The Quest for Value: How to Buy a Car that Makes Your Dollar Go Far

When it comes to buying a new car, many of us focus solely on the price tag. We want to get the best deal possible and drive away in our dream ride without breaking the bank. However, what if your cheapest option leaves you dissatisfied? What if you end up with a car that doesn't quite live up to its promises? At Consumer Reports, we believe that there's more to buying a car than just the initial cost. We look for the best and worst values among 200 recently tested cars, and our approach is based on three key figures that help us determine which cars will give you the greatest bang for your buck.

Our first factor in determining value is road test scores. Based on 50 tests and evaluations at Consumer Reports auto track, we push cars to their limits to see how they perform. This gives us a clear picture of each car's capabilities, handling, and overall performance. We also consider predicted reliability based on data from over a million cars collected from subscribers who tell us about their experiences with their vehicles over time. By combining these two factors, we get a comprehensive view of each car's strengths and weaknesses.

Another crucial factor in our value equation is cost per mile. This takes into account all the major expenses incurred by a car during its first five years of ownership, such as fuel, maintenance, and repairs. We calculate this figure to determine which cars offer the best value for your money. By putting all these factors together, we can identify the cars that will give you the greatest bang for your buck.

So, which cars make the cut? In the small SUVs category, the Subaru Forester 2.5i premium scores highest in our list, earning a Consumer Reports best value rating. Priced at around $27,000, the Forester offers excellent reliability and very low ownership costs of just 58 cents per mile over its first five years of ownership. In contrast, sports cars and convertibles can be quite pricey, with the Mazda Miata taking top spot at a price of $31,000. The Miata is a fun-to-drive roadster with pinpoint handling and excellent fuel economy at 28 MP gallon.

On the other hand, among the worst car values are Mercedes-Benz S550 and Jeep Wrangler. While the S550 may not be the cheapest option on the market (with a price tag of $114,000), its high maintenance costs and poor reliability make it a poor value proposition. The Wrangler, despite its rugged look and go-anywhere feel, is hurt by low road test scores and troublesome reliability.

However, there are some cars that consistently deliver value for money. In the sports cars and convertibles category, the Mazda Miata stands out as one of the best values. With a price tag of $31,000, it offers excellent fuel economy and pinpoint handling, making it a joy to drive.

In contrast, some cars may seem like they offer good value at first glance but ultimately prove to be overpriced or unreliable. The Mercedes-Benz S550, for example, performed well in our tests, but its high maintenance costs and poor reliability make it a poor value proposition. Similarly, the Jeep Wrangler, despite its popularity, is hurt by low road test scores and troublesome reliability.

In the end, buying a car that makes your dollar go far requires more than just looking at the price tag. It's about considering all the factors that will impact your ownership costs over time. By using our approach to determine value, you can find a car that not only fits your budget but also delivers on its promises and provides years of reliable service.

At Consumer Reports, we're dedicated to helping you make informed decisions when it comes to buying a new car. Our research and testing help us identify the best values in every category, from small SUVs to sports cars and convertibles. Whether you're in the market for a new ride or just want to get tips on how to buy a car with great value, we've got you covered. Visit our website at consumerreports.org for more information and expert advice on buying a car that will make your dollar go far.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enwhen you think about buying a new car it's easy to focus only on the price but your cheapest option could leave you dissatisfied instead you want a car that will make your dollar go as far as a can something that has value at Consumer Reports we look for the best and worst values among 200 recently tested cars we calculate value by crunching three key figures to help you get the biggest bang for your buck when buying a car number one the road test scores based on 50 tests and evaluations at Consumer Reports auto track where cars are pushed to their limits we also look at predicted reliability Based on data on over a million cars collected from subscribers who tell us how their cars Faire over time and three the cost per mile this factors in all the major expenses the car incurred in its first 5 years we put all those factors together to determine the best values the cars that are at the top of our list aren't necessarily the cheapest to buy but they'll give you the greatest bang for your buck the Subaru Forester 2.5i premium scores highest in the small SUVs category giving it a consumer report's best value rating priced at about $27,000 the Forester has excellent reliability and very low ownership cost of just 58 cents per mile over the first 5 years of ownership the average car cost about 76 in the sports cars and convertibles category the Mazda Miata takes the top spot with a price of $31,000 the Miata is a fun to drive Roadster with pinpoint handling and excellent fuel economy at 28 MP gallon among the worst car values is the Mercedes-Benz S550 although it cost $114,000 it's not the price that's giving the sedan a poor value rating it performed well in our test but it's expensive to maintain and reliability is well below average the worst valued car in all categories is the Jeep Wrangler it's hurt by a low road test score and Troublesome reliability despite its shortcomings many owners still love the Wrangler its rugged look and go anywhere feel have kept it popular for decades and the best value this year's winner is the Toyota Camry Hybrid Consumer Report says the $29,000 price tag is low considering the amount of space and allaround functionality it delivers it gets 38 MP gallon overall and ranks high on reliability we found that the updated Camry Hybrid has a comfortable and mostly quiet ride with improved handling to get tips about how to buy a car with great value go to consumerreports.orgwhen you think about buying a new car it's easy to focus only on the price but your cheapest option could leave you dissatisfied instead you want a car that will make your dollar go as far as a can something that has value at Consumer Reports we look for the best and worst values among 200 recently tested cars we calculate value by crunching three key figures to help you get the biggest bang for your buck when buying a car number one the road test scores based on 50 tests and evaluations at Consumer Reports auto track where cars are pushed to their limits we also look at predicted reliability Based on data on over a million cars collected from subscribers who tell us how their cars Faire over time and three the cost per mile this factors in all the major expenses the car incurred in its first 5 years we put all those factors together to determine the best values the cars that are at the top of our list aren't necessarily the cheapest to buy but they'll give you the greatest bang for your buck the Subaru Forester 2.5i premium scores highest in the small SUVs category giving it a consumer report's best value rating priced at about $27,000 the Forester has excellent reliability and very low ownership cost of just 58 cents per mile over the first 5 years of ownership the average car cost about 76 in the sports cars and convertibles category the Mazda Miata takes the top spot with a price of $31,000 the Miata is a fun to drive Roadster with pinpoint handling and excellent fuel economy at 28 MP gallon among the worst car values is the Mercedes-Benz S550 although it cost $114,000 it's not the price that's giving the sedan a poor value rating it performed well in our test but it's expensive to maintain and reliability is well below average the worst valued car in all categories is the Jeep Wrangler it's hurt by a low road test score and Troublesome reliability despite its shortcomings many owners still love the Wrangler its rugged look and go anywhere feel have kept it popular for decades and the best value this year's winner is the Toyota Camry Hybrid Consumer Report says the $29,000 price tag is low considering the amount of space and allaround functionality it delivers it gets 38 MP gallon overall and ranks high on reliability we found that the updated Camry Hybrid has a comfortable and mostly quiet ride with improved handling to get tips about how to buy a car with great value go to consumerreports.org\n"