Drive to the top; looking for the best car to meet your needs? Stop here for direction - B.E. Spring Auto Guide - Buyers Guide

Black Enterprise, April, 2002 by Jay Koblenz

It's possible to get great handling, acceleration, and comfort all in one in a luxury sedan. Luxury sedans and big engines go hand in hand. From Cadillac's DeVille and Lexus' LS 430 to the big BMW and Mercedes-Benz sedans, these are cars that do everything well--except fit into a tight budget.

SUVs rarely offer much performance, unless you're an off-road enthusiast. Most lack swiftness on the road. They may be big and have powerful engines, but their size and weight offer more commotion than effective motion.

VALUE

Stretching a buck is important to just about everybody. That's why top value is found in the most popular cars. Competition is merciless when you're trying to sell more than 300,000 of anything. Cars such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord--two automobiles that continually battle for the title of "best seller"--are excellent automobiles that can be purchased at bargain prices. This year, however, there's another contender: Nissan's new Altima. It's a larger, roomier sedan with more power than the competition, agile handling, and a remarkable price tag.

Manufacturers need to sell a lot of small cars to meet government-ordained CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) targets. As highlighted in the news since the fuel crisis of the 1970s, the government requires that all cars sold by a manufacturer meet a certain fuel economy number. If the brand fails, there are significant financial penalties. To draw buyers to smaller vehicles, the key is to offer more for the money. The Toyota Corolla is practically a miniature luxury sedan that rides smooth and has excellent performance.

Bargains can also be found in unexpected places. Value isn't just about the price but also what you get for your money. Take the Mercedes-Benz C230, for instance. Starting at around $25,000, it's not an inexpensive car. But the price tag is surprisingly reasonable for a swift and fun sports hatchback that has all the quality and safety features the Mercedes-Benz brand represents.

Picking the best car for your needs among hundreds of models is no easy task. They've all got their own combination of style, function, performance, and value. But as long as you're in the driver's seat, you can choose the car that has the right combination for you.

Family & Function

HONDA Odyssey

  Price Range:   $24,700-$31,000
    Body Type:   4-door minivan
  Engine Type:   V-6 24-valve
 Displacement:   3.5 liters
   Horsepower:   240@5500 rpm
       Torque:   242@4500
 Transmission:   4sp. auto
        Drive:   Front
Mileage (mpg):   18 city/25 hwy

RUNNER'S UP

BUICK RENDEZVOUS//MAZDA MPV//SAAB 9-5

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Fashion Statement

AUDI TT

  Price Range:   $33,000-$39,000
    Body Type:   2-door sports hatchback,
                   roadster
  Engine Type:   I-4 20-valve turbo
 Displacement:   1.8 liters
   Horsepower:   180@5500, 225@5900 rpm
       Torque:   173@1950-4700, 207@2200
 Transmission:   5-, 6-sp. manual
        Drive:   Front, AWD
Mileage (mpg):   22/30-20/28

RUNNER'S UP

CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT//JAGUAR X-TYPE//PONTIAC VIBE

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Most For The Money

NISSAN Altima

  Price Range:   $16,800-$29,000
    Body Type:   4-door sedan
  Engine Type:   I-4 16-valve, V6 24-valve
 Displacement:   2.5, 3.5 liters
   Horsepower:   175@6000, 240@5800 rpm
       Torque:   181@4000, 246@4400
 Transmission:   5-sp. manual, 4-sp. auto.
        Drive:   Front
Mileage (mpg):   19/26-23/29

RUNNER'S UP

MERCEDES BENZ C230//SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7//TOYOTA COROLLA

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Luxury & Extravagance

GMC Yukon Denali

  Price Range:   $47,000-$49,000
    Body Type:   4-door SUV
  Engine Type:   V-8, V-8
 Displacement:   6.0 liters
   Horsepower:   320@5000 rpm
       Torque:   365@4000
 Transmission:   4 sp. auto
        Drive:   AWD
Mileage (mpg):   14 city/18 hwy

RUNNER'S UP

LEXUS LS430//CADILLAC DEVILLE//MERCEDES-BENZ S500

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Sports & Performance

BMW M3 Coupe

  Price Range:   $46,000-$50,000
    Body Type:   2-door coupe
  Engine Type:   I-6 24-valve
 Displacement:   3.2 liters
   Horsepower:   333@7900 rpm
       Torque:   262@4900
 Transmission:   6-sp. manual
        Drive:   Rear
Mileage (mpg):   16 city/24 hwy

RUNNER'S UP

CHEVROLET CORVETTE//HONDA S2000//SUBARU WRX

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Adventure Travel

CHEVROLET Avalanche

  Price Range:   $31,000-$42,000
    Body Type:   4-door pickup/ utility vehicle-hybrid
  Engine Type:   5.3L, V-8
 Displacement:   6.1 liters
   Horsepower:   285@5200 rpm
       Torque:   325@4000
 Transmission:   4 sp. auto
        Drive:   Rear, full/part-time 4WD
Mileage (mpg):   14/18 city-13/1

RUNNER'S UP

TOYOTA LAND CRUISER//MAZDA TRIBUTE//NISSAN XTERRA

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