology. Attention Assist reminds drowsy drivers to take a break, and an iPad docking station can take care of rear-seat entertainment.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

10 of 11

Wagons: Toyota Prius v

Toyota

Skip advert

Sticker price: $27,160

Invoice price: $25,337

TrueCar national average price: $26,732

3-year resale value: 62%, 5-year: 48%

City mpg: 44, Hwy: 40

Betting on the runaway success of the Prius hatchback, Toyota morphs it into a wagon for 2012. It gets 44 miles per gallon in the city (and wins Most Fuel-Efficient wagon). The Prius v can also brag about having topnotch resale values and the cargo space of a small SUV.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

11 of 11

More From Kiplinger

The key of the car

Thinkstock

Skip advert

SLIDE SHOW: Best Resale Value Cars

SLIDE SHOW: Best in Class Car Values

SLIDE SHOW: Most Fuel-Efficient Car Values

TOOL: Our 2012 Vehicle Rankings

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert
  • cars
  • Buying & Leasing a Car
Share via EmailShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedIn
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

Recommended

Repo Risk: Beware Illegal Car Repossessions
cars

Repo Risk: Beware Illegal Car Repossessions

Used cars are worth more than ever before. The CFPB warns the hot market may tempt lenders to seize cars when they don’t have a legal right. What can …
June 13, 2022
Gas Prices Around the World
Budgeting

Gas Prices Around the World

You might be feeling pain at the pump, but it could be worse; gas is a lot more expensive in some other countries.
June 7, 2022
Car Prices: They're Way More Than Meets the Eye
Brandon Copeland

Car Prices: They're Way More Than Meets the Eye

Atlanta Falcons linebacker and Kiplinger contributing editor Brandon Copeland illustrates how car prices are far more than meets the eye.
May 11, 2022
High Gas Prices with The Kiplinger Letter’s Jim Patterson
cars

High Gas Prices with The Kiplinger Letter’s Jim Patterson

Why are we paying so much more at the pump? How long will it last? What can you do? Plus: Congress is making changes to retirement-savings rules again…
April 5, 2022

Most Popular

In What Order Should You Tap Your Retirement Funds?
retirement planning

In What Order Should You Tap Your Retirement Funds?

Should you go with your IRA first or your brokerage account? Pulling money haphazardly can have negative implications. Instead follow this road map fo…
June 28, 2022
Your Guide to Roth Conversions
Special Report
Tax Breaks

Your Guide to Roth Conversions

A Kiplinger Special Report
February 25, 2021
5 Ways to Prepare for a Recession
recession

5 Ways to Prepare for a Recession

The signs seem to be pointing in one direction these days, so if you’re worried about being ready for a recession, consider taking these five measures…
June 28, 2022
  • Customer Service
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us (PDF)
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Kiplinger Careers
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Preferences

Subscribe to Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Save up to 76%Subscribe to Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Do Not Sell My Information

Kiplinger is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site www.futureplc.com
© Future US LLC, 10th floor, 1100 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005. All rights reserved.

Follow us on InstagramFollow us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterConnect on LinkedInConnect on YouTube