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2014 Models With Biggest Price Drops

2015-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

2014 Models With Biggest Price Drops

January 15, 2015

Every year, car manufacturers unveil a number of vehicles that are new for that particular year, and 2014 was no exception. Now that it's a year later, car buyers may be interested in knowing just how much value those "new to 2014" vehicles held.

Forbes recently released a list of the top "new to 2014" vehicles that held their value the best -- as well as those that had the worst value retention. You may want to consider buying the vehicles on the worst value retention list if you're looking to get a good deal on a slightly used vehicle.

The top value holder amongst 2014 models was the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, retaining 84.7% of value from its MSRP. While in comparison, the Mitsubishi Mirage had the worst value retention, holding on to only 54.5% of its value from MSRP. Below is a look at the top five value winners and losers.

If you're considering buying a new car, I highly recommend you use TrueCar No Haggle and Edmunds Price Promise to see the best deals being offered in your local area.

Value Retention Winners

Rank	Vehicle	% Value Retained from MSRP
1	Chevrolet Corvette Stingray	84.7%
2	Subaru Forester	81.8%
3	Toyota Highlander	78.8%
4	Toyota 4Runner	77.1%
5	Nissan Rouge	73.1%

Value Retention Losers

Rank	Vehicle	% Value Retained from MSRP
1	Mitsubishi Mirage	54.5%
2	Fiat 500L	55.3%
3	Kia Cadenza	56.5%
4	Chevrolet Impala	59.9%
5	Kia Forte	61.8%

Best Financing Deals for May

2014-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

Best Financing Deals for May

May 15, 2014

The temperature is heating up outside, and the finance deals are heating up inside -- in dealerships, that is!
US News & World Report Best Cars blog has the details on some great finance deals going on right now, with most continuing into early June and even beyond. Finance deals from manufacturers include 0% financing plus cash back on some models. Vehicles with the best deals right now include the 2014 Volkswagen Passat, 2014 Chevrolet Malibu, 2014 Dodge Durango, and 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

As always, I recommend you use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the best possible prices for any of these vehicles, thus reducing your finance costs further.

Manufacturer Deals

Carmaker	Cash Back	Financing	Expires
Buick	On many models	0% to 3.9% on many models	06/02/14
Cadillac	On many models	0% to 3.9% on many models	06/02/14
Chevrolet	On many models	0% to 3.9% on many models	06/02/14
Ford	On many models	0% on many models in most regions	07/07/14
GMC	On many models	0% to 3.9% on many models	06/02/14
Hyundai	Bonus cash on many models	0% to 2.9% on most models	06/02/14
Kia	On many models	0% to 1.9% on most models	06/02/14
Mazda		0% to 1.9% on most models	06/02/14
Nissan	On some models	0%, 0.9% or 1.9% on many models	06/02/14
Subaru		0% to 2.9% on most models	06/02/14
Toyota	On some models	0% on some models	06/02/14
Volkswagen		0% to 0.9% on most models	06/30/14

Vehicle Deals

Vehicle	Avg. Paid	MSRP	Invoice	Financing	Term	Cash Back	Expires
2014 Kia Soul	$15,545 - $21,190	$14,900 - $20,500	$14,595 - $19,521	0.9%; 2.9%	60; 72		06/02/14
2014 Hyundai Elantra	$17,592 - $22,030	$17,200 - $21,650	$16,687 - $20,719	0%; 0.9%	60; 72	$1,000	06/02/14
2014 Mazda CX-5	$21,770 - $29,296	$21,395 - $29,070	$20,784 - $28,233	0.9%	60		06/02/14
2014 Chevrolet Malibu	$22,691 - $29,448	$22,340 - $29,950	$21,558 - $28,303	2.9%	60	$2,500	06/02/14
2014 Subaru Outback	$22,836 - $30,674	$23,495 - $32,095	$22,123 - $30,034	0%			06/02/14
2014 Nissan Murano	$28,496 - $40,535	$28,440 - $41,995	$26,501 - $39,108	0%	60	$2,000	06/02/14
2014 Acura TSX	$29,156 - $32,024	$30,635 - $39,275	$28,835 - $36,831	0.9%	60		07/07/14
2014 Dodge Durango	$30,510 - $42,695	$29,995 - $43,395	$29,511 - $41,304	0%	36	$500; $1,500	06/02/14
2014 GMC Acadia	$34,098 - $47,771	$34,485 - $48,825	$32,761 - $46,384	0%	60	$1,500	06/02/14
2014 BMW X3	$37,604 - $42,312	$39,800 - $44,900	$36,615 - $41,310	3.19%	72		06/02/14
2014 Buick Enclave	$38,597 - $47,514	$38,890 - $48,465	$36,946-$46,042	0%	60	$1,500	06/02/14
2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class	$48,293 - $100,335	N/A	N/A	2.99%	72		06/02/14
2014 Cadillac ELR	$73,932 - $73,932	$75,000 - $75,000	$71,625 - $71,625	0.9%	36		06/02/14
2014 Volkswagen Passat	N/A	$20,845-$34,265	$19,990-$32,860	0%	60	$750	06/02/14

Best & Worst Small SUVs

2014-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

Best & Worst Small SUVs

May 15, 2014

As the saying goes, sometimes the best things come in small packages. And with increased roominess, lower price and improved fuel economy, small SUVs certainly help make that adage true.

Consumer Reports recently came up with their list of the best and worst small SUVs available today. When it comes to best overall, the Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 all share top honors thanks to excellent handling, impressive fuel economies, and affordable prices.

On the other side of the coin are the ones Consumer Reports advises steering clear of. Those include three Jeep models -- Compass, Patriot, and Cherokee -- and the Mitsubishi Outlander.

If you're considering purchasing a small SUV, make sure to use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the lowest price possible.

Best Small SUVs

Vehicle	Categories	Price As Tested	Overall MPG
Honda CR-V	Best Overall; Most Kid-Friendly	$26,455	23
Subaru Forester	Best Overall; Most Fuel Efficient	$26,814	26
Mazda CX-5	Best Overall; Most Fuel Efficient	$28,090	25
Kia Sportage	Most Kid-Friendly	$21,600-$28,400	N/A
Subaru XV Crosstrek	Most Fuel-Efficient	$21,995-$29,295	26
Ford Escape	Most Kid-Friendly	$23,100-$30,850	N/A

Worst Small SUVs

Vehicle
Jeep Compass
Jeep Patriot
Mitsubishi Outlander
Jeep Cherokee (2.4L Engine)

This is What it Costs to Own a Car

2014-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

This is What it Costs to Own a Car

May 15, 2014

Here's some good news for car owners -- the overall price of vehicle ownership has actually gotten a little cheaper, according to a recent study conducted by AAA.

Each year, AAA takes a look at total cost of ownership through its "Your Driving Costs" study, which looks at a number of factors including the cost of fuel, maintenance, repair, tires, insurance, taxes and fees, and other finance costs.

The 2014 study found that the cost to own and drive a sedan in the United States dropped 2.7% compared to last year. This amounts to a cost of about 59.2 cents per mile, or $8,876 per year, based on 15,000 miles of yearly driving. AAA experts say the decrease is due to lower fuel, tire, insurance, and depreciation expenses.

The study also found that fuel costs have lowered by more than 10% from 2013, maintenance costs are up about 1.81%, and depreciation costs have fallen 1.71%.

	Small Sedan	Medium Sedan	Large Sedan	Sedan Average	SUV 4WD	Minivan
Cost Per Mile (Cents)	46.4	58.9	72.2	59.2	73.6	65
Cost Per Year	$6,957	$8,839	$10,831	$8,876	$11,039	$9,753

**Based on Driving 15,000 miles annually

The Big Mistake Most Car Shoppers Make

2014-05-08T00:00:00+00:00

The Big Mistake Most Car Shoppers Make

May 8, 2014

One of the best tips I can give car shoppers is to test drive at least 5 different vehicles before deciding which one is right for you. You will be amazed how much impact this will have on your car purchase. Another amazing thing is how few shoppers actually test drive more than 1 vehicle.

