IntelliChoice.com's April "Best Deals" Winners Offer Benchmark for New Models
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SEE ALSO: NEW CAR BUYERS GUIDE
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 April 2007, providing an interesting benchmark for some of the new models that debuted last week at the New York Auto Show.
“Even more than recent auto shows, the New York show offered a look at some very compelling future competition to many of the mainstays on our monthly ‘Best Deals’ list,” said James Bell, publisher of IntelliChoice.com.
- In the newer crossover category, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid remained a perennial “Best Deals” winner, but will eventually go head to head against Ford’s Flex crossover that debuted in New York. Ford is planning to utilize the Flex as a replacement to its minivans, an IntelliChoice.com category long dominated by the Honda Odyssey. “With room for seven passengers, the Flex provides the functionality and convenience of a traditional minivan, with a design and look which could help it avoid the stigma associated with minivans,” said Bell.
- The MAZDASPEED3 won in the sport sedan/wagon segment, but could face increased competition from the highly publicized debut of the Subaru Impreza WRX. Bell said, “It is apparent that Subaru has taken the successful styling cues from a traditionally strong ‘Best Deals’ performer, the MAZDASPEED3, and built upon them.”
- Bell noted that in the subcompact and convertible class, the Mini Cooper and Cooper convertible are on the IntelliChoice.com list again and prove there is ample room in the market for premium, high performance small cars. “Their success will hopefully have an impact on Chevrolet’s decision to move forward with production on one of the three concept compact cars they unveiled in New York—the Groove, Trax and Beat.”
IntelliChoice.com’s “Best Deals of the Month” identifies new cars, trucks and SUVs with the best ownership cost value in 33 respective classes. Selections are based on current car pricing, market conditions and the lowest national manufacturer consumer new car 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 April 2007 are ranked by vehicle type and size:
|
Class |
Brand | Model | ||
| Subcompact Car | MINI |
Cooper |
||
| Compact Car over 16000 | Honda | Civic Hybrid | ||
| Compact Car under 16000 | Honda | Civic DX (Auto) | ||
| Midsize Car over 21000 | Toyota | Prius Touring | ||
| Midsize Car under 21000 | Toyota | Prius | ||
| Convertible | MINI | Cooper | ||
| Luxury Convertible | Audi | A4 2.0T Cabriolet | ||
| Near Luxury Car | Audi |
A4 2.0T Quattro (Manual) |
||
| Luxury Car | Lexus | ES 350 | ||
| Large Car | Toyota | Avalon Touring | ||
| Base Sport Car | Honda | Civic Si | ||
| Sport Car | Chevrolet | Corvette | ||
| Sport Sedan/Wagon over 38000 | Lexus | GS 350 RWD | ||
| Sport Sedan/Wagon under 38000 | Mazda | MAZDASPEED3 Sport | ||
| Compact Utility/Crossover | Ford | Escape Hybrid 2WD | ||
| Midsize Crossover | Toyota | Highlander Hybrid w/Third Row Seat 2WD | ||
| Luxury Crossover | Lexus | RX 350 FWD | ||
| Small Wagon | Toyota | Matrix Standard (Manual) | ||
| Midsize/Large Wagon | Subaru | Outback 2.5i Basic | ||
| Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) | Chevrolet | Tahoe LS 2WD | ||
| Intermediate SUV | Hummer | H3 | ||
| Luxury SUV | Lexus | GX 470 | ||
| Compact Pickup Truck 2WD | Nissan | Frontier King Cab XE 2WD (Manual) | ||
| Compact Pickup Truck 4WD | Toyota | Tacoma Regular Cab 4WD | ||
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD 1/2 Ton | Toyota | Tundra Regular Cab V6 2WD Short Bed | ||
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD 3/4 Ton | Ford | F250 Super Duty Crew Cab XL 2WD Short Bed | ||
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD One Ton | Ford | F350 Super Duty Super Cab XL 2WD DRW | ||
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD 1/2 Ton | Chevrolet | Silverado 1500 Extended Cab LT 4WD Short Bed | ||
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD 3/4 Ton | Ford | F250 Super Duty Crew Cab XL 4WD Short Bed | ||
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD One Ton | Ford | F350 Super Duty Super Cab XL 4WD DRW | ||
| Minivan | Honda | Odyssey LX | ||
| Full-Size Van | Chevrolet | Express 1500 Passenger | ||
| Cargo Van | Ford | Freestar |
IntelliChoice.com Helps Consumers Do Their Homework
IntelliChoice.com updates vehicle data several times a month in order to capture the many expiring car rebates and ongoing incentive programs offered by manufacturers—giving consumers the most up-to-date analysis.
IntelliChoice.com’s “Best Deals” designation enables consumers to identify how car 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 Deals 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 Deals of the Month.”
Please visit www.intellichoice.com for more information or to check the auto 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 an online car buying guide.