Just Announced: 2009 Consumer Guide Best Buys

[Driver Tom]

2009 Consumer Guide Best Buys

Each year, consumers purchase over 17 million new cars, trucks, SUVs, a*nd minivans, most costing in excess of $20,000. Some people buy on impulse, spurred by incentives or high style. Others are more m*ethodical in approach, carefully weighing the pros and cons of each vehicle long before visiting a dealership.

Regardless of shopping method, consumers spending thousands of dollars need to make wise choices when selecting their next vehicle. With more than 250 new cars, trucks, minivans, and SUVs on the market, many consumers don't know where to begin when shopping for a new car. That's where we come in. Consumer Guide's editors offer Best Buy and Recommended picks in 18 distinct vehicle classes to simplify the selection process for today's buyers. Our Best Buy and Recommended picks focus on overall vehicle value and take into account performance, economy, reliability, ease of use, comfort, and price.

GM cars to make the list

Chevy HHR Recommended Compact Car
Chevy Malibu Best Buy Midsized Car
Saturn Aura Recommended Midsized Car
Caddy CTS Best Buy Premium Midsized Car
Pontiac G8 Best Buy Large Car
Caddy DTS Recommended Premium Large Car
Chevy Corvette Best Buy Premium Performance Car

GM SUV's to make List

Saturn Vue Recommended Compact SUV
Lambda Sweep!!
Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook ALL picked as Best Buys in Midsized SUV
Buick Enclave Best Buy Premium SUV
Chevy Suburban, Chevy Tahoe, and GMC Yukon ALL picked as Best Buy for Large SUV
Caddy Escalade Recommended Premium Large SUV

Trucks are TBA. Guess they are awaiting the Tundra's return from the dealer.

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...ded-awards.htm

[Driver Tom]

Malibu, Accord, Rondo...

[Pedal 2 Metal]

Looks pretty fair to me. It shows that GM just isn't competitive in a lot of key segments. Or non existent.

[calgaryhhr]

Interesting work and a nice compilation of vehicle evaluations and rankings.

Just a question though, on the page with the "Best Buys" and "Recommended" vehicles in each category why is the font size larger for the Toyota Highlander in the midsize SUV class as compared to every other vehicle name? Is there some sort of bias happening? Trying to draw the readers eye towards the Highlander with its bigger font?

I'm just kidding and trying to poke fun because there is always a lot of talk about anti-american bias. Once again, nice compilation.

[TorrentRS]

Nice to see some American cars thrown in there for a change.

[K-1]

So, where are the Fords, Mulally?

[rcworker]

Is it just me, or is Consumer Guide falling all over themselves to be politically neutral.

I see them just trying to spread the honey equally among all the hungry bears.

IMO; meaningless drivel.

[Driver Tom]

Originally Posted by rcworker

Is it just me, or is Consumer Guide falling all over themselves to be politically neutral.

I see them just trying to spread the honey equally among all the hungry bears.

IMO; meaningless drivel.

Objective = PC?

[BigAls87Z28]

Kia Rondo midsized car? Mazda 5?

GM cars to make the list

Chevy HHR Recommended Compact Car
Chevy Malibu Best Buy Midsized Car
Saturn Aura Recommended Midsized Car
Caddy CTS Best Buy Premium Midsized Car
Pontiac G8 Best Buy Large Car
Caddy DTS Recommended Premium Large Car
Chevy Corvette Best Buy Premium Performance Car

GM SUV's to make List

Saturn Vue Recommended Compact SUV
Lambda Sweep!!
Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook ALL picked as Best Buys in Midsized SUV
Buick Enclave Best Buy Premium SUV
Chevy Suburban, Chevy Tahoe, and GMC Yukon ALL picked as Best Buy for Large SUV
Caddy Escalade Recommended Premium Large SUV

Trucks are TBA. Guess they are awaiting the Tundra's return from the dealer.

[rcworker]

Objective = PC?

I don't doubt that the BB Awards are objective; just indecisive.

ie; Dump the "recommends" category unless the products are at least ranked (1,2,3,...).

And why not at least limit each category to one per manufacturer. I mean cum'on, Traverse, Acadia, and Outlook all bestbuys. If they're the same SUV platform just different badges, it's misleading to give GM three awards in this category.

[Driver Tom]

Originally Posted by rcworker

I don't doubt that the BB Awards are objective; just indecisive.

ie; Dump the "recommends" category unless the products are at least ranked (1,2,3,...).

And why not at least limit each category to one per manufacturer. I mean cum'on, Traverse, Acadia, and Outlook all bestbuys. If they're the same SUV platform just different badges, it's misleading to give GM three awards in this category.

It's only misleading if you consider these awards as being for the manufacturers. As a guide for consumers, all of the Lambda-chassis crossovers merit consideration. Why make a hard distinction between an Acadia and a Traverse?

I think your criticism of the Recommended list has some merit. The real strength is the Best Buys. Though for some shoppers for whom none of the Best Buys works--for whatever reason--there's a back-up list.

[Uzzy]

Is anyone else wondering who the hell Consumer Guide is? I was expecting seeing red donuts and black dots...

[MechEng]

Originally Posted by rcworker

I don't doubt that the BB Awards are objective; just indecisive.

ie; Dump the "recommends" category unless the products are at least ranked (1,2,3,...).

And why not at least limit each category to one per manufacturer. I mean cum'on, Traverse, Acadia, and Outlook all bestbuys. If they're the same SUV platform just different badges, it's misleading to give GM three awards in this category.

I disagree, I like the way they did it.

Everybody is different and different cars will be better for different people. I like the fact that they just come up with a list of recommended cars. A #1 pick might not be #1 for somebody else.

[Driver Tom]

Originally Posted by Driver Tom

Objective = PC?

Trucks are TBA because the new F-150 and Ram are just being circulated now.

[American_Muscle]

Originally Posted by Uzzy

Is anyone else wondering who the hell Consumer Guide is? I was expecting seeing red donuts and black dots...

me too, i thought this was consumer reports when i first opened it. Either way, it seemed rather fair in most categories, GM didnt do bad either. Hopefully lots of people see this and use it in deciding what to go look at