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Bankrate.com
10 best car values for 2005
Thursday February 17, 6:00 am ET
Erin Peterson
What makes for a great value in a car? The first thing that experts emphasize is that it has very little to do with the sticker price.
"Some people see value as the purchase price only," says Joe Wiesenfelder, a car reviewer at Cars.com. "But price is only one part. A car might cost a little bit more, but be a better long-term value because of good fuel economy, greater reliability, resale value and cost of ownership."
A number of other factors can come into play as well, from safety and versatility to individual concerns such as a vehicle's ability to accommodate car seats or gear.
"If you're looking for a good value -- if you don't have your heart set on a particular car -- the key is research," says James Bell, publisher of IntelliChoice. "When you're looking at value, it's not just about knowing the rebates, the 0 to 60 times or the horsepower. You want to look at how a vehicle performs once you've purchased it."
That said, lemons are much more rare than they were years ago, and great warranties are giving consumers peace of mind. "Vehicles are so much better than they used to be," says Wiesenfelder. "There are still real differences, but they are much finer than they used to be."
Here are 10 cars in several categories that have performed especially well in the areas of safety, reliability and depreciation.
Family sedans
Honda Accord ($16,200): Year in and year out, the Honda Accord ranks high on critics' "best bets" lists, and for good reason: It's reliable, safe, and has great resale value. Expect low ownership costs and excellent fuel economy for a V6. Sure, it seems that everyone's driving an Accord, but look at it this way: You'll be in good company.
Toyota Camry ($18,045): Refined, quiet, and spacious, the Camry gets excellent gas mileage. Its nimble handling makes the car fun to drive, and complements its track record as a strong, reliable performer over the long haul. It has also performed well in crash tests.
Small Sedans
Toyota Corolla ($13,680): "This is one car that holds its value well, is inexpensive to maintain, fuel costs are very good," says Bell of the Corolla, a model that's been on the market since 1966. It's safe and has good fuel economy, and its longevity has made it the best-selling passenger car of all time. Like its larger sibling, the Camry, the Corolla may be too popular to turn heads, but it's a wise investment.
Ford Focus ($13,860): Though foreign cars tend to dominate the best value lists, the zippy, sporty Ford Focus provides a notable exception. It's spacious, fun to drive, and its clean design inside and out makes it more than just a car to get from point A to point B. Even its colors -- infrared and pitch black -- have edge.
Minivans
Honda Odyssey ($24,995): For 2005, the Odyssey was redesigned, and among the improvements are run-flat tires and side curtain airbags. The Odyssey has good handling, exceptional power and a steady ride. "As a class, minivans have better crash-test ratings than SUVs," notes Wiesenfelder. "And in terms of overall performance, the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna have stolen the crowd."
Toyota Sienna ($23,225): Most minivans don't qualify as "fun to drive," but the comfortable, quiet-riding Sienna may be the exception that proves the rule. "It's got really good reliability, it has good crash-test results, it gets decent fuel economy for a minivan," says Sally Greenberg, senior product safety counsel at Consumers Union. The Sienna has excellent pickup -- traveling from 0 to 60 in 8.3 seconds. And good news for consumers who are concerned about the environment: the Sienna is a level II ultra-low emissions vehicle.
Upscale sedan
Lexus ES ($32,625): Everything about the car is smooth. Even the most basic model comes with features that are options on other vehicles, including a leather interior, power windows and a power moon roof. Under the hood, its 225-horsepower V6 engine gives it some serious punch. The safety details are all taken care of: antilock brakes, front, side, and curtain airbags all come standard. It's a keeper: Lexus "does very well on depreciation and long-term maintenance," according to Bell.
SUVs
Subaru Outback ($18,995): The Outback has a firm ride and agile handling, and does well in its class for fuel economy. It's among the safest SUVs according to crash-test ratings, and driver, passenger, and side airbags come standard. Previous models have proved reliable, and the new model should be no exception.
Chevrolet Equinox ($21,785): Of the many new models being offered for 2005, the Equinox is one worth your attention. It's Chevrolet's first car-based SUV, with such innovative features as a fold-flat front passenger seat and rear seats that can slide back to accommodate taller passengers. It received outstanding crash-test ratings and gets a reasonable 25 miles per gallon. "For a new model, the Chevrolet Equinox is a good bet," says Wiesenfelder.
Pickup truck
GMC Sierra ($19,790): The 300-horsepower V8 engine has more than enough power to do even the heaviest towing, and though you probably won't forget you're in a truck, it's got a remarkably smooth ride. "GMC trucks tend to hold their value once they're in the marketplace," says Bell. "They're consistent winners."
