It’s awards season. We’re not talking about the Oscars, Tonys or Grammys, but about the best vehicles of 2017. One of my favorite vehicle awards is the one for best overall value, because it is based on total ownership costs, including original purchase price, maintenance costs, even fuel costs via the model’s MPG rating, when compared with similar models. Also included is resale value, an important car-buying detail many of us forget to include in the purchase or leasing decision.
The 2017 Best Overall Value of the Year awards is from IntelliChoice, part of the Motor Trend Automotive Group. Toyota leads the way with five awards from the Truck, Van, and Utility classes. Sister brand Lexus, plus Acura, BMW, Honda and Jeep each drove home two awards. Cadillac won best overall value among the premium brands and Porsche won for highest retained value among premium brands.
About half the 2017 winners are repeats from last year, including the Lexus ES 300h Hybrid, Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited, Toyota Tacoma and Toyota Highlander. While the others are first-timers or return to the list after a year or more of absence.
Resale value is important part of you new car price
Resale value continues to be the most important area of ownership cost, and most of the BOVY winners also received Highest or SmartChoice awards in retained value. The Best Overall Value among all popular brand models is the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. The best premium vehicle, Lexus ES300h, associated with its low fuel costs, gets the award for Highest Retained Value in its class.
The IntelliChoice awards are based on data on nearly 2,300 vehicles, gathered from auto manufacturers, the U.S. government and third-party resources like dealers, and analyzed to determine the actual costs of ownership for each new vehicle over a five-year period.
Best-in-class winners:
Compact Passenger Car – Volkswagen GTI 4-Door
Premium Compact Passenger Car – Acura ILX
Passenger Car – Honda Accord 4cyl Sedan
Premium Passenger Car – Lexus ES 300h
Luxury Passenger Car – BMW 530i Sedan
Convertible – MINI Convertible (pictured above)
Premium Convertible – Audi TT Convertible
Sporty/Coupe – Honda Civic Coupe
Premium Sporty/Coupe – BMW 230i Coupe
Performance Car – Ford Mustang GT Coupe
Premium Performance Car – Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Luxury Performance Car – Porsche 911
Compact Utility – Jeep Wrangler
Premium Compact Utility – Lexus NX
Mid-Size Utility – Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Premium Mid-Size Utility – Acura RDX
Full-Size Utility – Toyota Highlander
Premium Full-Size Utility – Toyota Sequoia
Luxury Utility – Cadillac XT5
Minivan – Toyota Sienna
Cargo Van – Ram ProMaster City Cargo Van
Mid-Size Pickup – Toyota Tacoma
Full-Size Pickup Light Duty – Toyota Tundra CrewMax
See next page for highest retained value brands and brands for lowest ownership costs
I drive a Honda Accord myself. Good to see it on the list.