xcel
06-06-2006, 10:28 PM
For long-term savings, look beyond the advertised deal du jour. (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/news/smart-buys-in-fuel-efficient-cars/overview/0605_smartbuys_ov.htm)
Consumer Reports - June 2006
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Camry.jpg
With spring new-car sales promotions under way, it may be tempting to purchase a vehicle with a huge rebate. But in this time of higher gas prices, many of the most attractive sales incentives are attached to larger, gas-guzzling, V8-powered models that are now in less demand. Succumbing to one of these enticements can cost you extra both at the pump and in depreciation down the road.
Over Memorial Day weekend, for instance, you could get a $5,000 rebate on a 2006 Dodge Durango or Chevrolet Suburban, or a $3,500 cash incentive on a Ford Expedition, according to Consumer Reports Auto Price Services. But in Consumer Reports' real-world fuel-economy tests, a V8-powered Durango and Expedition got only 12 mpg overall, while the Suburban got only 13. You can get an even larger rebate--a staggering $7,000--off a Lincoln Town Car or $5,000 off a Mercury Grand Marquis. But these cars provide fuel economy that's only a little better than the SUVs: 17 and 16 mpg, respectively.
Not only will these models cost you dearly to fill up at today's prices, but it is likely that such heavily discounted models will face accelerated depreciation. With the hefty rebate, for instance, a Grand Marquis is worth at least $5,000 less than its sticker price the minute it is sold. Factor in a discount because of price negotiations, and a vehicle that carries a $30,000 window sticker will only have a value in the low $20,000 range as soon as it leaves the dealer's lot.
SMART CHOICES FOR FUEL ECONOMY
While they may not be available with hefty rebates, there are many models that return better fuel economy than these examples and could still satisfy your transportation needs. The redesigned Toyota RAV4, for example, is available with three seating rows like the above SUVs. It's not as roomy inside, but the V6 version gets 22 mpg overall while delivering quicker acceleration. A typical driver could save as much as $1,670 in fuel costs in just one year at today's prices (based on 15,000 annual miles), compared with a SUV that gets 12 mpg. The midsized Toyota Highlander also has three rows of seats and gets 19 mpg overall, which would could save about $1,360 annually. (To get the Consumer Reports Bottom Line Price on the Toyota RAV4 or Highlander, along with other expert information, order a New Car Price Report.)
An analysis by the Consumer Reports Auto Price Service revealed that some relatively fuel-efficient vehicles are available with $500 rebates, making them especially attractive buys. These include the Mitsubishi Outlander (20 mpg), Pontiac Vibe (24 mpg), and Toyota Matrix (24 mpg). The Outlander, Vibe, and Matrix are all Consumer Reports recommended vehicles.
The accompanying list shows the recommended vehicles in six categories that have delivered the best fuel economy in our tests. It also includes their Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price, dealer-invoice price, and CR Bottom Line Price, which provides a good starting place for your price negotiations. A CR Auto Price Report provides detailed pricing information and a Bottom Line Price for the exact trim level and configuration you want.
Generally, these models also have relatively low depreciation, so they can save you money at the pump and get you more money back when you sell it or trade it in.
Overall, we recommend that you first decide the type of vehicle that satisfies your needs, then look for the most fuel-efficient vehicles in that class. To help, Consumer Reports New Car Buying Kit includes a vehicle selector that lets you sort vehicles depending on your personal priorities, easily compare different models, read Consumer Report's exclusive in-depth Expert Reports on all tested vehicles, and get unlimited free price reports.
INCENTIVE EXPIRATION
Incentive expiration: Customer cash incentives for Chrysler Group, Ford Motor Co., and General Motors vehicles (excluding hybrids) expire 7/5/06. Customer cash incentives for Mitsubishi vehicles expire June 30, and Toyota programs (excluding hybrids) expire June 31.
