IntelliChoice Reveals Best Overall Value Award Winners For 2003 Model Year Vehicles

Cars, Trucks and SUVs Honored at Chicago Auto Show

CHICAGO, Feb. 12 -- PRIMEDIA's IntelliChoice, a PRIMEDIA company that develops and distributes consumer automobile pricing, specifications and ownership and leasing cost data, today announced winners of the 17th annual "Best Overall Value of the Year" awards for 2003 model year cars, trucks and SUVs at media preview days of the 2003 Chicago Auto Show.

IntelliChoice's Best Overall Value of the Year awards recognize cars, trucks and SUVs that will cost significantly less to own than would be expected of vehicles at their purchase prices. A listing of this year's winners and more information on the awards can be found at www.intellichoice.com. Overall category winners include:

  -- Best Car Value under $24,000 - Honda Civic DX Sedan
  -- Best Car Value over $24,000 - Toyota Avalon XLS Sedan
  -- Best Truck Value under $26,000 - Toyota Tacoma Xtracab 2WD
  -- Best Truck Value over $26,000 - Ford F150 XL Flareside SuperCab 4WD
  -- Best Sport Utility Value under $30,000 - Toyota RAV4 2WD
  -- Best Sport Utility Value over $30,000 - Lexus RX 300 2WD

"The cars, trucks and SUVs awarded with this distinction have proven their value and will cost less to own than their competitors," said David Wurster, Publisher of PRIMEDIA'S IntelliChoice. "It's not the purchase price that matters when trying to find the best values. It's how much the vehicle will cost you during the time you own it. Vehicles with similar purchase prices can have very different ownership costs. The Best Overall Value of the Year awards guide consumers towards vehicles that will save them money over the time they own the vehicle."

According to John Cobb, Vice President, General Manager of the PRIMEDIA Automotive and Action Sports Internet Groups, "We are seeing more consumers depend upon IntelliChoice's cost of ownership data, vehicle ratings and Best Overall Value of the Year awards when making their purchase decision. It is considered by many as "must have" information and we are happy to make it available on over 50 Web sites throughout the PRIMEDIA Automotive Network including, http://www.intellichoice.com/, http://www.automobilemag.com/ and http://www.motortrend.com/."

IntelliChoice's value calculation accounts for the price of a vehicle and the accumulated costs of depreciation, maintenance, repairs, fuel, fees, financing and insurance. The value measurement analyzes data compiled on more than 1,000 car, truck and SUV models and projects what these costs will be for the upcoming five-year ownership cycle. In addition to the six category winners, PRIMEDIA's IntelliChoice also recognized the following vehicles as class winners:

  Cars:
  -- Subcompact Class - Honda Civic Coupe
  -- Compact Class under $17,000 - Honda Civic Sedan
  -- Compact Class over $17,000 - Toyota Prius Sedan
  -- Midsize Class under $21,000 - Honda Accord Sedan
  -- Midsize Class over $21,000 - Honda Accord Sedan
  -- Large Class - Toyota Avalon
  -- Near Luxury Class - Lexus ES 300
  -- Luxury Class - Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  -- Small Wagon Class - Volkswagen Jetta
  -- Midsize/Large Wagon Class - Subaru Legacy
  -- Base Sport Class - Mercedes-Benz SLK230
  -- Sport Class - Chevrolet Corvette

  Sport Utilities
  -- Compact Sport Utility Class under $20,000 - Toyota RAV4
  -- Compact Sport Utility Class over $20,000 - Subaru Forester
  -- Intermediate Sport Utility Class under $30,000 - Toyota Highlander
  -- Intermediate Sport Utility Class over $30,000 - Lexus RX 300
  -- Full-Size Sport Utility Class under $40,000 - Toyota Sequoia
  -- Full-Size Sport Utility Class over $40,000 - Toyota Land Cruiser

  Trucks:
  -- Compact Pickup Class 2WD - Toyota Tacoma
  -- Compact Pickup Class 4WD - Toyota Tacoma
  -- Full-Size Pickup Class 1/2 Ton 2WD - Toyota Tundra
  -- Full-Size Pickup Class 1/2 Ton 4WD - Toyota Tundra
  -- Full-Size Pickup Class 3/4 Ton 2WD - Chevrolet Silverado C2500
  -- Full-Size Pickup Class 3/4 Ton 4WD - Chevrolet Silverado K2500
  -- Full-Size Pickup Class One Ton 2WD - Ford F350 Crew Cab
  -- Full-Size Pickup Class One Ton 4WD - Ford F350 Crew Cab

  Vans
  -- Mini-Van Class under $26,000 - Honda Odyssey
  -- Mini-Van Class over $26,000 - Toyota Sienna
  -- Full-Size Van Class - Ford E350 Wagon