A new study conducted by DMEautomotive has found that about 16% -- roughly one in six car buyers -- do not take even one test drive before purchasing a car. And 33% of car buyers only test drive one car before making their purchase decision.

The study surveyed about 2,000 car buyers, and researchers believe the data is reflective of car buyers attempting to avoid dealerships when making a purchase. The survey also took a look at how many dealerships car buyers visited before purchasing. about 68% said they visited only two dealerships or less before buying, and 40% went to only one dealership.

For those anxious about visiting dealers, I recommend you use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise from the comfort of your home to get the best deal possible on any vehicle, whether you test drove them or not.

Best SUV & Minivan Deals for May

2014-05-08T00:00:00+00:00

Best SUV & Minivan Deals for May

May 8, 2014

Mother's Day is right around the corner, and if Mom has been asking for a new set of wheels to get the family around, now may be a great time to do just that!

TrueCar has the skinny on a number of deals going on right now on both SUVs and minivans, which have all the space you need to fit the family and gear. Some of the vehicles included in this savings round-up include the 2014 Chrysler Town & Country, 2014 Ford Explorer, 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, and 2014 Volvo XC90.

Make sure to check with your local dealership on the full details on these deals, as well as expiration dates. And don't forget to use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the best deal possible on any of these vehicles.

Vehicle	MSRP	Potential Savings	Market Avg. Price	MPG City/Hwy/Combined
2014 Dodge Journey	$24,290	16.4%	$20,312	19/26/22.3
2014 Ford Explorer	$30,910	10.3%	$27,740	17/25; 17/23
2014 Toyota Sienna	$31,350	7.6%	$28,996	18/25/21.3
2014 Hyundai Santa Fe	$34,675	7.2%	$32,197	18/25/21.3
2014 Nissan Pathfinder	$37,310	9.3%	$34,218	19/25/21.9
2014 Volvo XC90	$40,625	9.3%	$36,865	16/25/20
2014 Chrysler Town & Country	$42,990	12.9%	$37,459	17/25/20.6
2014 Chevrolet Tahoe	$44,595	9.3%	$40,430	15/21/17.8
2014 GMC Yukon Denali XL	$65,065	9.4%	$58,957	13/18/15.3
2014 Cadillac Escalade	$64,740	7.4%	$59,953	14/18/15.9

Best Cars for Short and Tall Drivers

2014-05-01T00:00:00+00:00

Best Cars for Short and Tall Drivers

May 1, 2014

For those of you considered very short or very tall, not every vehicle is going to work for you. And although seats can be moved up and down, front and back, they are only able to move so far and it's important from both a comfort and safety standpoint to make sure you can operate the vehicle properly.

Consumer Reports realizes this can prove challenging for some, and have done the homework for you. They tested a number of vehicles with drivers of two different heights -- 5 feet 1 inch and 6 feet 4 inches -- to see which vehicles worked best for them.

For short drivers, the top 10 include the BMW 7 Series, Honda Accord, Hyundai Equus, and Subaru Forester, while for tall drivers the best options include the Acura A8, Ford Flex, Lexus GS, and Nissan Murano.

Regardless of your height, make sure to use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the best deal possible on any of these vehicles.

For Tall Drivers

Best Vehicle	Worst Vehicle
Audi A8	BMW Z4
Ford Flex	Fiat 500 Abarth
Honda Odyssey	Ford Fiesta ST
Hyundai Equus	Ford Focus ST
Lexus GS	Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Lexus LS	Mitsubishi i-MiEV
Mercedes-Benz E-Class	Nissan Z
Nissan Murano	Porsche Boxster
Subaru Forester	Toyota Tacoma
Volvo XC70	Toyota Yaris

For Short Drivers

Best Vehicle	Worst Vehicle
Acura MDX	Chevrolet Camaro
BMW 7 Series	Ford Fiesta ST
Ford Flex	Jeep Wrangler
Honda Accord	Mazda MX-5 Miata
Honda Odyssey	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Hyundai Equus	Nissan Titan
Lexus ES	Nissan Z
Lexus LS	Porsche Boxster
Lexus RX	Porsche Panamera
Subaru Forester	Toyota FJ Cruiser

Cars With the Most Loyal Owners

2014-05-01T00:00:00+00:00

Cars With the Most Loyal Owners

May 1, 2014

Whether you realize it or not, there are brands that you're very loyal to and will always pick when given the chance. Whether it's Coke or Pepsi, Burger King or McDonald's, or Charmin or Cottonelle, there's a specific product that you look for every time you shop and nine times out of 10, that's the one you will buy.

There is also brand loyalty when it comes to vehicles, and vehicles have a much greater following than others. According to Forbes the car with the most loyal following is the Kia Forte. This information is based on market research conducted by Experian Automotive, which claims the car saw 68% repeat buyers in the second quarter of 2011. That was followed by the Chevrolet Cruze with 64% repeat buyers, and Ford Fiesta had 63% repeat buyers.

If you're considering any of these brand loyal vehicles, I recommend using TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the best deal possible on any of these vehicles.

Vehicle	% Repeat Buyers
Kia Forte	68%
Chevrolet Cruze	64%
Ford Fiesta	63%
Ford Fusion	61%
Kia Soul	51%
Ford Flex	58%
Ford Edge	58%
Kia Forte Koup	57%
Ford Taurus	56%
Ford Focus	54%

37 SUVS With the Best Gas Mileage

2014-05-01T00:00:00+00:00

37 SUVS With the Best Gas Mileage

May 1, 2014

When you think of "fuel efficiency", the first vehicle to come to mind is not generally an SUV. However, not all SUVs get bad gas mileage.

Consumer Reports put together a rather comprehensive list of the top SUVs you can purchase today that also give you a lot of bang for your fuel buck. They list the 37 most fuel-efficient SUVs available today, showing that you can have the transportation space you need without compromising on fuel performance.

At the top of the list is the Lexus RX 450h, which gets a 22 city MPG, 31 highway MPG, and overall MPG of 26. Coming in second is the Subaru XV Crosstrek Premium, with 19 city, 34 highway, and also 26 overall, with third going to the Mini Countryman S with 19 city, 33 highway, and 26 overall.

If you're considering any of these fuel efficient SUVs, make sure to visit TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the best deal possible on any of these vehicles.

Rank	Vehicle	CR Overall MPG	City MPG	Highway MPG
1	Lexus RX 450h	26	22	31
2	Subaru XV Crosstrek Premium	26	19	34
3	Mini Countryman S	26	19	33
4	Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium	26	18	35
5	Mazda CX-5 Touring 2.0L	25	19	32
6	Mazda CX-5 Touring 2.5L	25	19	32
7	Nissan Juke SV	24	18	31
8	Toyota RAV4 XLE	24	18	31
9	Volkswagen Touareg TDI	24	17	31
10	Nissan Rogue	24	17	30
11	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE	23	18	28
12	Hyundai Santa Fe Sport	23	17	30
13	Mitsubishi Outlander SE	23	17	30
14	BMW X1 xiDrive28i	23	16	32
15	Buick Encore Leather	23	16	32
16	Honda CR-V EX	23	16	32
17	BMW X3 xDrive28i	23	16	30
18	Nissan Rogue Select	22	17	27
19	Kia Sportage LX (4-cyl.)	22	16	30
20	Hyundai Tucson GLS	22	16	28
21	Ford Escape SE	22	15	31
22	Jeep Cherokee Latitude (4-cyl.)	22	15	31
23	Ford Escape Titanium	22	15	29
24	Jeep Compass Latitude	22	15	29
25	Acura RDX	22	14	31
26	Volkswagen Tiguan SEL	21	16	27
27	Kia Sportage SX (turbo)	21	15	29
28	Jeep Patriot Latitude	21	15	28
29	Lexus RX350	21	15	27
30	Honda Crosstour EX-L	21	14	32
31	Chevrolet Equinox 1LT (4-cyl.)	21	14	30
32	Audi Q5 Premium Plus	21	14	29
33	Ford Edge SEL (4-cyl.)	21	14	29
34	Jeep Cherokee Limited (V6)	21	14	29
35	Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Pure	21	14	29
36	Mercedes-Benz GLK350	21	14	29
37	BMW X5 xDrive35i	21	14	28

Best Used Cars for Under $10,000

2014-04-24T00:00:00+00:00

Best Used Cars for Under $10,000

April 24, 2014

When it comes time to purchase a used car, you want to make sure you're getting the most bang for your hard-earned buck. After all, nobody wants to take home a car only to find it's full of issues and now costing you a lot more than you expected.

