The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Best Overall Values for the 2001 Model Year

    CAMPBELL, Calif.--Feb. 7, 2001--The analysis is complete and the car cost experts at IntelliChoice are announcing which new car and truck models are the best overall values for the 2001 model year.
    IntelliChoice's value calculation accounts for the price of a vehicle and the accumulated costs of depreciation, maintenance, repairs, fuel, fees, financing and insurance. It analyzes data compiled on more than 800 car and truck models and projects what these costs will be for the upcoming five-year ownership cycle.
    For the 15th consecutive year, IntelliChoice's "Best Overall Value of the Year" awards are going to those cars and trucks that will cost significantly less to own than would be expected of vehicles at their purchase prices.
    "Vehicles with the same purchase price can have very different overall ownership costs," said IntelliChoice President John Hammond. "Buyers who know this can save $500, $1,000, $5,000 or more over five years."
    The Best Overall Value of the Year winners in the six overall categories for 2001 are:

 - Mercedes-Benz E320 Sedan            Best Car Value Over $22,500

 - Honda Civic HX Coupe                Best Car Value Under $22,500

 - Toyota Land Cruiser 4WD Sport       Best Sport Utility Value Over
   Utility                             $27,000

 - Honda CR-V LX 4WD Sport Utility     Best Sport Utility Value Under
                                       $27,000 

 - GMC Sierra C1500 2WD Extended       Best Truck Value Over $22,000
   Cab

 - Nissan Frontier XE King Cab 2WD     Best Truck Value Under $22,000
   Extended Cab       

    In addition to the six "overall winners," IntelliChoice determines the best values in 29 classes:

 - BMW Z3 2.5i Roadster 2 Door         The Best Overall Value of the 
   Convertible                         Year, Base Sport 
 
 - Chevrolet Express 3500 Extended 3   The Best Overall Value of the 
   Door Passenger Extended Van(a)      Year, Full-Size Van(a)
 
 - Chevrolet Silverado K2500 HD 2      The Best Overall Value of the 
   Door Extended Cab                   Year, Full-Size Pickup 3/4 Ton 
                                       4WD 
 
 - Ford Econoline E150 XL 4 Door       The Best Overall Value of the
   Passenger Van(a)                    Year, Full-Size Van(a)
 
 - Ford Explorer Sport 2WD/XLS         The Best Overall Value of the 
   2WD/4WD 2 and 4 Door Sport          Year, Intermediate Utility 
   Utility                             under $27,500

 - Ford F150 XL Styleside SuperCab     The Best Overall Value of the
   4WD 2 Door Extended Cab             Year, Full-Size Pickup 1/2 Ton 
                                       4WD 
  
 - Ford F350 XL Super Duty DRW         The Best Overall Value of the
   Crew Cab 4 Door Extended Cab        Year, Full-Size Pickup 1 Ton
                                       2WD 

 - Ford F350 XL Super Duty DRW         The Best Overall Value of the 
   Crew Cab 4WD 4 Door Extended        Year, Full-Size Pickup 1 Ton 
   Cab                                 4WD

 - GMC Sierra C1500 2 Door Extended    The Best Overall Value of the  
   Cab                                 Year, Full-Size Pickup 1/2 Ton
                                       2WD
 
 - GMC Sierra C2500 2 Door Regular     The Best Overall Value of the
   Cab                                 Year, Full-Size Pickup 3/4 Ton
                                       2WD 

 - Honda Accord DX/LX 4 Door Sedan     The Best Overall Value of the
                                       Year, Midsize under $20,500 

 - Honda Accord LX-V6/EX/EX-V6 Sedan   The Best Overall Value of the
                                       Year, Midsize over $20,500 

 - Honda Civic DX/LX 4 Door Sedan      The Best Overall Value of the
                                       Year, Compact under $16,500 

 - Honda Civic EX 2 Door Coupe         The Best Overall Value of the
                                       Year, Subcompact over $15,000 

 - Honda Civic EX 4 Door Sedan         The Best Overall Value of the
                                       Year, Compact over $16,500 

 - Honda Civic HX/DX/LX 2 Door Coupe   The Best Overall Value of the
                                       Year, Subcompact under $15,000

 - Honda CR-V LX/LX 4WD/EX 4 Door      The Best Overall Value of the
   Sport Utility                       Year, Compact Utility

 - Honda Odyssey LX 4 Door Passenger   The Best Overall Value of the 
   Extended Van                        Year, Mini-Van under $24,500 

 - Lexus ES 300 4 Door Sedan           The Best Overall Value of the
                                       Year, Near Luxury 

 - Mercedes-Benz E320/E320 AWD         The Best Overall Value of the  
   4 Door Sedan and Wagon              Year, Luxury

 - Mercedes-Benz ML320 4WD 4 Door      The Best Overall Value of the
   Sport Utility                       Year, Intermediate Utility 
                                       over $27,500 

 - Mercedes-Benz SLK230 Kompressor     The Best Overall Value of the
   2 Door Convertible                  Year, Sport 

 - Nissan Frontier SE-V6/XE-V6 King    The Best Overall Value of the
   Cab/SE-V6 Crew Cab 2 and 4 Door     Year, Compact Pickup 4WD  
   4WD Extended Cab                                    

 - Nissan Frontier XE/XE King Cab      The Best Overall Value of the
   2WD 2 Door Regular and Extended     Year, Compact Pickup 2WD
   Cab   

 - Saturn SW2 4 Door Wagon             The Best Overall Value of the 
                                       Year, Small Wagon 

 - Subaru Outback AWD 4 Door Wagon     The Best Overall Value of the
                                       Year, Midsize/Large Wagon 

 - Toyota Avalon XL/XLS 4 Door Sedan   The Best Overall Value of the
                                       Year, Large 

 - Toyota LandCruiser 4WD 4 Door       The Best Overall Value of the
   Sport Utility                       Year, Utility 

 - Toyota Sienna LE/XLE 4 Door         The Best Overall Value of the
   Passenger Van                       Year, Mini-Van over $24,500

 (a) Tie

    An independent information research firm, IntelliChoice is recognized as an authoritative, objective source of data and trends in the automotive market. Its ownership cost data is presented regularly in AutoWeek magazine and in Automobile magazine.
    Intellichoice's analysis of 2001 models is available to consumers in the 2001 edition of The Complete Car Cost Guide(TM) and The Complete Small Truck Cost Guide(TM) and on the internet at www.intellichoice.com. These resources highlight additional vehicles that are also recognized as excellent values.
    IntelliChoice is a product of Intertec Publishing, a wholly owned subsidiary of PRIMEDIA Inc. , of New York, and is one of the world's largest technical and trade publishing companies. Its 100+ publications, more than 30 trade shows, 450+ books and directories and more than 100 Web sites serve professionals in Agribusiness; Communications; Electrical & Public Services; Entertainment; Industrial; Marketing; Professional Services & Apparel; and Transportation markets. Intertec magazine products include Telephony, PROMO, American Demographics and Registered Representative; exhibitions include Lighting Dimensions International, the Folio: Shows and Waste Expo.