US News Makes It's Top Cars For The Money Choices For 2009, But Are They Yours?

US News Media Group one of the nation's leading sources of service journalism and news analysis, today released its first annual Best Cars for the Money awards, available online at and featured in the December 29 issue of the magazine, on newsstands December 22, 2008.

The U.S. News Best Cars for the Money awards recognize 14 vehicles that earn the highest marks for overall value and appeal within their respective categories. In determining the award winners, U.S. News has taken its newly released 2009 Car Rankings and combined them with total cost of ownership data provided by IntelliChoice.com.

"The auto industry has clearly been among the hardest hit by the economic downturn, but let's not forget that car buyers are also struggling to make sense of a tumultuous market," said Chad Smolinski, Vice President of Rankings & Reviews for U.S. News. "The Best Cars for the Money list recognizes vehicles that can be the most rewarding for car shoppers - namely those that win the most praise and offer the most compelling overall value."

The U.S. News car rankings provide an unbiased comparison of each vehicle to its competitors, helping shoppers identify the best cars in each category. Rankings are based primarily on the balanced, diverse opinions of hundreds of professional auto critics.

With a 22-year history of providing consumers with reliable information about vehicle costs, IntelliChoice.com measures both the target price that consumers can expect to pay for a vehicle as well as its 5-year total cost of ownership. Combining this data with U.S. News car rankings allows different models to be compared on a very useful metric -- overall appeal for the money.

"Knowing the latest incentives, rebates, fuel costs, and projected resale values is as valuable and necessary as knowing a fair purchase price," said James Bell, Editor of IntelliChoice.com. "Combining this information with editorial rankings provides a strong guidepost for those looking to purchase in today's rapidly changing auto market."

For a complete list of this year's best overall values and the awards methodology, visit

The 14 winners of the US News 2009 Best Cars for the Money awards are listed below:

Subcompact Cars

Honda Fit

Compact Cars

Hyundai Elantra

Midsize Cars

Toyota Camry (includes Camry Hybrid)

Full Size Cars

Toyota Avalon

Upscale Cars

Lexus ES

Luxury Cars

Lexus GS (includes GS Hybrid)

Sports Cars

Mazda Miata

Compact Crossovers/SUVs

Mazda Mazda5

Midsize Crossovers/SUVs

Toyota Highlander (includes Highlander Hybrid)

Luxury Crossovers/SUVs

Lexus RX (includes RX Hybrid)

Full Size SUVs

Chevrolet Tahoe (includes Tahoe Hybrid)

Minivans

Toyota Sienna

Compact Pickups

Toyota Tacoma

Full Size Pickups

Chevrolet Silverado

0to60 - 12/15/2008 3:08:10 PM

+3 Boost

LOL, most of you all will hate this list. The Lexus haters for the most part!

VISO - 12/15/2008 3:22:52 PM

+5 Boost

What's with strange obession Americans have with Lexus? Talk about an over rated brand.

0to60 - 12/15/2008 5:11:07 PM

-5 Boost

And there it begins! So is MB!!!!

Mate - 12/16/2008 10:10:39 AM

0 Boost

i believe it's the nameplate...LEXUS! it sound good

NItePhire - 12/15/2008 3:42:21 PM

+3 Boost

This poll must didnt take in account any kind of driver enjoyment at all. Talk about boring. Have they actually priced any of the Hybrids. Most (not all) on this list are pretty expensive.

TopGear - 12/15/2008 5:32:15 PM

+3 Boost

U.S. News picked the cars all based on resale value and reliability. Does it really imply best cars for money after ignoring performance and design? To me, it seems just another money-making imperfect report by U.S. News just like their college ranking list.

Shredmo - 12/15/2008 3:46:47 PM

+1 Boost

Ha ha ha, what is this list?

222max - 12/15/2008 3:52:55 PM

+1 Boost

Big snore. But I would say this accurately reflects the general view of the average American auto customer. Too bad.

AudiA6Drvr - 12/15/2008 4:21:58 PM

-3 Boost

My list would be a bit different:
(based on my opinion)

Subcompact car: Mini Cooper
Compact Car: VW Jetta
Midsize Car: Chevy Malibu
Full Size car: Nissan Maxima
Upscale Car: Audi A6
Luxury Car: Mercedes Benz S550
Sports Car: Nissan 370z
Compact Crossover/SUV: Jeep Wrangler
Midsize Crossover/SUV: Ford Edge
Luxury Crossover/SUV: BMW X5
Full Size SUV: Same (Chevy Tahoe)
Minivans: Dont care
Compact Pickups: Anything American
Full Size Pickups: Ford F-150

david999 - 12/15/2008 5:40:01 PM

-4 Boost

HA HA for the money the A6 has to be one of the worst new car buys out there.

Designer1 - 12/15/2008 6:36:18 PM

-7 Boost

The GS is just gorgeous.

DogLb - 12/15/2008 6:57:34 PM

+6 Boost

I don't know if "gorgeous" is the right word for the GS. A Ferrari is gorgeous.

A car with a weird drop down control bin is not gorgeous.

BlakuraTLS - 12/15/2008 7:00:12 PM

+5 Boost

When was the last time a GS won a comparison?

DogLb - 12/15/2008 7:03:01 PM

+1 Boost

Anyone notice the current Lexus marketing? It talks about 7 things that go into a car. I'm sure this report will find it's way onto local billboards and TV screens

While I like Lexus (my wife has one), I have to agree it is not the most exciting car to drive. I'd prefer to drive BMW and Infiniti - plus I think these both have great "value" as well.

what the hell do the so-called critics know!

2ndbimmer - 12/16/2008 10:57:08 AM

+1 Boost

I do not agree with this list at all,
HOWEVER, it really does represent what the average american car buyer assumes.
All of us on autospies.com enjoy to drive a car, this list is not for people who enjoy driving, just an around town vehicle that they think they might like.

RaulT - 12/16/2008 3:01:42 PM

+1 Boost

ya I doubt I would ever own any of the cars on this list

mercuryguy - 12/17/2008 2:38:45 PM

+1 Boost

I think Silverado Pickups made the list because of the deep discounts. The F-150 is in extremely high emand despite the global recession/Depression.

helmacc - 12/17/2008 6:05:11 PM

+1 Boost

If resale value and reliability is the main factor based on which this list was conceived, where the hell is the accord and civic? Both of which has better resale value and reliability than any of the toyota's offerings.