BankRate.com recently released their list of the 10 best used cars you can buy today for under $10,000. The list includes the likes of the Ford Taurus, Volkswagen Passat, Jeep Liberty, and Dodge Grand Caravan.

Vehicle	Model Year	% of Model's Used Cars $10,000 or Less	Average Miles
Ford Taurus	1986-2011	44.4%	111,723
Ford Expedition	1997-2011	39.9%	142,026
Volkswagen Passat	1991-2013	33.5%	110,218
Ford Explorer	1991-2013	32.2%	127,894
Jeep Liberty	2002-2012	29.8%	110,906
Dodge Grand Caravan	1988-2012	28.9%	114,355
Jeep Grand Cherokee	1993-2011	27.4%	129,336
Chrysler Town & Country	1990-2013	25.9%	112,796
Hyundai Elantra	1993-2012	24.9%	94,562
Ford Focus	2000-2013	24.5%	97,310

Cars with the Least Recalls

2014-04-24T00:00:00+00:00

Cars with the Least Recalls

April 24, 2014

One word any car owner hates to hear is "recall." Usually that means taking your vehicle in for some type of service to fix the problem, which can be a hassle.

And there certainly seems to have been quite a few recalls issued over the last few years. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2013 almost 22 million vehicles were recalled.

So which are the vehicle manufacturers with the largest and smallest recall rates? Forbes recently issued a list detailing just that. The list puts manufacturers in order from the least amount of recalls to the most, going all the way back to the 80s.

The manufacturer with the highest amount of recalls is the Hyundai Motor Company, with 1.15 vehicles being recalled for every model sold since 1986. And the least recalled is Mercedes-Benz with only an average of 0.41 vehicles recalled per vehicles sold.

Rank	Manufacturer	Recalled	Sold	Recall Rate
1	Mercedes-Benz USA	2.1 million	5.2 million	0.41
2	Mazda Motor Corp.	5.2 million	9.4 million	0.55
3	General Motors	99.3 million	153.2 million	0.65
4	Nissan North America	19.1 million	26.8 million	0.71
5	Subaru of America	4.3 million	6 million	0.73
6	Kia Motors	3.7 million	4.9 million	0.77
7	Toyota Motor Corp.	38.6 million	48.1 million	0.80
8	BWM of North America	5.1 million	5.7 million	0.90
9	Ford Motor Co.	97 million	104.7 million	0.93
10	American Honda Motor Co.	31.1 million	32.9 million	0.94
11	Chrysler Group	63.2 million	63.2 million	1.00
12	Volvo Cars of North America	3.3 million	3.1 million	1.05
13	Volkswagen of America	10.2 million	9.7 million	1.06
14	Mitsubishi Motors North America	5.3 million	4.8 million	1.09
15	Hyundai Motor Co.	9.9 million	8.7 million	1.15

15 Lease Deals Under $200

2014-04-24T00:00:00+00:00

15 Lease Deals Under $200

April 24, 2014

Forbes recently put together a list of what they consider the 15 best lease deals currently available, all with advertised payments under $200 a month (but with cash due up front). At the top of the list are the Smart ForTwo, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Volkswagen Jetta.

If you're considering any of these lease deals, remember to use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the best deal possible.

Rank	Vehicle	Monthly Payment	Term	Due at Signing	Mileage
1	Smart ForTwo	$99	36	$999	36,000
2	Honda Civic	$159	36	$1,999	36,000
3	Toyota Corolla	$159	24	$1,499	24,000
4	Volkswagen Jetta	$159; $199	36	$2,349	36,000
5	Mazda Mazda3	$159	36	$2,359	36,000
6	Nissan Juke	$169	39	$2,999	39,000
7	Kia Soul	$179	36	$1,999	36,000
8	Hyundai Veloster	$179	36	$2,499	36,000
9	Toyota Camry Hybrid	$199	24	$1,699	24,000
10	Nissan Leaf	$199	36	$1,999	36,000
11	Honda Accord	$199	36	$2,499	36,000
12	Volkswagen Tiguan	$199	36	$2,999	36,000
13	Chevrolet Equinox	$199	36	$3,489	36,000
14	Jeep Cherokee	$199	36	$3,499	36,000
15	Buick Verano	$199	24	$3,609	20,000

Best Car Deals for April

2014-04-24T00:00:00+00:00

Best Car Deals for April

April 24, 2014

The Easter Bunny may not be coming back for another year, but apparently he left some great car deals in his wake.

US News & World Report's Best Cars Blog has all the details on these cash back, financing and lease deals. Some of the best deals this month include the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta, 2014 Kia Cadenza, and 2014 Mazda Mazda2. And top lease deals include the 2014 Honda Sonata, 2014 Buick Regal, and 2014 Nissan Murano.

Many of these deals expire April 30th, but some continue into May and even further. If you're considering any of these vehicles, I recommend you use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the best deal possible on any of these vehicles.

Best Leasing Deals

Vehicle	Monthly Payment	Term	Due at Signing	Expires
2014 Subaru Legacy	$189	36	$1,989	04/30/14
2014 Hyundai Sonata	$199	36	$2,199	04/30/14
2014 Jeep Cherokee	$199	36	$2,399-$3,499	04/30/14
2014 Honda CR-V	$209	36	$1,999	05/12/14
2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen	$219	36	$2,349	04/30/14
2014 Mazda CX-5	$229	36	$1,989-$2,349	04/30/14
2014 Kia Sorento	$239	36	$1,499	05/05/14
2014 Buick Regal	$259	24	$4,019	04/30/14
2014 Nissan Murano	$289	39	$2,999	04/30/14
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class	$329	36	$3,623	04/30/14
2014 BMW X1	$329	36	$3,554	04/30/14
2015 Volvo V60	$345	36	$3,845	04/30/14
2014 Infiniti Q50	$369	39	$2,999; $3,399	04/30/14
2014 Acura RDX	$379	36	$1,999	04/30/14
2014 Cadillac CTS	$539	36	$1,500	04/30/14

Best Cash Back Deals

Manufacturer	Cash Back?	Financing?	Expires
Buick	On many models	0%-3.9% on many models	04/30/14
Cadillac	On many models	0%-3.9% on many models	04/30/14
Chevrolet	On many models	0%-3.9% on many models	04/30/14
Ford	On many models	0% on many models in most regions	07/07/14
GMC	On many models	0%-3.9% on many models	04/30/14
Honda		0.9% on most models	05/12/14
Hyundai	On many models	0%-2.9% on most models	04/30/14
Kia	On many models	0%-1.9% on most models	05/05/14
Mazda		0%-1.9% on most models	04/30/14
Nissan	On some models	0%, 0.9%, 1.9% on many models	04/30/14
Subaru		0%-2.9% on most models	04/30/14
Toyota	On some models	0% on some models	05/05/14
Volkswagen		0%-0.9% on most models	04/30/14

