Kiplinger's Auto Buying Guide 2008

We've loaded our database with more than 1,000 new cars, SUVs, minivans and wagons. Search by price category, type of vehicle or manufacturer, then use the sorting arrows at the top of each column to rank by miles per gallon, resale value, and more. Not enough information? Click on any vehicle for a complete data sheet. (Kiplinger's 2008 winners are denoted with a red star.)

Sedans Under $20,000

Make/Model	Suggested retail price	Dealer cost	New Car Blue Book Value	Service cost (5 yr.)	Insurance cost (1 yr.)	Resale value (3 yr.)	Horse- power	MPG city/hwy.	Cargo Room (Cu. ft.)
Chevrolet Aveo LS 4dr	$12,730	$12,061	$12,666	$4,116	$1,448	50%	103	24/34	12.4
Chevrolet Aveo LT 4dr	14,365	13,606	14,293	4,116	1,533	50	103	24/34	12.4
Chevrolet Aveo5 LS 4dr hatch	12,580	11,919	12,517	4,116	1,376	51	103	24/34	7.0
Chevrolet Aveo5 SVM 4dr hatch	10,595	10,043	10,542	4,116	1,376	49	103	24/34	7.0
Chevrolet Cobalt LS 2dr	14,330	13,576	14,330	2,262	1,533	47	148	24/33	13.9
Chevrolet Cobalt LS 4dr	14,330	13,576	14,330	2,262	1,448	48	148	24/33	13.9
Chevrolet Cobalt LT 2dr	15,030	14,237	15,030	2,262	1,576	48	148	24/33	13.9
Chevrolet Cobalt LT 4dr	15,030	14,237	15,030	2,262	1,489	49	148	24/33	13.9
Chevrolet Cobalt Sport 2dr	19,530	18,490	19,530	2,786	1,489	47	171	22/32P	13.9
Chevrolet Cobalt Sport 4dr	19,530	18,490	19,530	2,786	1,489	49	171	22/32P	13.9
Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr	19,995	18,931	NA	2,676	1,412	NA	169	22/30	15.1
Chrysler PT Cruiser	15,655	14,804	15,577	2,881	1,344	43	150	21/26e	21.2
Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible	19,070	17,986	18,975	2,953	1,412	46	150	21/26P	13.3
Chrysler PT Cruiser Touring	19,570	18,366	19,472	2,953	1,412	45	150	21/26e	21.2
Chrysler Sebring LX 4dr	19,365	18,041	18,978	3,440	1,412	42	173	21/30	13.6
Dodge Avenger SE 4dr	19,265	17,936	18,205	3,349	1,412	47	173	21/30	13.4
Dodge Caliber R/T 4dr hatch	18,955	17,759	18,860	3,058	1,412	53	172	23/29	18.5
Dodge Caliber SE 4dr hatch	14,560	13,760	14,414	2,649	1,284	51	148	24/29	18.5
Dodge Caliber SXT 4dr hatch	17,180	16,144	17,008	2,797	1,344	54	148	24/29	18.5
Ford Focus S 2dr	14,695	13,909	14,695	2,795	1,533	46	136	24/35	13.8
Ford Focus S 4dr	14,995	14,185	14,995	2,795	1,376	47	136	24/35	13.8
Ford Focus SE 2dr	15,695	14,678	15,695	2,795	1,533	46	136	24/35	13.8
Ford Focus SE 4dr	15,995	14,951	15,995	2,795	1,376	47	136	24/35	13.8
Ford Focus SES 2dr	16,695	15,588	16,695	2,819	1,533	46	136	24/35	13.8
Ford Focus SES 4dr	16,995	15,861	16,995	2,819	1,376	47	136	24/35	13.8
Ford Fusion S 4dr	18,495	17,346	18,310	3,573	1,376	50	160	20/29	15.8
Ford Fusion SE 4dr	19,420	18,001	19,266	3,573	1,412	51	160	20/29	15.8
Honda Civic DX 2dr	15,445	14,279	15,368	2,507	1,489	62	140	26/34	11.5
Honda Civic DX 4dr	15,645	14,462	15,567	2,507	1,376	62	140	26/34	12.0
Honda Civic EX 2dr	19,345	17,856	19,248	2,583	1,705	62	140	26/34	11.5
Honda Civic EX 4dr	19,345	17,856	19,248	2,583	1,448	62	140	26/34	12.0
