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The Honda Civic is America’s best value car
The 2016 Model Year Honda Civic Sedan. The Civic is Kelley Blue Book's overall Best Buy Awards winner. – AFP Relaxnews pic, November 15, 2015.The annual Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards have been revealed and with them the best new car in each of 12 individual categories, from luxury sedans and performance cars to SUVs and minivans, in terms of price, long-term cost of ownership, maintenance issues and whether or not they bring a smile to the owner's face.
"After carefully analyzing a wealth of data and conducting extensive vehicle testing and evaluation from the hundreds of models available for the 2016 model-year, we chose this year's elite group of 12 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award winners because they proved to be the top values in their class," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com.
For 2016, five of the 12 category awards were scooped by Japanese automakers. The Lexus RX clinched the title of Best Luxury SUV or crossover due to its combination of comfort, reliability and desirability, plus the fact that it's had a total redesign this year.
Honda collected the awards for best Mid-Size SUV or Crossover for the Pilot and best Small SUV or Crossover for its CR-V.
It also retained the Minivan category award for the Odysseyand once again – as for the 2015 awards – was declared Best Small Car for its Civic.
In fact the new Civic was considered such a great proposition that it was also named this year's overall winner.
"Our group of expert vehicle testers chose the totally redesigned 2016 Honda Civic as the Overall Winner in our Best Buy Awards because it sets a new standard in a segment already known for delivering great value, providing an up-level experience to drivers and passengers in every facet of the driving and ownership experience," said Nerad.
Only one European brand made the grade – Mercedes-Benz. Its new C-Class won the Best Luxury Car Award for the second year in a row.
Twelve months after its launch, Kelley Blue Book believes there is still nothing else in the category that can challenge it.
Kia clinched the Best Mid-Size Car award for its Optima and the remaining five category awards went to US manufacturers including Best Performance or Sports Car, which went to the Chevrolet Corvette.
Chevrolet also prevailed in the Best Electric/Hybrid category with the Volt, best Full-Size SUV with the Tahoe and best Full-Size Car with the Impala. All of which left Ford to win Best Truck with its venerable F-150 pickup.
"Kelley Blue Book Best Buys represent the highest level of quality and value of all vehicles available in the American market," said Nerad. – AFP, November 15, 2015.
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