RECOMMENDED FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES
|MPG|MSRP|INVOICE|CR BOTTOM LINE
SAMLL CARS||||
Toyota Prius|44|$22,305|$20,586|$20,151
Honda Civic Hybrid|37|$22,700|$20,517|$19,852
Scion xB (MT)|32|$14,570|$13,868|$13,868
Honda Civic EX (MT)|31|$19,010|$17,242|$16,688
FAMILY SEDANS||||
Toyota Prius|44|$22,305|$20,586|$20,151
Honda Accord Hybrid|25|$31,540|$28,434|$27,504
Honda Accord EX (4-cyl.)|24|$23,800|$21,578|$20,880
Toyota Camry LE (4-cyl.)|24|$21,080|$19,928|$18,518
SPORTY CARS||||
Mini Cooper (MT)|30|$18,000|$16,337|$16,337
Acura RSX (MT)|28|$20,940|$19,164|$18,554
Honda Civic Si|27|$20,840|$18,820|$18,211
Scion tC (MT)|26|$16,840|$16,025|$16,025
WAGONS & HATCHBACKS||||
Scion xB|30|$15,370|$14,628|$14,628
Pontiac Vibe GT|27|$20,665|$19,559|$18,456
Toyota Matrix|27|$19,715|$17,896|$17,013
Ford Focus ZX5 SE|24|$16,265|$15,186|$12,214
SMALL SUV’s||||
Toyota RAV4 (4-cyl.)|23|$22,305|$20,352|$19,918
Toyota RAV4 (V6)|22|$24,340|$22,202|$21,727
Subaru Forester 2.5X|22|$22,420|$21,077|$18,423
Honda CR-V EX|21|$24,300|$22,495|$21,782
MIDSIZED SUV’s||||
Lexus RX 400h|23|$46,755|$41,687|$40,766
Toyota Highlander Limited Hybrid|22|$39,895|$35,803|$35,017
Toyota Highlander Limited V6|19|$32,465|$28,959|$27,702
Nissan Murano SL|19|$31,355|$28,883|$28,292
This list covers current CR-recommended models with the best fuel economy in their class. (MT) signifies manual transmission. MPG is the overall average from CR road tests. Prices are from May 16, 2006, and include shipping but not extra-cost options. The CR Bottom Line price is the dealer's invoice price minus any manufacturer-to-dealer discounts, provided as a good place to start negotiating. All SUVs list the mpg and price for AWD versions. Road tests are available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only.
Consumer Reports - June 2006
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Camry.jpg
With spring new-car sales promotions under way, it may be tempting to purchase a vehicle with a huge rebate. But in this time of higher gas prices, many of the most attractive sales incentives are attached to larger, gas-guzzling, V8-powered models that are now in less demand. Succumbing to one of these enticements can cost you extra both at the pump and in depreciation down the road.
Over Memorial Day weekend, for instance, you could get a $5,000 rebate on a 2006 Dodge Durango or Chevrolet Suburban, or a $3,500 cash incentive on a Ford Expedition, according to Consumer Reports Auto Price Services. But in Consumer Reports' real-world fuel-economy tests, a V8-powered Durango and Expedition got only 12 mpg overall, while the Suburban got only 13. You can get an even larger rebate--a staggering $7,000--off a Lincoln Town Car or $5,000 off a Mercury Grand Marquis. But these cars provide fuel economy that's only a little better than the SUVs: 17 and 16 mpg, respectively.
Not only will these models cost you dearly to fill up at today's prices, but it is likely that such heavily discounted models will face accelerated depreciation. With the hefty rebate, for instance, a Grand Marquis is worth at least $5,000 less than its sticker price the minute it is sold. Factor in a discount because of price negotiations, and a vehicle that carries a $30,000 window sticker will only have a value in the low $20,000 range as soon as it leaves the dealer's lot.
SMART CHOICES FOR FUEL ECONOMY
While they may not be available with hefty rebates, there are many models that return better fuel economy than these examples and could still satisfy your transportation needs. The redesigned Toyota RAV4, for example, is available with three seating rows like the above SUVs. It's not as roomy inside, but the V6 version gets 22 mpg overall while delivering quicker acceleration. A typical driver could save as much as $1,670 in fuel costs in just one year at today's prices (based on 15,000 annual miles), compared with a SUV that gets 12 mpg. The midsized Toyota Highlander also has three rows of seats and gets 19 mpg overall, which would could save about $1,360 annually. (To get the Consumer Reports Bottom Line Price on the Toyota RAV4 or Highlander, along with other expert information, order a New Car Price Report.)