Honda Civic LX 2dr	17,395	16,067	17,308	2,583	1,576	62	140	26/34	11.5
Honda Civic LX 4dr	17,595	16,251	17,507	2,583	1,412	62	140	26/34	12.0
Honda Fit 4dr hatch	14,585	14,088	14,658	2,234	1,376	65	109	28/34	21.3
Honda Fit Sport 4dr hatch	15,905	15,355	15,985	2,322	1,412	64	109	28/34	21.3
Hyundai Accent GLS 4dr	13,545	13,213	13,477	2,712	1,533	52	110	27/32	12.4
Hyundai Accent GS 2dr hatch	11,395	11,160	11,338	2,704	1,448	48	110	27/32	15.9
Hyundai Accent SE 2dr hatch	15,195	14,789	15,119	2,804	1,576	48	110	27/32	15.9
Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr	14,145	13,786	14,004	3,097	1,284	51	138	24/33	14.2
Hyundai Elantra SE 4dr	16,845	16,202	16,677	3,097	1,284	51	138	24/33	14.2
Hyundai Sonata GLS 4dr	18,345	17,624	18,162	3,793	1,489	44	162	21/31	16.3
Kia Optima LX 4dr	16,995	16,075	NA	3,542	1,412	NA	162	21/31	14.8
Kia Rio 4dr	11,515	11,090	11,400	2,880	1,448	48	110	27/32	11.9
Kia Rio LX 4dr	13,440	12,785	13,306	2,888	1,448	50	110	27/32	11.9
Kia Rio SX 4dr	14,240	13,540	14,098	2,944	1,448	49	110	27/32	11.9
Kia Rio5 LX 4dr hatch	13,540	12,875	13,405	2,944	1,533	49	110	27/32	15.8
Kia Rio5 SX 4dr hatch	14,495	13,785	14,350	NA	NA	49	110	27/32	15.8
Kia Spectra EX 4dr	15,520	14,550	15,442	3,177	1,489	44	138	23/30	12.2
Kia Spectra LX 4dr	13,520	12,970	13,452	3,006	1,489	44	138	23/30	12.2
Kia Spectra SX 4dr	16,620	15,580	16,537	3,309	1,489	45	138	23/30	12.2
Kia Spectra5 SX 4dr hatch	16,620	15,580	16,537	3,138	1,576	44	138	23/30	18.3
Mazda Mazda3 i Sport 4dr	14,530	13,657	14,385	3,412	1,489	59	144	24/32	11.5
Mazda Mazda3 s Sport 4dr	18,070	16,957	17,889	3,517	1,576	58	151	22/29	11.5
Mazda Mazda3 s Sport 4dr hatch	18,560	17,414	18,374	3,741	1,705	58	151	22/29	17.1
Mazda Mazda3 s Touring 4dr	19,060	17,881	18,869	3,517	1,576	58	151	22/29	11.5
Mazda Mazda3 s Touring 4dr hatch	19,060	17,881	18,869	3,741	1,705	59	151	22/29	17.1
Mazda Mazda3i Touring 4dr	16,890	15,857	16,721	3,409	1,489	59	144	24/32	11.5
Mazda Mazda6 i Sport 4dr	19,625	18,184	19,233	3,968	1,533	51	156	21/29	15.2
Mercury Milan 4dr	19,450	18,063	19,450	3,573	1,412	47	160	20/29	15.8
Mini Cooper 2dr	18,700	16,895	NA	4,539	1,489	NA	118	28/37e	5.7
Mitsubishi Lancer DE 4dr	14,615	13,953	14,469	3,092	1,313	53	152	21/29	11.6
Mitsubishi Lancer ES 4dr	16,715	15,954	16,548	3,092	1,344	54	152	21/29	11.6
Mitsubishi Lancer GTS 4dr	18,215	17,383	18,033	3,944	1,376	52	152	21/29	11.6
Nissan Altima 2.5 4dr	18,855	18,487	18,666	2,824	1,576	62	175	23/32	15.3
Nissan Sentra 4dr	16,375	15,734	16,211	2,527	1,344	62	140	25/33	13.1
Nissan Sentra S 4dr	16,605	15,537	16,439	2,571	1,344	62	140	24/31	13.1
Nissan Sentra SL 4dr	19,305	18,048	19,112	2,631	1,344	62	140	25/33	13.1
Nissan Versa S 4dr	13,255	12,818	13,255	2,647	1,284	57	122	26/31	13.8
Nissan Versa S 4dr hatch	13,355	12,914	13,355	2,647	1,257	57	122	26/31	17.8
Nissan Versa SL 4dr hatch	15,355	14,837	15,355	2,647	1,257	59	122	26/31	17.8
Pontiac G5 2dr	15,565	14,743	15,565	2,440	1,576	49	148	24/33	13.9