Best Financing Deals

Vehicle	Financing	Term (Months)	Cash Back	MSRP	Avg. Paid
2014 Mazda Mazda2	0%	60		$14,720-$17,050	$15,025-$17,281
2014 Volkswagen Jetta	0%	72	$500	$15,695-$29,955	$16,755-$29,216
2014 Honda Civic	0.9%; 1.9%	36; 60		$18,190-$29,290	$18,373-$24,450
2014 Dodge Grand Caravan	0%	60	$1,000; $3,000	$20,595-$29,995	$21,391-$30,175
2014 Subaru BRZ	0.9%			$25,595-$28,695	$25,190-$28,149
2014 Acura ILX	0.9%	60		$26,900-$31,600	$25,609-$30,094
2014 Hyundai Sonata	0%; 0.9%	60; 72	$1,500	$26,000-$30,750	$25,768-$30,327
2014 Nissan Pathfinder	0%; 1.9%	36; 60	$1,500	$28,950-$41,350	$28,821-$40,295
2014 Chevrolet Traverse	0%	60	$1,500	$30,795-$43,255	$30,729-$42,232
2014 Cadillac ATS	0%	72		$33,065-$48,195	$33,064-$47,614
2014 Buick LaCrosse	0%	60	$1,500	$33,535-$40,285	$33,388-$39,899
2014 Kia Cadenza	0.9%; 1.9%	36; 60	$2,000	$35,100-$42,400	$34,343-$41,316
2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class	2.99%	72		$37,480-$39,480	$35,834-$37,711
2014 BMW 4-Series	3.19%	72		N/A	$39.967-$55,115
2014 GMC Yukon	0%	60	$1,000	$44,455-$64,070	$42,699-$61,614

Best Lease Deals Right Now

2014-04-17T00:00:00+00:00

Best Lease Deals Right Now

April 17, 2014

Here's a look at the top 41 car lease deals this month, courtesy of Monthly Car Lease.

If you're thinking of leasing a new car, now is a good time since the beginning of the year sees some of the highest residual values on leases. This month's lease deals includes all 2014 models, such as the Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu LT, and Subaru Legacy.

Each lease deal below is calculated with the down payment so you can compare apples to apples. Note that payments don't include tax, title, and other fees. As always, I recommend you use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to see the lowest prices you can get on any of these vehicles.

Vehicle	MSRP	Term	Monthly Payment
2014 Hyundai Accent	$16,455	36	$217
2014 Subaru Legacy	$21,090	36	$218
2014 Mazda3 iSV Auto	$17,995	36	$220
2014 Volkswagen Jetta	$17,715	36	$220
2014 Hyundai Elantra	$19,010	36	$238
2014 Toyota Corolla	$19,335	24	$239
2014 Chevrolet Malibu LT	$24,435	36	$249
2014 Volkswagen Passat	$22,765	36	$249
2014 Toyota Camry	$24,005	24	$259
2014 Nissan Altima Sedan	$23,720	36	$259
2014 Mazda6 Sedan	$22,695	36	$259
2014 Honda Accord LX	$23,545	36	$263
2014 Honda CRV LX AWD	$25,025	36	$264
2014 Toyota RAV4	$26,185	24	$269
2014 Volkswagen Tiguan	$26,195	36	$277
2014 Subaru Forester	$22,820	36	$286
2014 Chevrolet Equinox	$25,315	36	$290
2014 Chevrolet Impala	$29,920	36	$310
2014 Subaru Outback	$25,920	36	$316
2014 Honda Odyssey LX	$29,655	36	$331
2014 Nissan Pathfinder S 4x4	$31,765	36	$338
2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport	$26,755	36	$350
2014 Infiniti G37 Sedan	$36,255	39	$353
2014 Nissan Maxima S	$32,395	39	$358
2014 Acura TL Sedan	$36,925	36	$360
2014 Acura RDX SUV	$35,415	36	$424
2014 Infiniti Q50 Sedan	$40,805	39	$436
2014 BMW 320i xDrive Sedan	$38,875	36	$436
2014 Mazda CX-9 AWD	$31,575	36	$446
2014 Infiniti QX50	$41,145	39	$496
2014 BMW 428i Coupe	$43,625	36	$502
2014 Mercedes C250 Sport	$39,225	27	$508
2014 Mercedes C300 Sedan	$42,825	27	$529
2014 Acura RLX Sedan 6SPD	$55,345	36	$560
2014 BMW X3 xDrive 35i	$48,525	36	$579
2014 Mercedes GLK350 SUV	$41,855	36	$581

Cars with the Best Customer Service

2014-04-17T00:00:00+00:00

Cars with the Best Customer Service

April 17, 2014

If you're shopping for a new car, and want the very best customer service, look to Buick and Cadillac, according to a recent study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates.

The J.D. Power 2014 US Customer Service Index (CSI) Study looked at customer satisfaction for maintenance or repair work for one to five-year-old cars that are either owned or leased. The study found that more vehicle manufacturers are offering owners complimentary or prepaid maintenance packages for their new car or truck, which in turn helps develop brand loyalty and helps keep owners with their vehicle for longer.

For mass market brands, Buick was crowned number one in terms of customer satisfaction with a score of 835 out of 1,000. The top five are rounded out by Volkswagen, GMC and Mini (tied for third) and Chevrolet.

And for the luxury market, Cadillac came out on top with 872 points, followed by Audi, Lexus, Infiniti and Lincoln (tied for fourth).

If you're considering any of these award-winning vehicles, I recommend you use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the best deal possible on any of these vehicles.

The Best Hybrid Cars for Your Money

2014-04-17T00:00:00+00:00

The Best Hybrid Cars for Your Money

April 17, 2014

If you're thinking of purchasing a hybrid in 2014, you certainly won't be alone. With gas prices continuing to rise, many people are considering switching to an alternative fuel vehicle in the hopes of paying less at the pump.

Cars.com recently released a list of 11 hybrid vehicles they consider the best for your money. The list is based on what they call their "efficiency-cost rating" -- the vehicle's EPA combined MPA rating divided by its MSRP plus destination charge, times 1,000.

On the list are the likes of the 2014 Toyota Prius C, 2014 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid, and 2014 BMW ActiveHybrid 740 Li.

Thinking of purchasing a hybrid vehicle? Make sure you use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the best deal possible on any of these vehicles.

Category	Vehicle	Price	City/Hwy/Combined MPG	Efficiency-Cost Rating
Subcompact Cars	2014 Toyota Prius c	$19,890	53/46/50	2.51
Compact Cars	2014 Honda Civic Hybrid	$25,425	44/47/45	1.77
Mid-Size Hatchback	2014 Toyota Prius	$25,010	51/48/50	2
Mid-Size Sedan	2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid	$27,095	47/47/47	1.73
Full-Size Hatchback	2014 Ford C-Max Hybrid	$25,995	45/40/43	1.65
Full-Size Sedan	2014 Toyota Avalon Hybrid	$36,365	40/39/40	1.1
SUV/Crossover	2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid	$35,970	25/28/26	0.72
Luxury SUV	2014 Lexus RX 450h	$47,320	32/28/30	0.63
Luxury Compact Sedan	2014 Acura ILX Hybrid	$29,795	39/38/38	1.28
Luxury Mid-Size Sedan	2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid	$37,085	45/45/45	1.21
Luxury Full-Size Sedan	2014 BMW ActiveHybrid 740 Li	$85,225	22/30/25	0.29

Best 3-Row SUVs Under $40,000

2014-04-17T00:00:00+00:00

Best 3-Row SUVs Under $40,000

April 17, 2014

If you have a big family, you're going to need a vehicle that can accommodate them all -- adults, kids, and pets -- and all the accessories that come with them, from sports equipment to toys to coolers.

For this reason, many times families will turn to three-row SUVs as their family vehicle of choice. If you're in the market for one these, you'll be happy to know Cars.com recently came out with their picks for the best three-row SUVs for under $40,000.

They took a look at seven vehicles that all cost less than $40,000 and had at least 19 MPG combined. The big winner was the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, which had a combined score of 800.5 and high marks in categories such as interior quality, acceleration, braking, and mileage. Second place was awarded to the 2014 Dodge Durango, which scored the highest in tech/entertainment.

Additionally, researchers also looked at which car had the best overall mileage. Again top honors go to the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, with second place going to the 2014 Toyota Highlander.

If you're considering any of these vehicles, I recommend you use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the best deal possible on any of these vehicles.

