Each year, eager consumers snap up 17 million new cars, trucks, SUVs, and minivans, most costing in excess of $20,000. Some people buy on impulse, spurred by incentives or high style. Others are more methodical in approach, carefully weighing the pros and cons of each vehicle before stepping foot into a dealer's showroom.
Regardless of shopping method, consumers spending thousands of dollars need to make wise choices when selecting their next vehicle. With more than 220 new cars, trucks, minivans, and SUVs on the market, many consumers don't know where to begin when shopping for a new car.
That's where we come in. Consumer Guide® Automotive's editors, a trusted resource for car shoppers since 1967, offer our Best Buy and Recommended picks in 17 distinct vehicle classes to simplify the selection process for today's buyers. Our Best Buy and Recommended picks focus on overall vehicle value and take into account performance, economy, reliability, ease of use, comfort, and price.
Consumer Guide® Picks Only the Best of the Best|
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At Consumer Guide® Automotive, our expert editors evaluate every vehicle so consumers can be confident in their purchase. In an effort to stay current with the latest automotive trends and help consumers select the right vehicle, the editors at Consumer Guide® Automotive test drive more than 200 new vehicles each year. We select the top overall vehicles in each class as Best Buys. This is our highest ranking.
Models labeled Recommended also merit serious consideration as great values, but may fall short of the class leaders in value or may appeal to a slightly narrower audience. Neither the Best Buy nor the Recommended badge is based solely on objective ratings. Rather, they reflect overall value for the money compared to their direct competition.
How we Evaluate Vehicles at Consumer Guide®
Consumer Guide® Automotive has a staff of 10 full-time automotive editors. Combined, these editors have nearly 150 years experience in testing automobiles. This team evaluates each new vehicle as the typical owner would--shopping, commuting, on long trips, and in stop-and-go driving. Though we do measure 0-60 mph times, braking distances, and interior noise levels on many vehicles, we downplay a vehicle's race-track performance in favor of evaluating its ability to meet everyday needs--merging onto expressways or riding comfortably over potholes, for example. Similarly, we rate how easy vehicles are to get into and out of, how difficult it is to adjust the controls while driving, or how many grocery bags or suitcases it holds.
Each car is tested by at least four test drivers. Each driver fills out an evaluation form, commenting on specific areas of performance or comfort, noting the type of driving they did and the fuel mileage they got. The editor writing the final evaluation uses these reports, as well as his own experience, to create a comprehensive review.
Consumer Guide's® 2007 Best Buy and Recommended Picks
| Passenger Cars |
 Subcompact Car Best Buy Hyundai Accent Kia Rio Recommended Honda Fit Toyota Yaris |
Premium Compact Car Best Buy Audi A4 BMW 3-Series Recommended Acura TSX Audi A3 |
Compact Car Best Buy Honda Civic Mazda 3 Recommended Chevrolet Cobalt Ford Focus Mazda 5 |
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Midsize Car Best Buy Honda Accord Toyota Camry Recommended Ford Fusion Hyundai Sonata Mercury Milan Saturn Aura |
Premium Midsize Car Best Buy Acura TL Infiniti M Lexus ES 350 Recommended Cadillac CTS Infiniti G35 Mercedes-Benz E-Class |
Large Car Best Buy Chrysler 300 Dodge Charger and Magnum Toyota Avalon Recommended Ford Five Hundred Mercury Montego |
Premium Large Car Best Buy Mercedes-Benz S-Class Recommended Audi A8 Cadillac DTS |
Sporty/PerformanceCar Best Buy Mazda MX-5 Miata Scion tC Recommended Ford Mustang Mini Cooper Nissan 350Z |
Premium Sporty/ Performance Car Best Buy BMW Z4 Chevrolet Corvette Recommended Jaguar XK Series Porsche Boxster and Cayman |
| Minivan and Sport Utility Vehicles |
Minivan Best Buy Honda Odyssey Recommended Chrysler Town & Country Dodge Caravan Hyundai Entourage Kia Sedona Toyota Sienna |
Compact SUV Best Buy Honda CR-V Suzuki Grand Vitara Recommended Hyundai Tucson Kia Sportage Toyota RAV4 |
Midsize SUV Best Buy Honda Pilot Recommended Ford Explorer Ford Freestyle Mazda CX-7 Nissan Murano Toyota Highlander |
Premium Midsize SUV Best Buy Acura MDX Cadillac SRX Lexus RX Recommended Mercedes-Benz R-Class Volvo XC90 |
Large SUV Best Buy Chevrolet Tahoe Chevrolet Suburban GMC Yukon and Denali Recommended Ford Expedition |
Premium Large SUV Best Buy Cadillac Escalade Recommended Audi Q7 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class |
| Pick up Trucks |
Compact Pickup Truck Best Buy Toyota Tacoma Recommended Dodge Dakota Honda Ridgeline |
Large Pickup Truck Recommended Chevrolet Avalanche Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Classic Ford F-150 GMC Sierra 1500 Classic |