Toyota, Audi, Chevrolet: Best-Value Brands By Ownership Cost

Toyota sells the passenger cars with the lowest operating costs, on a brand basis, while Audi offers the best value among luxury cars; meanwhile Chevrolet tops all other truck brands for value-conscious shoppers.

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These are all among the results from the 10th annual Vincentric Value Ratings, offered by the data-analysis firm Vincentric, a provider of cost-of-ownership data.

To get there, Vincentric looked at more than 3,000 vehicle configurations, looking at cost of ownership specifics for each. Those items included depreciation, insurance, finance costs, fuel, taxes, fees, repairs, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance—as well as 'opportunity cost,' representing what you might have otherwise been able to earn on return for your money had it not been invested in a vehicle.

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Vincentric points out that each model wasn't looked at on a single set of parameters; rather, they considered a range of mileage intervals and insurance profiles for each, and employed a statistical model. So it's more likely that those low ownerships costs will translate to your own wallet.

Click over to the next page to see Vincentric's very long list of model winners for 2014, and watch the video covering them all.

Vincentric 2014 Best Value In America Winners

Micro: Scion iQ
Subcompact: Hyundai Veloster
Compact Coupe: Kia Forte Koup
Compact Hatchback: Mazda Mazda3
Compact Sedan: Honda Civic
Premium Compact Sedan: BMW 3-Series Diesel
Compact, Hybrid: Toyota Prius c
Electric/Plug-in Hybrid Car: Chevrolet Spark EV
Premium Mid-Size Coupe: Jaguar XK
Mid-Size Sedan: Honda Accord
Mid-Size Sedan, Hybrid: Toyota Camry Hybrid
Premium Mid-Size Sedan: Lexus ES 350
Premium Mid-Size Sedan, Hybrid: Lexus ES 300h
Large Sedan: Toyota Avalon
Premium Large Sedan: Audi A7 TDI

Prestige: Audi R8
Convertible: Volkswagen Beetle TDI
Premium Convertible: Lexus IS 250
Sports Car: Ford Mustang
Premium Sports Car: Audi TT

Wagon: Subaru Outback
Premium Wagon: Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Entry-Level Compact Crossover: Subaru XV Crosstrek
Mid-Level Compact Crossover: Honda CR-V
Premium Compact Crossover: Buick Encore
Mid-Size Crossover: Toyota Highlander
Premium Mid-Size Crossover: Audi Q5 TDI
Crossover, Hybrid: Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Large Crossover: Ford Explorer
Premium Large Crossover: Buick Enclave
Compact SUV: Jeep Wrangler
Mid-Size SUV: Toyota 4Runner
Premium Mid-Size SUV: Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Large SUV: Chevrolet Suburban
Premium Large SUV: Infiniti QX80
Minivan: Honda Odyssey

Compact Pickup: Toyota Tacoma
Full Size 1/2-Ton Pickup: Ford F-150
Full Size 3/4-Ton Heavy Duty Pickup: Chevrolet Silverado 2500
Full-Size 1-Ton Heavy Duty Pickup: RAM 3500

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