Best Overall 3-Row SUV

Rank	Vehicle	Score	Price As Tested	Seating Capacity
1	2014 Hyundai Santa Fe	800.5	$39,540	6
2	2014 Dodge Durango	781.5	$39,930	6
3	2014 Toyota Highlander	744	$38,947	8
4	2014 Nissan Pathfinder AWD	726	$39,515	7
5	2014 Mazda CX-9	652	$38,515	7
6	2014 Honda Pilot AWD	648.5	$39,600	8
7	2014 Chevrolet Traverse	625	$38,810	7

Best Mileage

Vehicle	Trip Computer MPG	EPA City/Hwy/Combined
2014 Hyundai Santa Fe	22.5	18/25/21
2014 Toyota Highlander	22.3	19/25/21
2014 Dodge Durango	21.7	18/25/20
2014 Nissan Pathfinder AWD	21.7	19/25/21
2014 Honda Pilot AWD	19.4	17/24/20
2014 Chevrolet Traverse	19.1	17/2/19
2014 Mazda CX-9	19.1	17/24/19

April Best Lease & Finance Deals

2014-04-10T00:00:00+00:00

April Best Lease & Finance Deals

April 10, 2014

Spring has sprung, and April is warming up with lots of great deals whether you're looking to finance or lease a new car. TrueCar has all the details on these deals, which include a mix of special financing rates and customer cash.

For example, Toyota is offering up to $4,000 in customer cash on a number of 2014 vehicles, including the Prius Plug-In, Camry, Venza and Tundra. And Ford is offering special financing as low as 0% on the 2014 C-Max Hybrid, Fiesta, Focus, Edge, Escape, and more.

Most of these deals end April 30th, but some even go longer than that. And as always, I recommend visiting both TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the best deal possible on any of these vehicles.

Manufacturer	Vehicles	Special Financing	Incentive/Customer Cash	Expires
Acura	2014 ILX, TL, TSX, RLX, RDX	0.9%		04/30/14
Audi	All 2014 models (except R8)		Up to $3,000	10/02/14
Chevrolet	2014 Cruze, Malibu, Malibu Eco Equinox, Sonic, Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, Silverado		Up to $3,500	04/30/14
Dodge	2014 Dart, Charger, Challenger, Durango, Avenger, Grand Caravan, Journey		Up to $2,000	04/30/14
Ford	2014 Taurus, Mustang, Focus		Up to $2,750	04/30/14
Ford	2014 C-Max Hybrid, Fiesta, Focus, Taurus, Edge, Escape, Flex, Explorer, Mustang, Fusion, Fusion Energi	0.0%		04/30/14
Honda	2014 Accord Sedan, Accord Coupe, Fit, Civic, Pilot, Odyssey	0.9%		05/12/14
Hyundai	2014 Sonata, Elantra, Accent, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, Equus, Veloster		Up to $2,000	04/30/14
Infiniti	2014 Q60, Q70, QX50, QX70		Up to $1,000	04/30/14
Jeep	2014 Compass, Cherokee, Patriot		Up to $1,000	04/30/14
Kia	2014 Cadenza, Sedona, Optima, Sedona, Sorento, Forte 4/5dr, Forte Koup, Rio		Up to $2,500; Up to $1,000	04/30/14
Kia	2014 Forte, Optima, Sedona; 2015 Sorento	0.0%		04/30/14
Mazda	2014 Mazda2, Mazda5, Mazda6, CX-9	0.0%		04/30/14
Nissan	2014 Maxima, Altima Sedan, Armada, Juke, Versa, Titan		Up to $2,000	04/30/14
Nissan	2014 Maxima, Rogue, Murano, Titan, Leaf	0.0%		04/30/14
Toyota	2014 Prius Plugin, Camry, Venza, Sienna, RAV EV, Tundra, 2014.5 Camry Hybrid		Up to $4,000	04/30/14
Toyota	2014 Avalon, Prius C, Prius V, Prius LB, Highlander, Sienna, Venza, 2014.5 Camry gas, Camry Hybrid	0.0%		04/30/14
Volkswagen	2014 Passat, Jetta	0.0%		04/30/14

Best Deals on Hybrid/Electric Cars

2014-04-10T00:00:00+00:00

Best Deals on Hybrid/Electric Cars

April 10, 2014

If you're in the market for an eco-friendly vehicle -- like a hybrid, electric or plug-in vehicle -- then you're in luck! April is Earth Month and it seems like car manufacturers are taking advantage by offering a number of great deals.

TrueCar has all the details on some of the hottest deals going on right now until April 15th. Vehicles on the list include the 2014 Ford Focus Electric hatchback, 2014 Toyota Prius Plug-In, and 2014 Volkswagen Jetta hybrid.

If you're looking to both get green and save green this month, make sure to use both TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the best deal possible on any of these vehicles.

Vehicle	MSRP	Market Avg.*	Est. Monthly Payment**	$ Savings	% Savings	Federal Rebates	City/Hwy/Combo MPG
2014 Honda Civic Hybrid w/ Nav	$26,925	$25,756	$370	$1,169	4.3%	$0	44/47/45.6
2014 Chevy Volt Base	$34,995	$33,310	$479	$1,685	4.8%	$7,500	101/93/98
2015 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid	$28,465	$26,519	$381	$1,946	6.8%	$0	42/48/45.1
2014 Toyota Prius Plug-In Base	$30,800	$28,172	$405	$2,628	8.5%	$2,500	51/49/49.9
2014 Nissan Leaf SL	$35,870	$33,027	$475	$2,843	7.9%	$7,500	126/101/114
2014 Toyota RAV4 EV	$50,660	$47,063	$677	$3,597	7.1%	$7,500	103/76/86.2
2014 Ford Focus Electric Hatchback	$35,955	$29,111	$418	$6,884	19.1%	$7,500	110/99/104
2014 BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid 5	$62,325	$51,382	$739	$10,943	17.6%	$0	23/30/26.4

*Market Average is estimated based on the national average of recent vehicle transactions, including destination and delivery charges after incentives that are subject to change, but does not include tax, title, and other fees

**Estimated monthly payments are based on a 3% APR for 60 months with 20% down on the current market average price, and excludes sales tax and other fees and charges that may vary by region or state.

New Cars You Should Avoid Buying

2014-04-03T00:00:00+00:00

New Cars You Should Avoid Buying

April 3, 2014

Consumer Reports recently released their list of what they consider the 12 cars that do not measure up to the other vehicles in the market today, whether it's bad handling, a lot of noise, or just plain lacking in comfort.

On the list are the likes of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara, Dodge Avenger SXT, Chevrolet Spark 1LT, and Toyota Tacoma. Below is a look at the full list.

Vehicle	Test Score	Low Points
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara	20	Ride, handling, braking, wind noise, access, driving position, seat comfort, fit and finish, visibility, fuel economy, reliability.
Smart ForTwo Passion	28	Transmission, acceleration, ride, agility, noise, seats only two, premium fuel.
Scion iQ	29	Ride, noise, acceleration, steering, driving position, fit and finish, radio controls, blind spots, tiny rear seat.
Mitsubishi i-Miev	31	Short range, long charging time, weak cabin heat, Spartan accommodations, acceleration, ride, agility, seats only four, complicated radio, headlights.
Chevrolet Spark 1LT	36	Acceleration, transmission, ride, noise, front-seat comfort, complicated radio.
Toyota FJ Cruiser	36	Visibility, ride, handling, noise, fuel economy, fit and finish, access.
Toyota Yaris LE	41	Noise, ride, agility, driving position, front-seat comfort, fit and finish, radio controls, rear visibility.
Dodge Avenger SXT(4-cyl.)	43	Engine noise, acceleration, braking, handling, rear visibility, transmission, driving position, fuel economy.
Jeep Compass Latitude	49	Engine noise, acceleration, driving position, front-seat comfort, rear visibility, cornering limits, braking, reliability.
Toyota Tacoma (V6)	50	Ride, handling, driving position, high step-in, low rear seat.
Jeep Patriot Latitude	52	Engine noise, acceleration, driving position, front-seat comfort, complicated optional radio.
Chrysler 200 (V6)	52	Handling, transmission, driving position, braking, optional radio controls.

Best Rated Compact Cars

2014-04-03T00:00:00+00:00

Best Rated Compact Cars

April 3, 2014

If you're looking for a car that's easy to get around town and has some fun options, then a subcompact or compact car may be the right choice for you.

