Toyota Dominates IntelliChoice.com's Best New Car Deals for October

CAMPBELL, Calif.--PRIMEDIA’s IntelliChoice.com, the leading source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis, today announced its “Best Deals of the Month” for October 2006, with Toyota notching an impressive ten vehicle turnout on the list.

In addition to carrying the car segment with its Prius and Avalon, which it has done consistently for most of the past year, Toyota is putting pressure on Detroit with top rankings in the SUV and truck categories.

“Toyota’s impact in the truck market, with the continuing success of the Tacoma and impending arrival of the all-new 2007 Tundra, continues to be at the forefront of debate in the automotive industry,” said James Bell, publisher of IntelliChoice.com. “And Toyota is effectively increasing the pressure with big rebates to clear out the 2006 Tundra line-up.”

Bell added, “Even with the impact of higher-fuel prices in the full-size truck and SUV markets, Toyota continues to build reliable and affordable product lines that consumers desire. Add in the more aggressive rebates, and the impact on the other major players in these markets is noticeable.”

IntelliChoice.com’s “Best Deals of the Month” identify new cars, trucks and SUVs with the best ownership cost value in 29 respective classes. Selections are based on current vehicle pricing, market conditions and the lowest national manufacturer consumer rebate. In addition, IntelliChoice.com uses the latest information from numerous automotive resources to evaluate what it costs to buy, own, and operate each new model-year trim line over a five year basis.

The following “Best Deals” for October 2006 are ranked by vehicle type and size:

Class                       Brand             Model
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subcompact                  Honda             Insight (Manual)
Base Sport                  Honda             Civic Si (Manual)
Compact over $16,000        Honda             Civic Hybrid (Auto)
Compact under $16,000       Honda             Civic DX (Auto)
Midsize over $21,000        Honda             Accord EX w/Leather
                                               (Manual)
Midsize under $21,000       Toyota            Prius
Large                       Toyota            Avalon Touring
Near Luxury                 BMW               325i
Sport                       Chevrolet         Corvette
Luxury                      Lexus             GS 300 RWD
Small Wagon                 Scion             xB (Auto)
Midsize/Large Wagon         Subaru            Outback 2.5i
Mini-Van over $24,000       Honda             Odyssey EX
Mini-Van under $24,000      Honda             Odyssey LX
Full-Size Van               Chevrolet         Express 1500 Passenger
                                               Van
Compact Utility over        Ford              Escape Hybrid 2WD
 $21,000
Compact Utility under       Toyota            RAV4 2WD
 $21,000
Intermediate Utility        Toyota            Highlander Hybrid 2WD
 over $29,000
Intermediate Utility        Honda             Pilot LX 2WD
 under $29,000
Utility over $36,000        Toyota            Land Cruiser
Utility under $36,000       Toyota            Sequoia SR5 2WD
Compact Pickup 2WD          Toyota            Tacoma Regular Cab
                                               PreRunner 2WD (Manual)
Compact Pickup 4WD          Toyota            Tacoma Regular Cab 4WD
                                               (Manual)
Full-Size Pickup 2WD        Toyota            Tundra Regular Cab 2WD
 1/2 Ton                                       (Auto)
Full-Size Pickup 2WD        Ford              F250 Super Duty Crew Cab
 3/4 Ton                                       XL 2WD Short Bed
Full-Size Pickup 2WD        Dodge             Ram 3500 Quad Cab ST 2WD
 One Ton
Full-Size Pickup 4WD        Toyota            Tundra Double Cab SR5
 1/2 Ton                                       4WD
Full-Size Pickup 4WD        Ford              F250 Super Duty Crew Cab
 3/4 Ton                                       XL 4WD Short Bed
Full-Size Pickup 4WD        Dodge             Ram 3500 Quad Cab ST 4WD
 One Ton

IntelliChoice.com Helps Consumers Do Their Homework

IntelliChoice.com updates vehicle data several times a month in order to capture the many expiring rebates and ongoing programs offered by manufacturers—giving consumers the most up-to-date analysis.

IntelliChoice.com’s “Best Deals” designation enables consumers to identify how rebates affect a vehicle’s value throughout ownership and not just at the time of purchase. Ownership costs can vary significantly among different trim lines of the same model. Additionally, IntelliChoice.com continuously updates fuel costs based on the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Vehicles designated an “IntelliChoice.com Best Deal of the Month” are typically cars and trucks that have good to great ownership cost values before any manufacturer rebate. However, a rebate can often turn a good ownership cost value into a great value, and a great value into an “IntelliChoice.com Best Deal of the Month.”

Please visit www.IntelliChoice.com for more information or to check the rebate section of any vehicle report for the most up-to-date incentives.

About IntelliChoice.com

Part of PRIMEDIA's Enthusiast Media, IntelliChoice is the market leader in automotive ownership cost and value analysis. Founded in 1986, IntelliChoice is committed to empowering consumers to make better purchase decisions by providing independent and essential automotive information and tools. Through the IntelliChoice web site (www.intellichoice.com), consumers get the help they need to research, compare, configure and price vehicles. The site also connects buyers to the buying alternatives of their choice, including vehicle manufacturers and online buying services.