Audi: Most car shoppers are looking for a vehicle that’s stylish, drives well, is reasonably priced, has a good safety record and doesn’t cost too much to own and drive.
Kelley Blue Book has put together that combination in its awards for the best buys among 2018 models.
“These are the vehicles that our experts believe to be the absolute best-value choices for new-car shoppers,” said Karl Brauer, executive publisher of Kelley Blue Book.
To pick the winners, Kelley analysts looked at pricing and transaction costs, expert and consumer reviews and its data on five-year cost to own (which includes depreciation, insurance, maintenance, financing and fuel costs).
Kelley picked winners in 12 categories, and half were Hondas. Asked about this notable performance, Kelley Blue Book managing editor Jason Allan said: “This is a particularly strong year for Honda. By combining a proven track record and low ownership costs with several of the newest, most advanced, most efficient vehicles in several key categories, Honda claimed six of 12 segment awards.”
Read on for a closer look at some of Kelley’s picks from Honda and other automakers in popular categories.
Small car: Honda Civic
The Civic is a perennial winner in this category, described by Kelley reviewers as a spacious and reliable commuter car that’s also fun to drive. The Civic comes both as a sedan and as a coupe.
The base engine, a 1.5-liter four cylinder is rated by the EPA for 32 miles per gallon in city driving and 42 on the highway. The bigger, 206-horsepower 2-liter power plant comes with sportier models like the Si coupe and is rated for 31 city, 40 highway.
Manufacturer’s suggested retail prices for the Civic range from $18,840 to $28,500.
Midsize car: Honda Accord
Totally redesigned for 2018, the Accord not only wins this category but is the Kelley overall best buy. The new styling has a longer and lower silhouette with more flair than the cautious styling of past models.
Instead of the V-6 previously available, the new Accord has a choice of turbocharged four-cylinder engines. The stingiest one has a rating of 30 MPG in city driving, 38 highway. All three engines have a combined city-highway rating of 30 MPG or above.
Accord prices start around $23,600 and range up to just under $34,000.
To be continued