Consumer Reports recently revealed what they consider the best subcompact and compact cars available right now. The subcompact list includes the Kia Rio, Chevrolet Sonic and Honda Fit, while the compact list features the Subaru Impreza, Hyundai Elantra, and Toyota Prius.

Consumer Reports has listed models they suggest avoiding. For subcompacts, that includes the Smart ForTwo and Scion iQ, while for compacts they suggest staying away from the Mitsubishi Lancer and Dodge Dart.

If you're looking to purchase a subcompact or compact vehicle, I recommend you use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the best deal possible on any of these vehicles.

Best & Worst Subcompact Cars

Category	Vehicle	Base MSRP Price Range	Overall MPG
Best Overall	Kia Rio	$13,900-$18,090	30
Best Overall	Chevrolet Sonic	$14,170-$21,610	28
Best for Fuel Economy	Mitsubishi i-MiEV	$22,995	111
Best for Fuel Economy	Toyota Prius C	$19,080-$23,360	43
Best for Fuel Economy	Smart ForTwo	$13,270-$28,000	39
Best for Fuel Economy	Honda Insight	$18,725-$23,915	38
Best for Fuel Economy	Honda CR-Z	$19,995-$23,990	35
Best for Fuel Economy	Scion iQ	$15,665-$17,850	34
Best for Fuel Economy	Ford Fiesta	$14,100-$21,400	32-33
Best for Fuel Economy	Fiat 500	$16,195-$31,800	33
Best for Fuel Economy	Honda Fit	$15,425-$36,625	30-33
Best for Fuel Economy	Mazda2	$14,720-$17,050	30-33
Best for Fuel Economy	Hyundai Accent	$14,645-$17,395	31-32
Best for Fuel Economy	Nissan Versa Sedan	$11,990-$16,890	32-33
Best for Fuel Economy	Toyota Yaris	$14,430-$17,340	32
Fun to Drive	Ford Fiesta ST	$14,100-$21,400
Fun to Drive	Fiat 500 Abarth	$16,195-$31,800
Fun to Drive	Mini Cooper	$19,950-$35,700
Small Car, Big Footprint	Honda Fit	$15,425-$36,625
Small Car, Big Footprint	Nissan Versa Note	$13,990-$15,990
Small Car, Big Footprint	Nissan Cube	$16,760-$18,860
Models to Avoid	Smart ForTwo	$13,270-$28,000
Models to Avoid	Scion iQ	$15,665-$17,850
Models to Avoid	Chevrolet Spark	$12,170-$27,010

Best & Worst Compact Cars

Category	Vehicle	Base MSRP Price Range
Best Overall	Subaru Impreza	$17,895-$23,195
Best Overall	Hyundai Elantra	$18,750-$22,700
Best Overall	Toyota Prius	$24,200-$34,905
Best Overall	Mazda3	$16,945-$26,495
Models to Avoid	Scion tC	$19,210-$22,440
Models to Avoid	Mitsubishi Lancer	$17,195-$38,195
Models to Avoid	Dodge Dart	$16,495-$22,995

Top 10 Most Reliable Car Brands

2014-04-03T00:00:00+00:00

Top 10 Most Reliable Car Brands

April 3, 2014

When you're looking to buy a car, of course you want one that's going to be reliable and not have you spending tons of money to fix it.

CarMD.com has recently released their annual list of the most reliable car manufacturers. The 2013 CarMD Reliability Rankings bases its rankings on the combined number of "check engine" related issues a vehicle has over the past year, as well as who has the lowest repair costs. The 2013 report is based on repairs that were done from October 1, 2012, to September 30, 2013, and features about 119 million model year 2003-2013 vehicles.

When it comes to manufacturers, Hyundai ranked #1 on the list, having the least amount of "check engine" problems and lowest average repair costs. The top five are rounded out by (in order) Toyota, GM, Chrysler, and Honda.

As for the top 10 most reliable vehicles, the 2012 Toyota Camry was crowned #1, followed by the 2012 Nissan Altima and 2011 Toyota Corolla.

If you're considering any of these vehicles, I recommend you use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the best deal possible.

Most Reliable Vehicle Brands

Rank	Manufacturer	% CarMD Problems Seen	Avg. Repair Cost	Year-Over-Year Overall Rating Comparison*	Year-Over-Year Comparison
1	Hyundai	2.44%	$312.67	0.80 (0.67)	Rating Improved from #2 in 2012
2	Toyota	10.34%	$540.53	0.86 (0.58)	Rating Dropped from #1 in 2012
3	GM	28.75%	$304.99	0.91 (1.12)	Rating Improved from #8 in 2012
4	Chrysler	5.19%	$325.38	0.96 (1.23)	Rating Improved from #10 in 2012
5	Honda	12.62%	$469.93	0.97 (0.98)	Rating Improved from #4 in 2012
6	Ford	24.17%	$385.82	1.04 (1.17)	Rating Improved from #9 in 2012
7	Nissan	8.61%	$404.61	1.09 (1.00)	Rating Dropped from #6 in 2012
8	Kia	2.46%	$346.92	1.56 (1.04)	Rating Dropped from #7 in 2012
9	Volkswagen	2.61%	$438.35	1.79 (0.99)	Rating Dropped from #5 in 2012
10	Mitsubishi	1.74%	$472.96	2.84 (n/a)	New to Top 10

*(2012 Index Rating in Parenthesis)

Most Reliable Vehicles

Rank	Vehicle	Overall CarMD 2013 Index Rating Score
1	2012 Toyota Camry	0.011
2	2012 Nissan Altima	0.013
3	2011 Toyota Corolla	0.014
4	2011 Toyota Camry	0.015
5	2011 Nissan Rogue	0.015
6	2012 Nissan Rouge	0.016
7	2012 Nissan Sentra	0.016
8	2010 Hyundai Elantra	0.020
9	2011 Nissan Sentra	0.021
10	2012 Mazda 3	0.021

Best and Worst Used Cars

2014-03-27T00:00:00+00:00

Best and Worst Used Cars

March 27, 2014

If you're in the market for a used car, this is one article you will want to read. Consumer Reports recently issued their list of best and worst used cars to own. Their rankings are based on their own performance tests, as well as overall reliability and safety.

On the best list are the likes of the Toyota Matrix, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Soul, Infiniti G35, and Acura MDX. And on the not-so-great list are the Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, Mini Cooper S, and Dodge Grand Caravan.

Best Used Vehicles

Category	Vehicle	Year Range
LESS THAN $10,000
Small Cars	Toyota Prius	2004-2007
Small Cars	Scion xB	2004-2006
Small Cars	Pontiac Vibe	2005-2008
Small Cars	Toyota Matrix	2005-2007
Sedans	Hyundai Sonata	2007-2008
Sedans	Acura TSX	2004
SUVs	Toyota Highlander V6	2004
SUVs	Mitsubishi Outlander	2007
$10,000 to $15,000
Small Cars	Honda Fit	2011-2013
Small Cars	Kia Soul	2010-2011
Sedans	Mazda3	2009-2012
Sedans	Infiniti G35	2006-2007
SUVs	Acura MDX	2004-2006
SUVs	Toyota RAV4	2006, 2008
SUVs	Honda CR-V	2005-2008
$15,000 to $20,000
Small Cars	Hyundai Elantra	2012-2013
Small Cars	Subaru Impreza	2011-2013
Sedans	Toyota Camry	2011-2012
Sedans	Toyota Camry Hybrid	2010-2011
Sedans	Acura TL	2008
SUVs	Lexus RX	2006-2007
SUVs	Subaru Forester	2009-2010 (nonturbo)
$20,000 to $25,000
Sedans	Toyota Avalon	2011-2012
Sedans	Lexus LS	2006
Sedans	Lincoln MKZ	2011-2012
Sedans	Ford Fusion Hybrid	2012
SUVs	Toyota Highlander Hybrid	2008-2009
SUVs	Honda Pilot	2009-2010

Worst Used Vehicles

Vehicle
BMW X5 (6-cyl.)
Chevrolet Cruze (1.8)
Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Uplander
Chrysler PT Cruiser (nonturbo)
Chrysler Town & Country
Dodge Caravan
Dodge Grand Caravan
Dodge Journey
Ford Explorer (V6)
Ford F-250 & F-350 (diesel) Ford Fiesta
Ford Flex (3.5L EcoBoost)
GMC Acadia
Lincoln MKT (EcoBoost)
Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
Mini Cooper S
Mini Countryman
Saturn Outlook
Saturn Relay
Volkswagen Beetle, New Beetle
Volkswagen Touareg

Best Car Deals for End of March

2014-03-27T00:00:00+00:00

Best Car Deals for End of March

March 27, 2014

Spring has sprung, and April is just around the corner. Luckily you don't have to wait to see if the Easter Bunny has left you keys to a new car in your basket as there's some great deals to be had between now and the end of March.