An analysis by the Consumer Reports Auto Price Service revealed that some relatively fuel-efficient vehicles are available with $500 rebates, making them especially attractive buys. These include the Mitsubishi Outlander (20 mpg), Pontiac Vibe (24 mpg), and Toyota Matrix (24 mpg). The Outlander, Vibe, and Matrix are all Consumer Reports recommended vehicles.
The accompanying list shows the recommended vehicles in six categories that have delivered the best fuel economy in our tests. It also includes their Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price, dealer-invoice price, and CR Bottom Line Price, which provides a good starting place for your price negotiations. A CR Auto Price Report provides detailed pricing information and a Bottom Line Price for the exact trim level and configuration you want.
Generally, these models also have relatively low depreciation, so they can save you money at the pump and get you more money back when you sell it or trade it in.
Overall, we recommend that you first decide the type of vehicle that satisfies your needs, then look for the most fuel-efficient vehicles in that class. To help, Consumer Reports New Car Buying Kit includes a vehicle selector that lets you sort vehicles depending on your personal priorities, easily compare different models, read Consumer Report's exclusive in-depth Expert Reports on all tested vehicles, and get unlimited free price reports.
INCENTIVE EXPIRATION
Incentive expiration: Customer cash incentives for Chrysler Group, Ford Motor Co., and General Motors vehicles (excluding hybrids) expire 7/5/06. Customer cash incentives for Mitsubishi vehicles expire June 30, and Toyota programs (excluding hybrids) expire June 31.
RECOMMENDED FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES
|MPG|MSRP|INVOICE|CR BOTTOM LINE
SAMLL CARS||||
Toyota Prius|44|$22,305|$20,586|$20,151
Honda Civic Hybrid|37|$22,700|$20,517|$19,852
Scion xB (MT)|32|$14,570|$13,868|$13,868
Honda Civic EX (MT)|31|$19,010|$17,242|$16,688
FAMILY SEDANS||||
Toyota Prius|44|$22,305|$20,586|$20,151
Honda Accord Hybrid|25|$31,540|$28,434|$27,504
Honda Accord EX (4-cyl.)|24|$23,800|$21,578|$20,880
Toyota Camry LE (4-cyl.)|24|$21,080|$19,928|$18,518
SPORTY CARS||||
Mini Cooper (MT)|30|$18,000|$16,337|$16,337
Acura RSX (MT)|28|$20,940|$19,164|$18,554
Honda Civic Si|27|$20,840|$18,820|$18,211
Scion tC (MT)|26|$16,840|$16,025|$16,025
WAGONS & HATCHBACKS||||
Scion xB|30|$15,370|$14,628|$14,628
Pontiac Vibe GT|27|$20,665|$19,559|$18,456
Toyota Matrix|27|$19,715|$17,896|$17,013
Ford Focus ZX5 SE|24|$16,265|$15,186|$12,214
SMALL SUV’s||||
Toyota RAV4 (4-cyl.)|23|$22,305|$20,352|$19,918
Toyota RAV4 (V6)|22|$24,340|$22,202|$21,727
Subaru Forester 2.5X|22|$22,420|$21,077|$18,423
Honda CR-V EX|21|$24,300|$22,495|$21,782
MIDSIZED SUV’s||||
Lexus RX 400h|23|$46,755|$41,687|$40,766
Toyota Highlander Limited Hybrid|22|$39,895|$35,803|$35,017
Toyota Highlander Limited V6|19|$32,465|$28,959|$27,702
Nissan Murano SL|19|$31,355|$28,883|$28,292
This list covers current CR-recommended models with the best fuel economy in their class. (MT) signifies manual transmission. MPG is the overall average from CR road tests. Prices are from May 16, 2006, and include shipping but not extra-cost options. The CR Bottom Line price is the dealer's invoice price minus any manufacturer-to-dealer discounts, provided as a good place to start negotiating. All SUVs list the mpg and price for AWD versions. Road tests are available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only.