BEST VALUES ON THE ROAD
These models have better safety ratings, prices, mileage and reliability— and cost less to insure
By G. Chambers Williams III | SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
Just exactly what are the best new vehicles on the market? USAA, an insurer and financial-services firm based in San Antonio, has weighed in on that question with the recent release of its first list of “Best Value” vehicles, 16 models that it considers to be the top cars, trucks, vans and SUVs for 2011.
“We’re making members’ lives easier by taking the guesswork out of buying a new vehicle,” said Steve Thompson, a USAA assistant vice president. “The ‘Best Value’ vehicles typically have better safety ratings, lower manufacturer’s suggested retail price and insurance costs, higher fuel economy and better overall reliability than other vehicles in the same category.”
In the two best-selling vehicle classes — midsize sedans and full-size pickups — USAA recommends the redesigned Hyundai Sonata and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hybrid, rather than the perennial sales leaders in these segments, the Toyota Camry and Ford F-150.
Among large sedans, the Dodge Charger gets the nod, not the Toyota Avalon or Ford Taurus. And in the small sedan class, the USAA pick is the all-new Chevrolet Cruze. Judging large luxury sedans, USAA came up with a surprising winner: the Hyundai Genesis. It’s surprising because not many consumers equate Hyundai with luxury, but the Genesis is changing that perception among those who have seen and driven this car. It doesn’t have the snooty name of a blueblood European car, but it does offer the same kinds of amenities, quality and performance — all at a lower price.
The Chevrolet Traverse was USAA’s choice for best large SUV, and that’s not a surprise. Since its launch two years ago, the Traverse has been a success for General Motors and a favorite of consumers. It has a couple of siblings that are just as good — the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia. But another surprise on the USAA list was the Toyota FJ Cruiser, the pick for best midsize SUV. The FJ is a nice vehicle, but it’s a niche model aimed at off-road enthusiasts and really doesn’t compete with the mass-market vehicles in the midsize sport-utility class. Those include such family favorites as the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Nissan Murano, Dodge Durango and even the redesigned Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
In the small SUV class, the USAA choice was the Kia Sportage, arguably among the best in this category, if not the very best. Redesigned for 2011, the Sportage has a sibling in the Hyundai family) known as the Tucson. But there are other quite-capable competitors among the small SUVs, including the hot-selling Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, along with the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape (which also comes in a hybrid version), Nissan Rogue, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Jeep Patriot, Jeep Liberty, Dodge Nitro, Subaru Forester and Volkswagen Tiguan.
The sports-car winner was the Ford Mustang, and it’s hard to argue with that. But Chevy fans might take issue with the choice, considering that the new Camaro outsold the Mustang last year for the first time in decades.
Among coupes, USAA gave the award to the Scion tC, which has been redesigned for 2011. A Toyota product, it is fun as well as affordable. But there are some credible competitors in this class, too, including the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, which does cost a bit more but adds a lot of premium features; and the Mitsubishi Eclipse, which also comes in a convertible version.
The wagon winner was the Scion xB, a box on wheels that offers an incredible amount of interior space in a package with a compact exterior — along with great fuel economy and an affordable starting price of $16,000. USAA’s minivan choice was the Kia Sedona, which arrived in its current form — the second generation — for 2006. It has a sibling, the Hyundai Entourage, which is nearly identical and priced almost the same.
There are newer minivan designs on the market, though, including the revised 2011 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan, as well as the completely redesigned 2011 Toyota Sienna, Nissan Quest and Honda Odyssey.
In the small pickup category, USAA gave the nod to the Suzuki Equator, which also is something of a surprise — not because the vehicle is unworthy, but because it’s essentially a clone of the Nissan Frontier and it’s made for Suzuki by Nissan on the same assembly line in Tennessee that cranks out the Frontier. It has the same engine and transmission choices as the Frontier, as well — all made by Nissan.
The best large luxury SUV is the Audi Q7, USAA says. This, too, is a good choice among a stellar class of vehicles. But the seven-passenger Q7 has close cousins in the Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg, both of which are built on the same architecture but are shorter and have room for only five people. Another Audi, the A4, was USAA’s pick as best midsize luxury sedan, another good choice among a crowded field. Other great entries in this segment include the Infiniti G37 (my personal choice), Cadillac CTS, Lincoln MKZ (also available in hybrid form), Mercedes-Benz C-class and BMW 3-series.
And in the midsize luxury SUV class, the choice was the Lexus RX 450h, a hybrid version of the top-selling Lexus model, the RX 350 five-passenger crossover. This is another crowded segment, though. Other good entries include the Cadillac SRX, Lincoln MKX, Infiniti FX, Acura MDX and Audi Q5. As for the USAA choices, the insurer said that the models “rose to the top in each of the 16 categories for offering the best financial value of all vehicles USAA evaluates as part of a broader vehicle rating system called USAA Preferred.”
A. Chevrolet Cruze B. Hyundai Sonata C. Dodge Charger D. Ford Mustang FILE PHOTOS
Audi A4
The BEST:
USAA ‘Best Value’ vehicles for 2011
Large sedan: Dodge Charger
Midsize sedan: Hyundai Sonata
Small sedan: Chevrolet Cruze
Large luxury sedan: Hyundai Genesis
Midsize luxury sedan: Audi A4
Large SUV: Chevrolet Traverse
Midsize SUV: Toyota FJ Cruiser
Small SUV: Kia Sportage
Large luxury SUV: Audi Q7
Midsize luxury SUV: Lexus RX 450h
Large pickup: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hybrid
Small pickup: Suzuki Equator
Sports: Ford Mustang
Coupe: Scion tC
Wagon: Scion xB
Minivan: Kia Sedona Source: USAA
SMOKINCHOICES (and other musings) 