TrueCar created a list of the very best deals available right now, including the 2014 Nissan Titan Crew Cab, 2014 Toyota Camry, and 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan.

And you should be getting TrueCar Price Quotes if you're considering purchasing any new vehicle to get the best deal possible.

Vehicle	MSRP	Market Avg.	Monthly Payment	$ Savings	% Savings	MPG
2014 Jeep Compass Sport 4x2 Small SUV	$19,590	$16,986	$244	$2,604	13.3%	23/30/26.4
2014 Toyota Camry L 4-Cyl.	$23,045	$20,555	$295	$2,490	10.8%	25/35/29.7
2014 Hyundai Sonata SE	$25,110	$22,183	$319	$2,927	11.7%	24/35/29
2014 Dodge Grand Caravan SE	$24,790	$22,259	$320	$2,531	10.2%	17/25/20.6
2014 Chrysler 200 Sedan Limited	$26,690	$23,646	$340	$3,044	11.4%	20/31/24.8
2014 Dodge Challenger SXT	$27,490	$23,851	$343	$3,639	13.2%	18/27/22
2014 Nissan Titan Crew Cab 4x2 SV Long Bed	$35,445	$30,639	$440	$4,806	13.6%	13/18/15.3
2014 Ram 1500 SLT Crew Cab 4x2 Short Bed	$36,145	$31,868	$458	$4,547	12.5%	20/28/23.7
2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i	$40,725	$36,355	$523	$4,370	10.7%	21/28/24.3
2014 Acura TL 2WD with Advanced Package	$42,855	$38,597	$555	$4,258	9.9%	20/29/24.1

*Market Average is estimated based on the national average of recent vehicle transactions, but does not include tax, title, licensing, and fees.

**Estimated monthly payments are based on a 3% APR for 60 months with 20% down on the current market average price, and excludes sales tax and other fees and charges that may vary by region or state.

Cars With the Lowest Ownership Costs

2014-03-27T00:00:00+00:00

Cars With the Lowest Ownership Costs

March 27, 2014

In the case of cars, what at first may seem like a great deal can sometimes turn into a money pit due to the high cost of maintenance and ownership. While you may pay little to get the car, suddenly you're draining your bank account on gas, insurance, maintenance and other fees.

On the flipside, there are those cars that are just a dream to own and if you can get them at a great deal, all the better!

To help you navigate these murky waters, Consumer Reports recently released a list of the vehicles they consider the most and least expensive to own. On the least expensive list are the likes of the Toyota Prius C Two, Honda Civic Si, and Chevrolet Traverse. While on the most expensive list are the Nissan Armada Platinum, Dodge Dart Aero, and Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium.

As always, I recommend you use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to get the best deal possible on any of these vehicles.

Least Expensive to Own

Category	Vehicle	5-Year Owner Cost
Subcompact Cars	Toyota Prius C Two	$24,600
Compact Cars	Toyota Prius Four	$28,200
Midsized Sedans	Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE	$31,800
Large Cars	Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited	$41,400
Upscale Sedans	Buick Verano Leather (2.4) & Lexus CT 200h Premium	$37,800
Luxury Sedan	Lexus ES300h	$42,000
Sporty Cars	Honda Civic Si (manual)	$34,800
Small SUVs	Subaru XV Crosstrek Premium	$34,200
Midsized SUVs	Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.4	$36,600
Large SUVs	Chevrolet Traverse	$51,000
Compact Luxury SUVs	Mini Cooper Countryman S	$37,800
Midsized & Large Luxury SUVs	Buick Enclave CXL	$54,600

Most Expensive to Own

Category	Vehicle	5-Year Owner Cost
Subcompact Cars	Hyundai Veloster (base, manual)	$32,400
Compact Cars	Dodge Dart Aero (1.4T)	$37,200
Midsized Sedans	Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium (V6)	$45,600
Large Cars	Chrysler 300C	$55,800
Upscale Sedans	Lexus IS 250 (AWD)	$54,000
Luxury Sedan	BMW 750Li	$106,200
Sporty Cars	Porsche Boxster 2.7 (manual)	$64,200
Small SUVs	Volkswagen Tiguan SEL	$48,000
Midsized SUVs	Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (V8)	$57,000
Large SUVs	Nissan Armada Platinum	$72,000
Compact Luxury SUVs	Cadillac SRX Luxury &Mercedes-Benz GLK350	$57,000
Midsized & Large Luxury SUVs	Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTec	$78,000

How to Use Edmunds Price Promise to Get the Best Car Deal

2014-03-27T00:00:00+00:00

How to Use Edmunds Price Promise to Get the Best Car Deal

March 27, 2014

The secret to negotiating the best car deal is actually quite simple. All you need to do is get price bids from 7 different car dealers, then shop the best bid among those same dealers until you're left with the best deal. But guess what? Most car shoppers don't want to spend the 4 to 5 hours of work it takes to contact all the dealers and communicate back and forth via email/phone to get those bids (even though it could save you thousands).

That's why I'm always on the lookout for tools that will make it easier and quicker for you to get these important price bids. The latest tool that I have personally reviewed and now recommend is Edmunds Price Promise. It's an online tool that let's you see the lowest price dealers are offering on vehicles in your area. This is a tool every consumer should use as part of their negotiation process.

Here's how it works: First, you go to the Price Promise page and enter your zip code and the vehicle you're interested in purchasing or leasing.

Next, you will see a list of vehicles that are currently in stock and come with a pre-negotiated upfront price. You can filter the results by choosing the colors/options/trims you're intersted in, then click the "View Price Now" button on the vehicle you're interested in.

Edmunds will automatically find the closest matches from other local dealers. Make sure you leave all the buttons checked to get prices on those vehicles as well. Fill out the form and submit to see the price bids.

And here is what your price bid looks like. Along with the certificate, you get the contact info of the internet sales manager for that dealership.

My recommendation is to use Edmunds Price Promise as part of your overall negotiation strategy (read my full step by step guide here). Price Promise will save you some time and hassle gathering those important price bids. Also remember that dealers are almost always open to negotiating further, especially if they're about to lose a deal to a competitor.

Since we're near the end of the month, now is the best time to use this tool. Dealers are constantly changing prices on a daily basis in response to supply and demand, and they're hoping to close out the quarter with lots of sales on the books.

20 Best Car Deals This Month

2014-03-20T00:00:00+00:00

20 Best Car Deals This Month

March 20, 2014

Although it may still be snowing in parts of the country, March is definitely heating up with lots of great car deals.

Forbes has the scoop on what they consider the 20 best new car deals available this month. These top deals are due in part to the severe winter weather that has been keeping people home and which has lead to some slow car sales in the first few months of 2014.

Some of these tops deals include cars such as the 2014 Aura ILX, 2014 Cadillac ATS, 2014 Dodge Avenger, and 2014 Fiat 500.

As always, I recommend you use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to see the lowest prices local dealers are offering on any of these vehicles.

