Consumers Digest Magazine Names 2007 Automotive Best Buys

    DEERFIELD, Ill., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirty-two vehicles and six
companion models out of 253 total 2007 models received Best Buy ratings
from Consumers Digest. The ratings, published in CD's December issue (on
sale November 1), span eight categories: Small Cars, Family Cars, Luxury
Cars, Sporty Cars, Trucks, Vans, Compact/Midsize SUVs and Luxury/Full-Size
SUVs. The Best Buys -- based on behind-the-wheel testing, safety ratings,
ownership costs, warranty, price, comfort, ergonomics, styling and
amenities -- reflect CD's assessment of which 2007 vehicles offer the most
value for the money.

   Six "Small Cars" received Best Buys: Chevrolet HHR, Dodge Caliber,
Honda Civic, Honda Fit, Jeep Compass and Nissan Versa.

   The six "Family Car" Best Buys are: Chevrolet Impala, Ford Fusion,
Hyundai Azera, Hyundai Sonata, Mercury Milan and Toyota Camry/Solara.

   Four "Luxury Cars" received Best Buys: Acura TL, Buick Lucerne,
Infiniti M35/45 and Toyota Avalon.

   The six "Sporty Cars" Best Buys are: Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang,
Mazda6, MINI Cooper, Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky.

   The Chevrolet Avalanche, Ford F-150 and Honda Ridgeline are the top
pickups, and the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey,
Hyundai Entourage and Kia Sedona are the best van values.

   The four compact/midsize SUV Best Buys are: Honda CR-V, Jeep Wrangler,
Mazda CX-7 and Toyota RAV4. Luxury/full-size SUV Best Buys are: Acura RDX,
Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Mercedes-Benz's GL-Class.

   "Value, as we see it, is based on purchase price and ownership costs
relative to quality, performance and subjective factors like comfort and
design," says Randy Weber, CD's publisher.

   The performance characteristics evaluated were starting and
acceleration, shifting, steering, handling, braking, ride quality and fuel
economy.

   Rich Dzierwa, Consumers Digest editor, says that for the first time in
years, the number of manufacturers represented reached 20. For the second
year in a row, American nameplates (18) exceeded Japanese models (14).

After receiving their first two Best Buys last year, Korean nameplates were
recognized four times this year. Also for the first time in years, Honda's
Accord was not rated a Best Buy. Eight vehicles, however, have been CD Best
Buys for 5 years running: Chevrolet Tahoe, Dodge Caravan, GMC Yukon, Honda
Civic, Honda Odyssey, MINI Cooper, Toyota Avalon and Toyota Camry.

   The Auto Best Buys section includes photos, invoice pricing, standard
features and performance traits that support the models' Best Buy selection
in the collective opinion of CD's veteran automotive editors: Jim
Gorzelany, who has served Consumers Digest readers for 20 years, including
through his reports on automotive categories such as crossover SUVs and
hybrids; Kevin Kelly, a senior editor of Automotive Design & Production
magazine and the former senior editor-Europe for Ward's AutoWorld; Jim
Mateja, who writes a weekly Chicago Tribune auto column and has received
numerous awards for his auto coverage; and Matt Nauman, auto editor of the
San Jose Mercury News and one of the jurors who picks the North American
Car of the Year at the annual Detroit auto show.

   "Few purchases are more important, or require more research, than
buying a new vehicle," says Weber. "Our analyses underscore our commitment
to ensure that consumers are as satisfied with their auto purchase years
after making it as they were on the day they drove off the lot." s.server=server() s.channel="News Release" s.pageName="Consumers Digest Magazine Names 2007 Automotive Best Buys" s.prop2="104" s.prop3="11-01-2006" s.prop4="" s.prop5=""  /************* DO NOT ALTER ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE ! **************/  var s_code=s.t();if(s_code)document.write(s_code);  //-->

SOURCE Consumers Digest