Savvy shoppers can look at all sorts of statistics when purchasing a vehicle, but drivers who want to make a truly informed decision need to factor in not just the retail price, but the costs that a vehicle can incur as it ages. Edmunds.com tracks this through their "True Cost to Own" measurement, which factors in considerations such as vehicle maintenance costs, depreciation rates, resale value and even insurance premiums.
The website recently revealed their picks for some of the best vehicles across a range of categories. Both Honda and Ford have reason to celebrate, as they each had strong showings, with four vehicles on the list. Ford had the Fiesta, Ranger, Transit Connect and Flex all picked as winners of their respective categories. Honda, meanwhile, had the Civic Hybrid, Ridgeline, Pilot and the Accord, which actually won two categories.
"One of the key factors that pushed many of this year's award winners over the top was their free maintenance plans, which can save car owners hundreds or even thousands of dollars over a five-year period," said Danny Zhou, senior director of data products and operations at Edmunds.com.
Other vehicles that Edmunds recommended include the Chevrolet Silverado, Subaru Outback and Volkswagen CC.