Based on performance, value and safety, plus driving impressions.
Best New Model: Cars Under $20,000
Hyundai Elantra
Sticker price: $15,550 (GLS, manual)
Invoice price: $15,146
Fair purchase price: $15,550
Five-year service cost: $3,907
One-year insurance cost: $1,153
Resale value after 3 years: NA; 5 years: NA
MPG: 29 city, 40 highway
Compact no longer equals econobox. Elantra is built with midsize interior space, heated mirrors, and available Bluetooth, rearview camera and heated seats-in both rows. It boasts more power and better fuel efficiency (40 mpg on the highway) than Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.
Best New Model: Cars $20,000 - $25,000
Hyundai Sonata
Sticker price: $24,865 (SE 2.0T)
Invoice price: $23,545
Fair purchase price: NA
Five-year service cost: $4,605
One-year insurance cost: $1,297
Resale value after 3 years: 49 percent; 5 years: 32 percent
MPG: 22 city, 33 highway
No longer content to be a faceless member of the midsize class, the new Sonata dons sculpted lines and an aggressive stance more apropos of luxury models. Nixing a six-cylinder engine from the lineup, Hyundai added a speedy turbocharged four cylinder and a hybrid for 2011.
Best New Model: Cars $25,000 - $30,000
Kia Optima
Sticker price: $25,190 (EX 2.0T)
Invoice price: $23,585
Fair purchase price: NA
Five-year service cost: NA
One-year insurance cost: NA
Resale value after 3 years: NA; 5 years: NA
MPG: 22 city, 33 highway
Optima asserts itself as a high content, high-value player. A Top Safety Pick, it features sporty design, a comfy, classy interior and plenty of upscale amenities. You can opt for either a hybrid or one of two direct-injection four-cylinder models.
Best New Model: Cars $30,000 - $45,000
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
Sticker price: $35,180
Invoice price: $32,472
Fair purchase price: $34,476
Five-year service cost: $3,249
One-year insurance cost: $1,408
Resale value after 3 years: 45 percent; 5 years: 27 percent
MPG: 41 city, 36 highway
In a bold move, Lincoln gave the hybrid variant of the MKZ the same price tag as the gasoline-engine model, sidestepping the average hybrid price premium of $5,000. With 41 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway, it takes the cake for near-luxury fuel efficiency, too.
Best New Model: Cars $45,000 and Over
Infiniti M
Sticker price: $58,775 (M56)
Invoice price: $53,433
Fair purchase price: $55,836
Five-year service cost: $4,094
One-year insurance cost: $2,152
Resale value after 3 years: 51 percent; 5 years: 31 percent
MPG: 16 city, 25 highway
Bells and whistles are a given at this price point, but the M wows with high resale value, low insurance and service costs, and reasonable miles per gallon for such serious power (420 horses on the M56). Optional blind-spot intervention will steer you back into your lane should another car be in your way.
Best New Model: Sports Cars
Ford Mustang
Sticker price: $30,495 (GT coupe, manual)
Invoice price: $28,235
Fair purchase price: $30,495
Five-year service cost: $3,831
One-year insurance cost: $1,397
Resale value after 3 years: 56 percent; 5 years: 39 percent
MPG: 17 city, 26 highway
The classic pony car nails value almost as well as it nails your back to the seat with a new 412-horsepower engine. High resale value, low service and insurance costs (for a sports car) and decent fuel economy — 26 mpg on the highway — meet a modest price.
Best New Model: Small Crossovers
Kia Sportage
Sticker price: $20,990 (LX)
Invoice price: $20,305
Fair purchase price: $20,465
Five-year service cost: $4,117
One-year insurance cost: $1,021
Resale value after 3 years: NA; 5 years: NA
MPG: 22 city, 31 highway
The second-generation Sportage is wrapped in sporty new sheet metal and gets a boost in cargo room as well as a more powerful engine. But it delivers better fuel efficiency, at 31 miles per gallon on the highway. Plus, you still get a five-year warranty and the full line of safety equipment.
Best New Model: Midsize and Large Crossovers
Sticker price: $30,995 (V6 AWD)
Invoice price: $29,375
Fair purchase price: NA
Five-year service cost: $3,922
One-year insurance cost: $1,022
Resale value after 3 years: 54 percent; 5 years: 34 percent
MPG: 17 city, 23 highway
America's favorite SUV is reborn in a crossover body for 2011. The V6-powered version gets 20 percent better fuel economy and starts at $1,100 less than the outgoing model; an optional four-cylinder EcoBoost engine improves mileage by 30 percent. It earns a Top Safety Pick, too.
Best New Model: Truck-based SUVs
Infiniti QX56
Sticker price: $58,800
Invoice price: NA
Fair purchase price: $58,568
Five-year service cost: $4,905
One-year insurance cost: $1,337
Resale value after 3 years: NA; 5 years: NA
MPG: 14 city, 20 highway
All-new all over, the second-gen QX56 raises the bar for full-size luxury SUVs. Slightly bigger this year, it delivers more horsepower (400), more towing power (up to 8,500 pounds) and better fuel economy (20 mpg on the highway). Check out the chrome accents inside and out.
Best New Model: Minivans
Honda Odyssey
Sticker price: $28,580 (LX)
Invoice price: $25,976
Fair purchase price: $28,580
Five-year service cost: $3,995
One-year insurance cost: $960
Resale value after 3 years: 54 percent; 5 years: 34 percent
MPG: 18 city, 27 highway
Honda Odyssey ditches the Mom mobile image and adds edge for 2011. The perennial Kiplinger's favorite returns to Best in Class status and sweeps awards in its category, winning Best New Minivan, Best Resale and Most Fuel-Efficient. Better driving dynamics and interior design are icing on the cake.
Best New Model: Wagons
Acura TSX Sport Wagon
Sticker price: $31,280
Invoice price: $29,872
Fair purchase price: NA
Five-year service cost: NA
One-year insurance cost: NA
Resale value after 3 years: NA; 5 years:NA
MPG: 20 city, 30 highway
Acura's luxury sport compact goes wagon for 2011, and it's not just another grocery-getter. With 32 cubic feet of storage space behind the second row, TSX Sport Wagon will take you and your stuff where you need to go in style. The peppy 201-horsepower four-cylinder engine gets a respectable 30 mpg on the highway.
Content provided by Kiplinger's Personal Finance
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