	Lease Deal				Finance Deal
Vehicle	Monthly Payment	Term	Down	Miles Per Year	Dealer Cash	Financing	Term
2014 Acura ILX	$209	36	$2,499	10,000
2014 BMW 6 Series					$7,500
2014 BMW X1	$349	36	$3,574	10,000
2014 Cadillac ATS					$3,000	0%	72
2013 Chevrolet Corvette					$3,000	0%	72
2014 Dodge Avenger					$3,500	0%	36
2014 Chrysler 200					$4,000	0%; 1.9%	60; 72
2014 Fiat 500					$2,500	0%; 1.6% ; 3.9%	48; 60; 72
2014 Ford Escape					$3,000; $500	0%; 1.9%	60; 72
2014 Ford Expedition					$3,250; $1,000	0%; 1.9%	60; 72
2014 Honda Civic	$159	36	$1,999	12,0000
2014 Infiniti Q60					$3,500
2014 Infiniti QX80					$3,750
2014 Jeep Cherokee	$239	36	$2,999	12,000
2014 Lexus IS 250	$349	24	$1,999	10,000
2014 Mitsubishi Lancer					$2,000	0%; 1.9%	60; 72
2014 Ram 2500/3500					$3,000; $2,000	2.9%; 3.9%; 4.9%	36; 48; 60
2014 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque	$459	36	$0	10,000
2014 Toyota Prius	$279	36	$999	12,000
2014 Volkswagen CC					$4,250

Top 10 Used Cars Under $10,000

2014-03-20T00:00:00+00:00

Top 10 Used Cars Under $10,000

March 20, 2014

When you're purchasing a used car, although it's important to stick to a budget, you also don't want to end up with a clunker -- Ideally, you want to spend your money on a car that's reliable, safe, and won't end up being a money pit.

Cars.com recently released their list of the top 10 used cars for less than $10,000. The list includes the 2009 Ford Focus, 2007 Honda Civic, and 2008 Kia Sportage. .

Best Vehicles Under $10,000
2009 Ford Focus
2008 Ford Fusion
2008 Ford Taurus
2007 Honda Civic
2009 Hyundai Sonata
2008 Kia Sportage
2008 Mazda6
2007 Nissan Altima
2008 Scion xB
2007 Toyota Prius

SUVs With the Best Gas Mileage

2014-03-20T00:00:00+00:00

SUVs With the Best Gas Mileage

March 20, 2014

With the price of gas still high, fuel efficiency is an important consideration when looking to purchase a new car. Historically, SUVs were never considered very fuel efficient, however, that has changed over the last few years as car manufacturers realize car buyers need space, but also don't want to get charged exorbitant amounts at the pump.

Consumer Reports recently put a list together of what they consider the most fuel efficient SUVs on the market today. The list of 36 vehicles is topped by the Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited in the #1 spot, with an overall MPG of 27. Next on the list is the Lexus RX 450h, followed by the Subaru XV Crosstrek Premium at #3. Below is a look at the full list of 36 SUVs.

If you're considering purchasing any of these SUVs, I recommend you use TrueCar and Edmunds Price Promise to see the lowest prices local dealers are offering on these vehicles.

Rank	SUV	CR Overall MPG	City MPG	Highway MPG
1	Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited	27	23	29
2	Lexus RX 450h	26	22	31
3	Subaru XV Crosstrek Premium	26	19	34
4	Mini Countryman S	26	19	33
5	Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium	26	18	35
6	Mazda CX-5 Touring 2.0L	25	19	32
7	Mazda CX-5 Touring 2.5L	25	19	32
8	Nissan Juke SV	24	18	31
9	Toyota RAV4 XLE	24	18	31
10	Volkswagen Touareg TDI	24	17	31
11	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE	23	18	28
12	Hyundai Santa Fe Sport	23	17	30
13	Mitsubishi Outlander SE	23	17	30
14	BMW X1 xiDrive28i	23	16	32
15	Buick Encore Leather	23	16	32
16	Honda CR-V EX	23	16	32
17	BMW X3 xDrive28i	23	16	30
18	Nissan Rogue Select	22	17	27
19	Kia Sportage LX (4-cyl.)	22	16	30
20	Hyundai Tucson GLS	22	16	28
21	Ford Escape SE	22	15	31
22	Jeep Cherokee Latitude (4-cyl.)	22	15	31
23	Ford Escape Titanium	22	15	29
24	Jeep Compass Latitude	22	15	29
25	Acura RDX	22	14	31
26	Volkswagen Tiguan SEL	21	16	27
27	Kia Sportage SX (turbo)	21	15	29
28	Jeep Patriot Latitude	21	15	28
29	Lexus RX350	21	15	27
30	Honda Crosstour EX-L	21	14	32
31	Chevrolet Equinox 1LT (4-cyl.)	21	14	30
32	Audi Q5 Premium Plus	21	14	29
33	Ford Edge SEL (4-cyl.)	21	14	29
34	Jeep Cherokee Limited (V6)	21	14	29
35	Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Pure	21	14	29
36	Mercedes-Benz GLK350	21	14	29

Best and Worst Cars to Insure

2014-03-06T00:00:00+00:00

Best and Worst Cars to Insure

March 6, 2014

When buying a new car, sometimes buyers forget that there's more to the cost of a car than just what you see on the sticker. Once that car is yours, you now have to pay to insure it in case of accidents, theft and other potential issues.

Insure.com recently released their annual list of the costliest and cheapest cars to insure. They came up with their list by calculating the average auto insurance rates for 2014 models by using data from six large insurance carriers in 10 zip codes per state. More than 850 vehicles were included in this year's study.

When it comes to the least expensive, Jeep ranked the highest and also took an additional six more spots on the top 20. As for the most expensive, that honor went to the Nissan GT-R Track Edition.

Below is a look at the 20 most and least expensive to insure cars. The average rates listed are for a 40-year-old single male driver with a good record. Also below is a look at the most and least expensive states for car insurance.

If you're considering any of these cars, remember to use TrueCar to find local dealers who are most willing to negotiate on these vehicles.

Least Expensive to Insure

Rank	Vehicle	Avg. Annual Premium
1	Jeep Wrangler Sport	$1,080
2	Honda Odyssey LX	$1,103
3	Jeep Patriot Sport	$1,104
4	Honda CR-V LX	$1,115
5	Jeep Compass Sport	$1,140
6	Chrysler Town & Country Touring	$1,140
7	Subaru Outback 2.5i	$1,144
8	Dodge Journey SE	$1,149
9	Honda Odyssey EX	$1,149
10	Dodge Grand Caravan SE	$1,158
11	Jeep Patriot Latitude	$1,161
12	Ford Escape S	$1,170
13	Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo	$1,171
14	Jeep Wrangler Sahara	$1,172
15	GMC Acadia SLE-2	$1,185
16	Chevrolet Traverse LS	$1,188
17	Toyota Sienna L	$1,190
18	Hyundai Santa Fe Sport	$1,194
19	Accord Sport	$1,209
20	Jeep Wrangler Rubicon	$1,209

Most Expensive to Insure

Rank	Vehicle	Avg. Annual Premium
1	Nissan GT-R Track Edition	$3,169
2	BMW M6	$3,065
3	Mercedes-Benz CL550 4Matic AWD	$3,019
4	Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT	$2,986
5	Porsche Panamera Turbo S	$2,970
6	Audi R8 5.2 Spyder Quattro	$2,917
7	Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG	$2,887
8	Audi A8 L 6.3 Quattro	$2,869
9	Jaguar XKR Supercharged	$2,854
10	Jaguar XK	$2,610
11	Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG	$2,609
12	Porsche Panamera 4S	$2,598
13	Audi S8 Quattro	$2,598
14	Porsche Panamera S	$2,597
15	Mercedes-Benz CLS550 4Matic AWD	$2,582
16	BWM 650i	$2,544
17	Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG	$2,507
18	BMW 640ix	$2,484
19	Audi R8 V10 Quanttro	$2,448
20	Mercedes-Benz GL550 4Matic AWD	$2,438

Least Expensive State

Rank	State
1	Ohio
2	Maine
3	New Hampshire
4	Idaho
5	Iowa

Most Expensive State

Rank	State
1	Michigan
2	West Virginia
3	Georgia
4	Washington, DC
5	Rhode Island