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OAKVILLE BEAVER · Wednesday, March 4, 2009 14 Consumer Reports has named the current 2009 Toyota Prius Touring as the best overall value among 300 cars according to the 2009 Annual Auto Issue. A brand new 2010 model, promising even better fuel economy, will be released this summer. Toyota Prius Touring tops Consumer Reports best new-car value list Carguide Magazine Metroland Newspapers Consumer Reports has named the Toyota Prius Touring as the best overall value among 300 cars according to the 2009 Annual Auto Issue. All pricing is in U.S. dollars. The Prius Touring provides the best overall value because of its comparatively low ownercost estimate of $26,250 over five years, and a relatively high road-test score of 80 points out of 100. The Prius doesn't have the least expensive sticker price in its class, but its excellent fuel economy of 42 mpg overall and solid resale value help give it a low owner-cost. To determine which cars are the best values, Consumer Reports looks at its overall road-test scores, five-year owner-cost estimates, and predicted reliability ratings for more than 300 recently tested vehicles. CR then divided each vehicle's five-year ownercost by its overall road-test score to get the cost of each test-score points, the lower the cost-per-point, the better the value. The Prius Touring received a cost-perpoint of $325. Rounding out the top five models with the best overall value were the Mini Cooper ($330), Volkswagen Rabbit ($330), Honda Civic EX ($340), and Honda Fit ($350). Five small cars, the Mazda Miata, and the Toyota Camry Hybrid follow with results ranging from $340 to $365 cost-per-test score point. One of those cars, the redesigned Honda Fit had the best owner-cost estimate on CR's best value list, only $24,000 over five years. The Toyota Prius base model, Mazda3 hatchback, and four-cylinder versions of the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Sonata, and Honda Accord also had low cost-per-point estimates of under $400. Five hybrids made the list, including the top three in the family car category. Of the 41 vehicles on the best values list, all but the Mini, VW, and Volvo C30 are from Asian manufacturers, with 17 built by Toyota, 10 built by Honda, four by Nissan, and three by Hyundai. Consumer Reports found huge differences between cars that score among the best and worst values. The Hummer H2, for example, is a terrible deal, with a best value figure of $3,620 because of a high five-year owner-cost of about $82,250 and a low test score of only 23. Showing that a low price doesn't always mean a good value, at $15,355, The Smart ForTwo and at $16,470 Chevrolet Aveo5 had results of $895 and $870, respectively, which were the worst among all small and family cars. BUY LOCALLY SERVICE LOCALLY SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY Phone: (905) 825-8088 www.volvoofoakville.com SERVICE DEPARTMENT OPEN SATURDAYS