Pontiac G5 GT 2dr	19,675	18,627	19,675	2,773	1,814	51	171	22/32P	13.9
Pontiac G6 Value Leader 4dr	18,545	17,561	18,360	2,743	1,489	49	164	22/30e	13.0
Saturn Astra XE 4dr hatch	15,995	14,996	NA	NA	NA	NA	138	24/32e	12.2
Saturn Astra XR 2dr hatch	18,495	17,333	NA	NA	NA	NA	138	24/32e	12.0
Saturn Astra XR 4dr hatch	17,545	16,445	NA	NA	NA	NA	138	24/32e	12.2
Scion tC 2dr hatch	17,620	16,770	17,620	3,235	1,705	62	161	20/27	12.8
Scion tC Spec 2dr hatch	15,920	15,155	15,920	3,047	1,705	62	161	20/27	12.8
Scion xB 4dr	16,270	15,487	16,351	2,827	1,284	62	158	22/28	21.7
Scion xD 4dr hatch	15,170	14,442	15,170	2,588	1,284	62	128	27/33	10.5
smart fortwo passion 2dr	14,235	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	71	40/45e	7.8
smart fortwo passion convertible	17,235	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	71	40/45e	7.8
smart fortwo pure 2dr	12,235	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	71	40/45e	7.8
Subaru Impreza 2.5i AWD 4dr	17,640	16,891	17,464	3,933	1,972	62	170	20/27	11.3
Subaru Impreza 2.5i AWD 4dr w/ Premium Pkg	19,140	18,279	18,949	4,091	1,972	62	170	20/27	11.3
Suzuki Forenza 4dr	14,874	14,304	14,874	4,215	1,576	39	127	20/28	12.4
Suzuki Forenza Convenience 4dr	15,274	14,688	NA	4,215	1,576	NA	127	20/28	12.4
Suzuki Reno 4dr hatch	14,224	13,680	14,224	4,215	1,376	40	127	20/28	8.8
Suzuki SX4 AWD 4dr hatch	15,895	15,284	15,816	4,641	1,376	50	143	21/28	16.0
Suzuki SX4 Convenience AWD 4dr hatch	16,395	15,764	NA	4,641	1,376	NA	143	21/28	16.0
Suzuki SX4 Sport 4dr	15,395	14,804	15,318	4,681	1,376	50	143	22/30	15.0
Suzuki SX4 Sport Convenience 4dr	15,895	15,284	NA	4,681	1,376	NA	143	22/30	15.0
Suzuki SX4 Sport Touring 4dr	16,895	16,244	NA	4,681	1,376	NA	143	22/30	15.0
Suzuki SX4 Touring AWD 4dr hatch	17,495	16,820	NA	4,641	1,376	NA	143	21/28	16.0
Toyota Camry CE 4dr	19,230	17,649	18,884	2,922	1,313	58	158	21/31	15.0
Toyota Corolla CE 4dr	15,065	13,984	14,963	2,439	1,489	62	126	28/37	13.6
Toyota Corolla LE 4dr	16,275	14,791	15,826	2,443	1,489	62	126	28/37	13.6
Toyota Corolla S 4dr	16,110	14,641	15,666	2,443	1,489	62	126	28/37	13.6
Toyota Yaris 2dr hatch	11,960	11,282	11,903	2,829	1,257	62	106	29/36	9.3
Toyota Yaris 4dr	12,835	12,103	12,769	2,829	1,257	62	106	29/36	12.9
Toyota Yaris S 2dr hatch	13,635	12,855	13,562	2,929	1,257	62	106	29/36	9.3
Toyota Yaris S 4dr	14,335	13,513	14,256	2,929	1,257	62	106	29/36	13.7
Volkswagen Jetta S 4dr	17,630	16,830	17,542	3,174	1,412	62	170	21/29	16.0
Volkswagen New Beetle S 2dr hatch	18,005	16,920	17,915	3,393	1,313	62	150	20/28	27.1
Volkswagen Rabbit 2dr hatch	16,130	15,336	16,130	3,030	1,412	62	170	22/29	15.0
Volkswagen Rabbit 4dr hatch	18,125	17,600	18,125	3,030	1,412	62	170	22/29	15.0

NA - information not available. e - estimate. P - premium gasoline. D - diesel fuel. F - flex-fuel vehicle. H - hybrid vehicle. SOURCES - Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com (new vehicle data); Vincentric (service and insurance costs).

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