Cars
Best Cars Slide Show
We evaluated 436 cars for performance, value and safety -- including how much it would cost to service, insure and fuel the vehicle -- to help you decide which car, SUV, wagon or minivan matches your needs and price range. Here are the cream of the crop.
By Mark Solheim, Senior Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
November 2005
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What the data tells you
We pull together thousands of pieces of data in our tables to help you pinpoint the right car and score the best possible deal.
Suggested retail price. Retail (sticker) price is what the manufacturer says the vehicle is worth, although few vehicles actually sell for that. Our prices come from Kelley Blue Book, the automotive-data company, as well as from Chrome Systems Corp., publisher of PC Carbook. All prices include destination charges.
New Car Blue Book Value. Not everyone has the skill -- or the will -- to wear down the dealer. If that describes you, at least aim for Kelley Blue Book's New Car Blue Book Value, which is supplied for each car that was in dealerships in early October. The New Car Blue Book Value represents the most common selling price for the vehicle. Before you shop, check KBB.com for price updates and current market information.
Service cost. This is an estimate of the cost of maintenance and unscheduled repairs over five years. Vincentric, an automotive-research firm, compiled the figures based on the cost of scheduled maintenance and unscheduled maintenance, such as tires and batteries, plus out-of-warranty repairs.
Insurance cost. To show the relative cost of insurance, we asked Vincentric to estimate the annual premium for each vehicle for a middle-aged driver with a clean driving record. The policy assumes bodily injury coverage of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, plus property-damage coverage of $100,000. Deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage are $500 each. Your actual insurance cost will depend on where you live, your age and your driving record.
Resale value. A prime indicator of a new car's value is how much it will be worth after three years and five years, expressed as a percentage of the suggested retail price. Our numbers come from Vincentric and give the percentage based on private-party sales.
Fuel cost. Vincentric provides this number based on mileage for city and highway driving, as determined by the Environmental Protection Agency. Fuel costs assume 15,000 miles of combined city and highway driving each year, assuming average fuel costs as we compiled the tables: regular gas at $2.96 a gallon, premium gas at $3.25 and diesel at $3.02.
Cargo space. Measured in cubic feet, this is the space in the trunk or behind the second row in a wagon, SUV or minivan.
