Buying & Leasing a Car

Great Cars for Every Type of Driver

November 12, 2014

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As part of Kiplinger's annual best list, which rounds up the year's best financial products and services, we selected the top vehicle for eight types of drivers.

There's something here for everyone -- from penny-pinchers to soccer moms to those in search of affordable luxury. Take a look.

All car data comes from Kelley Blue Book and is for 2015 car models unless noted otherwise.

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Mazda3

Courtesy of Mazda

Best for...: Wallet watchers

Sticker price: $17,740
Invoice price: $17,269
KBB Fair Purchase Price: $17,074
Resale value: 3-year: 60%; 5-year: 43%
MPG: 29 (city); 41 (hwy)

The Mazda3 has upscale features and looks, plus affordable five-year ownership costs that won’t dent your budget.

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Honda Accord

Courtesy of Honda

Best for...: Long hauls

Sticker price: $22,895
Invoice price: $21,027
KBB Fair Purchase Price: $22,173
Resale value: 3-year: 55%; 5-year: 41%
MPG: 24 (city); 34 (hwy)

Honda has a well-deserved rep for reliability and high resale values, which helped the Accord snag a Kiplinger’s Best in Class award four of the past six years.

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Subaru Forester

Courtesy of Subaru

Best for...: Drivers who want to go anywhere

Sticker price: $23,045
Invoice price: $21,845
KBB Fair Purchase Price: $21,908
Resale value: 3-year: 66%; 5-year: 50%
MPG: 22 (city); 29 (hwy)

With capable (and standard) all-wheel drive, Subaru's Forester will take you on or off road. It has plenty of cargo space and a suite of optional safety features.

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Ford Explorer

Courtesy of Ford

Best for...: Soccer moms (and dads)

Sticker price: $31,595
Invoice price: $29,830
KBB Fair Purchase Price: $30,247
Resale value: 3-year: 55%; 5-year: 39%
MPG: 17 (city); 24 (hwy)

The Ford Explorer seats up to seven, has 21 cubic feet of space behind the third row and keeps fuel costs low with an optional EcoBoost engine that gets 28 miles per gallon on the highway.

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BMW 3 Series

Courtesy of BMW

Best for...: Affordable luxury

Sticker price: $33,900
Invoice price: $31,445
KBB Fair Purchase Price: N/A
Resale value: N/A
MPG: 24 (city); 36 (hwy)

The archetype of sports sedans, BMW's 3 series maintains its reputation generation after generation with plenty of power, a composed ride and agile handling.

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Tesla Model S

Courtesy of Tesla

Best for...: Drivers who can spend big

Sticker price: $71,070
Invoice price: N/A
KBB Fair Purchase Price: N/A
Resale value: N/A
MPG: 94 (city); 97 (hwy) mpg equivalent

European luxury sedans have nothing on Tesla's Model S. Starting at $71,070, the American-made auto matches their power and sleek looks and features an electric powertrain that delivers the equivalent of 95 mpg and can go 208 miles between charges.

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