Bankrate.com
10 best car values for 2005
Thursday February 17, 6:00 am ET
Erin Peterson
What makes for a great value in a car? The first thing that experts emphasize is that it has very little to do with the sticker price.
"Some people see value as the purchase price only," says Joe Wiesenfelder, a car reviewer at Cars.com. "But price is only one part. A car might cost a little bit more, but be a better long-term value because of good fuel economy, greater reliability, resale value and cost of ownership."
A number of other factors can come into play as well, from safety and versatility to individual concerns such as a vehicle's ability to accommodate car seats or gear.
"If you're looking for a good value -- if you don't have your heart set on a particular car -- the key is research," says James Bell, publisher of IntelliChoice. "When you're looking at value, it's not just about knowing the rebates, the 0 to 60 times or the horsepower. You want to look at how a vehicle performs once you've purchased it."
That said, lemons are much more rare than they were years ago, and great warranties are giving consumers peace of mind. "Vehicles are so much better than they used to be," says Wiesenfelder. "There are still real differences, but they are much finer than they used to be."
Here are 10 cars in several categories that have performed especially well in the areas of safety, reliability and depreciation.
Family sedans
Honda Accord ($16,200): Year in and year out, the Honda Accord ranks high on critics' "best bets" lists, and for good reason: It's reliable, safe, and has great resale value. Expect low ownership costs and excellent fuel economy for a V6. Sure, it seems that everyone's driving an Accord, but look at it this way: You'll be in good company.
Toyota Camry ($18,045): Refined, quiet, and spacious, the Camry gets excellent gas mileage. Its nimble handling makes the car fun to drive, and complements its track record as a strong, reliable performer over the long haul. It has also performed well in crash tests.
Small Sedans
Toyota Corolla ($13,680): "This is one car that holds its value well, is inexpensive to maintain, fuel costs are very good," says Bell of the Corolla, a model that's been on the market since 1966. It's safe and has good fuel economy, and its longevity has made it the best-selling passenger car of all time. Like its larger sibling, the Camry, the Corolla may be too popular to turn heads, but it's a wise investment.
Ford Focus ($13,860): Though foreign cars tend to dominate the best value lists, the zippy, sporty Ford Focus provides a notable exception. It's spacious, fun to drive, and its clean design inside and out makes it more than just a car to get from point A to point B. Even its colors -- infrared and pitch black -- have edge.
Minivans
Honda Odyssey ($24,995): For 2005, the Odyssey was redesigned, and among the improvements are run-flat tires and side curtain airbags. The Odyssey has good handling, exceptional power and a steady ride. "As a class, minivans have better crash-test ratings than SUVs," notes Wiesenfelder. "And in terms of overall performance, the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna have stolen the crowd."
Toyota Sienna ($23,225): Most minivans don't qualify as "fun to drive," but the comfortable, quiet-riding Sienna may be the exception that proves the rule. "It's got really good reliability, it has good crash-test results, it gets decent fuel economy for a minivan," says Sally Greenberg, senior product safety counsel at Consumers Union. The Sienna has excellent pickup -- traveling from 0 to 60 in 8.3 seconds. And good news for consumers who are concerned about the environment: the Sienna is a level II ultra-low emissions vehicle.
Upscale sedan
Lexus ES ($32,625): Everything about the car is smooth. Even the most basic model comes with features that are options on other vehicles, including a leather interior, power windows and a power moon roof. Under the hood, its 225-horsepower V6 engine gives it some serious punch. The safety details are all taken care of: antilock brakes, front, side, and curtain airbags all come standard. It's a keeper: Lexus "does very well on depreciation and long-term maintenance," according to Bell.
SUVs
Subaru Outback ($18,995): The Outback has a firm ride and agile handling, and does well in its class for fuel economy. It's among the safest SUVs according to crash-test ratings, and driver, passenger, and side airbags come standard. Previous models have proved reliable, and the new model should be no exception.
Chevrolet Equinox ($21,785): Of the many new models being offered for 2005, the Equinox is one worth your attention. It's Chevrolet's first car-based SUV, with such innovative features as a fold-flat front passenger seat and rear seats that can slide back to accommodate taller passengers. It received outstanding crash-test ratings and gets a reasonable 25 miles per gallon. "For a new model, the Chevrolet Equinox is a good bet," says Wiesenfelder.
Pickup truck
GMC Sierra ($19,790): The 300-horsepower V8 engine has more than enough power to do even the heaviest towing, and though you probably won't forget you're in a truck, it's got a remarkably smooth ride. "GMC trucks tend to hold their value once they're in the marketplace," says Bell. "They're consistent winners."
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