Which brands, vehicles ‘deliver high value’ to consumers

Value.

It’s a small word with a big meaning, especially when it comes to buying a vehicle (the second-largest purchase most people make in their lives).

And some brands deliver more value than others, according to one auto industry awards program.

The big winners? Depends on how you look at it. Toyota won more segment awards – nine of 32 – based on calculations of total ownership costs by Vincentric, an automotive data collection and analysis firm. General Motors and Ford each won four segments, Audi captured three segments, while Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai, Subaru and Volvo won two segments a piece.

But Honda, Lexus (Toyota’s luxury brand), Subaru, Volvo and Ford claimed overall top brand awards in five categories comprising four to nine segments each.

Toyota Tacoma is a value standout, according to Vincentric.
Toyota Tacoma is a value standout, according to Vincentric.

One of the standout stars? Toyota Tacoma pickup, which won best-value honors for a 12th straight year.

“The 2016 Vincentric Best Value in America awards show that when manufacturers measure and manage a vehicle’s total cost of ownership, they are able to consistently deliver high value to consumers,” said David Wurster, president of the Michigan firm.

“Our analysis has identified award-winning vehicles that have been purposefully developed with the intention of minimizing ownership costs, benefitting their customers.”

Following are the award winners by category, segment, brand and model:

BRAND AWARDS

Honda, passenger cars; Lexus, luxury cars; Subaru, SUVs, crossovers and vans; Volvo, luxury SUVs and crossovers, and Ford, trucks, with a strong showing by its F-Series pickup line.

PASSENGER CARS

Smart Fortwo, subcompact; Honda Fit, subcompact hatchback; Honda Civic, compact; Hyundai Elantra, compact hatchback; Toyota Camry, mid-size; Ford Taurus, large sedan; Hyundai Veloster, sports car; Toyota Camry Hybrid, hybrid, and Chevrolet Volt, electric/plug-in hybrid.

LUXURY CARS

Audi S3, compact; Lexus RC 200t, coupe, Lexus ES 350, mid-size sedan; Lexus GS F, premium mid-size sedan; Audi A7, premium large sedan; Jaguar F-Type, sports car; Lexus ES 300h, hybrid; Audi S5, convertible, and Cadillac ELR, electric/plug-in hybrid.

SUVs, CROSSOVERS AND VANS

Buick Encore, subcompact SUV/crossover; Subaru Crosstrek, compact SUV/crossover; Subaru Outback, intermediate SUV/crossover; Toyota Land Cruiser, large SUV; Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid, hybrid SUV/crossover, and Honda Odyssey, minivan.

LUXURY SUVs AND CROSSOVERS

Lexus NX 300h, hybrid SUV/crossover; Volvo XC60, compact SUV; Volvo XC70, intermediate SUV/crossover, and Lincoln Navigator, large SUV.

PICKUP TRUCKS

Toyota Tacoma, small pickup; Ford F-150, full-size half-ton; Chevrolet Silverado 2500, full-size three-quarter-ton heavy duty, and Ford F-350, full-size one-ton heavy duty.

Vincentric measures cost of ownership using eight different factors: depreciation, fees and taxes, financing, fuel, insurance, maintenance, opportunity cost and repairs. The company identified winners by measuring which vehicles had lower-than-expected ownership costs for their segment and price.

More than 3,000 vehicle configurations were evaluated in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C.

More Like This

16 no-brainer vehicles Edmunds would recommend to shoppers
January 25, 2017

16 no-brainer vehicles Edmunds would recommend to shoppers

Most wanted. Despite negative connotation that phrase can carry, it represents high praise for the 16 car models just named by Edmunds, a well-known, online automotive information and shopping platform. The Most Wanted list of 16 models is dominated by…

Car floor mats for Mother’s Day gift may not be a good idea
April 29, 2014

Car floor mats for Mother’s Day gift may not be a good idea

There are two schools of thought on automotive-related gifts for Mother’s Day. No. 1, don’t do it. Or, No. 2 if you’re going to do it, make it something other than floor mats, an oil change, new windshield wiper blades…