Just because a car is cheap doesn’t mean it’s a good value. Taking into account the five-year owner cost of a vehicle which factors in depreciation, fuel, insurance premiums, interest on financing, sales tax and cost for maintenance and repairs, a better picture is painted on whether or not a vehicle is a good bang for your buck.
Consumer Reports has revealed this year’s best new-car value winners, which also takes into account the publication’s evaluation of the car. The less a vehicle costs to own over time, the better value it is.
Headlining the list is the best value car in the compact/subcompact category, the Toyota Prius IV. The Prius also takes home the accolade of being the best overall value for the second straight year.
According to Consumer Reports, the Prius costs just 47 cents per mile to own over five years. Of course there’s also the fact that the Prius gets 44 mpg overall, offering the best fuel economy of any non-plug-in car that the publication has ever tested. And though it’s not exactly the cheapest car on the market, its depreciation is so low that it costs less to own over five years than its initial MSRP. The Toyota Prius IV has a starting MSRP of $29,245 including destination.
Offering the best value in the midsized cars category is the Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium. Powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder BOXER engine, the Subaru Legacy features 173 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque and comes standard with a Lineartronic CVT. Priced from $24,090, the Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium offers a good bang for your buck especially since it gets a 24-mpg city, 32-mpg highway rating.
The Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited was rated the best value in the large cars category with a starting price of $43,415. The 2014 Avalon Hybrid Limited is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain that is good for 40 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway. In addition, the Avalon offers plenty of space and luxury amenities for its price and is surprisingly fun to drive despite being a hybrid. It comes standard with Xenon headlights with LEDs, tri-zone automatic climate control with rear controls, perforated leather and a seven-inch touchscreen.
While the Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited is a borderline luxury car, those that are shopping in the luxury category and want the best bang for their buck should look at the Lexus ES 300h. Also a hybrid, the Lexus ES 300h is actually very similar to the Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited. In fact, its starting price is actually cheaper at $40,260 and features a 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain that’s good for a total system output of 200 hp. Fuel economy figures are also identical with a 40-mpg city, 39-mpg highway. When it comes down to it, both the Avalon Hybrid Limited and the ES 300h offer great value for your money, it just depends on which brand and luxury amenities fit your tastes.
Claiming the best value in the sports cars and convertibles category is the Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring, an all-time favorite among sports car enthusiasts. Not only is the top-of-the-line MX-5 Grand Touring affordable at $28,345, owners get plenty of value with a fun-to-drive convertible. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 167 hp with a choice of a soft top or a power-retractable hard top. In addition, car shoppers can choose between a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed auto with the five-speed offering 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The six-speed automatic and manual transmission nets 21-mpg city, 28-mpg highway and it’s worth mentioning that the automatic owners lose a bit of power with 158 hp available from the same powerplant.
Mazda also tops the best value list in the wagons/minivans category with its Mazda5 Grand Touring minivan. It boasts an attractive price tag of $25,265 and comes powered by a 2.5-liter engine with 157 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The EPA estimates that the Mazda5 Grand Touring gets 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway while offering three-row seating for six. With the third row folded down, the Mazda5 offers 44.4 cubic feet of cargo space, which is plenty for the average-sized family.
Subaru makes a return to the list with its Forester 2.5i Premium model, which offers the best value in the small SUVs category. Priced from $24,320 with a standard six-speed manual transmission, the Forester 2.5i Premium can also be had with a Lineartronic CVT for $1,500 additional. Powering the Forester is a 2.5-liter BOXER four-cylinder engine with 170 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. When using the standard manual transmission, the Forester nets 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway while the CVT offers a 24-mpg city, 32-mpg highway rating.
In the midsized SUV category, the Nissan Murano SL went home with the honor of best value with a starting MSRP of $36,250. The Murano SL gets a respectable 18-mpg city, 24-mpg highway rating while offering a spacious and comfortable interior. Buyers can also opt for some luxury amenities such as heated rear seats and a dual panel moonroof, adding even more value to the midsized SUV. The Murano SL is powered by Nissan’s popular VQ35DE powerplant which is a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 260 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque.
In the luxury/large SUV category, the BMW X1 xDrive28i offers the best value according to Consumer Reports. The X1 xDrive28i starts at $33,525 with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood. The powerplant offers 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque but is also fuel efficient for an SUV getting 22 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. Standard on the X1 xDrive28i is auto start-stop, an eight-speed automatic transmission, 17-inch wheels and of course the xDrive all-wheel-drive system.
Lastly, it’s not the best-selling Ford F-150 pickup taking home the best value in the pickups category, it’s the Honda Ridgeline RTS. The Ridgeline RTS comes standard with 17-inch wheels, trailer harness, dual-zone automatic climate control and a driver’s seat with 10-way power adjustment. It also has an attractive starting price of $33,210 and is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 250 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. Rated at 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway, the Ridgeline RTS isn’t too shabby in the fuel economy category considering it’s a pickup.