IntelliChoice.com Releases Best Deals for January - First Timer Audi A4 Beats BMW in near Luxury Class

CAMPBELL, Calif.--PRIMEDIA’s IntelliChoice.com (www.intellichoice.com), the leading source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis, today announced its “Best Deals of the Month” for January 2007. With car dealers anxious to move existing inventory and new models poised to enter the market, IntelliChoice.com says that January could be a good time for consumers to take advantage of both manufacturer and dealer-based incentive programs.

“Right now, automakers are competing heavily with each other to attract new buyers, which in turn has created a perfect storm for the buying public,” said James Bell, publisher of IntelliChoice.com. “The month-to-month turnover in Best Deals for trucks is a perfect example. As the battle for market share heats up, we are anticipating even more intense competition in 2007.

One notable newcomer to the list is the Audi A4 1.8T, displacing BMW and punctuating a year in which the automaker set a new record for vehicle sales for the eleventh year in a row. Audi has also announced plans to introduce several new models or variants in 2007.

IntelliChoice.com’s “Best Deals of the Month” identifies 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 January 2007 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                         Audi        A4 1.8T
Sport                               Chevrolet   Corvette
Luxury                              Lexus       GS 300 RWD (Replaced
                                                 Lexus LS 430)
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 $21,000        Ford        Escape Hybrid 2WD
Compact Utility under $21,000       Toyota      RAV4 2WD
Intermediate Utility over $29,000   Toyota      Highlander Hybrid 2WD
Intermediate Utility under $29,000  Honda       Pilot LX 2WD
Utility over $36,000                GMC         Yukon XL 1500 SL 4WD
Utility under $36,000               GMC         Yukon SL 4WD
Compact Pickup 2WD                  Toyota      Tacoma Regular Cab
                                                 PreRunner 2WD
                                                 (Manual)
Compact Pickup 4WD                  Toyota      Tacoma Regular Cab 4WD
                                                 (Manual)
Full-Size Pickup 2WD 1/2 Ton        Chevrolet   Silverado 1500 Crew
                                                 Cab LS 2WD
Full-Size Pickup 2WD 3/4 Ton        Ford        F250 Super Duty Crew
                                                 Cab XL 2WD Short Bed
Full-Size Pickup 2WD One Ton        Ford        F350 Super Duty Super
                                                 Cab XL 2WD DRW
Full-Size Pickup 4WD 1/2 Ton        Chevrolet   Silverado 1500
                                                 Extended Cab LS 4WD
                                                 Short Bed
Full-Size Pickup 4WD 3/4 Ton        Ford        F250 Super Duty Crew
                                                 Cab XL 4WD Short Bed
Full-Size Pickup 4WD One Ton        Ford        F350 Super Duty Crew
                                                 Cab XL 4WD Short Bed

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.

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