Best Value Rides
The Best Value Rides list focuses on cost, safety and reliability. As the car-buying season swings into full gear, savvy shoppers have a new resource for auto research. USAA unveils its first “Best Value” vehicle list that names the top 2011 automobiles in 16 categories based on data used in our rating system.
The 2011 Best Value list includes:
- 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
“We’re making members’ lives easier by taking the guesswork out of buying a new vehicle,” says Steve Thompson, Asst. VP.
The ‘Best Value’ cars and trucks typically have:
- better safety ratings
- lower insurance costs
- higher fuel economy
- better overall reliability than other vehicles
These vehicles 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. There are more than 80 cars, trucks and minivans that are currently designated as USAA Preferred vehicles of which the “Best Value” vehicle list is a subset.
The USAA Preferred rating system involves three steps:
- Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) Value — As the first step, and a key differentiator to USAA’s proprietary scoring model, USAA weighs key attributes such as engine type and safety features to determine whether the vehicle’s MSRP is a good value.
- Depreciation & Ownership Costs — Next, USAA factors depreciation and added costs for fuel, auto insurance and extended warranty into the methodology. Extended warranty costs are an indicator of vehicle reliability and maintenance costs.
- Safety — Once all of these criteria are quantified and weighted, the top 40% of vehicles are evaluated for safety, the final and most critical indicator of all USAA Preferred vehicles. Only vehicles that receive one of the top two safety ratings as reported by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) are qualified to be a USAA Preferred vehicle. Vehicles on the IIHS Top Safety Picks list are given additional weight in the rating system.
USAA Preferred and “Best Value” vehicles are designated as such on usaa.com and autocircle.com. Soon members will be able to view these designations on the USAA Mobile App on the iPhone® or Android™.
Auto Circle®, which launched in August 2010, provides USAA members with a convenient way to find, finance and insure a vehicle through autocircle.com or the USAA Mobile App.
“Our members turn to us for help and advice because they know they can trust us,” says Thompson. “The ‘Best Value’ list helps members make smart financial decisions by determining which vehicles give them the most bang for their buck.”
For more information about the “Best Value” list, and the specific automobiles featured, visit usaa.com/bestvalue or read the Best Value and Preferred vehicle fact sheet.
About “Best Value” List
USAA Preferred “Best Value” vehicles are those vehicles ranked highest in each vehicle category AND obtain “Good/Acceptable” crash test ratings from IIHS and represent vehicles which are determined to be the best financial value using a USAA-developed proprietary statistical model. The model relates MSRP to vehicle features (engine type, drive train, electronic stability control, antilock brakes, number of airbags, transmission, body additions, curb weight, horsepower-to-curb weight, height and vehicle category), fuel economy, insurance cost, additional warranty cost, depreciation and IIHS Top Safety Pick to determine the value. In providing this analysis, USAA does not consider factors other than those disclosed.
About USAA Preferred
USAA Preferred vehicles represent vehicles which are determined to be a good financial value using a USAA-developed proprietary statistical model. The model relates MSRP to vehicle features (engine type, drive train, electronic stability control, antilock brakes, number of airbags, transmission, body additions, curb weight, horsepower-to-curb weight, height and vehicle category), fuel economy, insurance cost, additional warranty cost, depreciation and IIHS Top Safety Pick to determine the value. USAA Preferred vehicles are those vehicles ranked in the top 40 percent for each vehicle category AND obtain “Good/Acceptable” crash test ratings from IIHS. In providing this analysis, USAA does not consider factors other than those disclosed in determining USAA Preferred vehicles.
About Auto Circle
Auto Circle™ is a program provided by United Services Automobile Association. Participation in the Auto Circle program is free. The products available through the program have associated costs and fees. Availability, eligibility restrictions, and fees may apply to certain banking, insurance or ancillary products. Property and casualty insurance provided by United Services Automobile Association, and its affiliate property and casualty insurance companies is available only to persons eligible for P&C group membership. Loans provided by USAA Federal Savings Bank, Member FDIC. Purchase of a bank product does not establish eligibility for or membership in USAA property and casualty insurance companies. USAA Car Buying Service and Lowest Price Guarantee provided and operated by Zag.com Inc. on behalf of USAA. USAA does not broker, sell, or lease motor vehicles. Certain products and services are provided by third parties. Each company has sole liability for its own products.
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