Toyota Prius tops Consumer Reports best value list

Finding the right new car takes time and work.

Many people dream of driving a top-of-the-line shiny new car with all the bells and whistles – until the reality of the budget kicks in.

There’s a lot more to getting a good deal than just the sticker price. Buyers must factor in whether the vehicle is a smart investment or even worth the money. The real question, though, should circulate around how much it will cost you in the future.

The Nissan Versa is one of the least expensive cars sold, but Consumer Reports said that its poor reliability means it could cost in the long run.

According to Consumer Reports, paying $500 more for the Hyundai Accent is a better value. It has better reliability and is also a much nicer car. It made Consumer Reports list of the “best new car values.”

“Our value scores are based on three elements: our road-test scores, predicted reliability from our Annual Auto Survey, and our estimate of how much it'll cost to own the car for five years,” said Rik Paul of Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports says the best value is the Toyota Prius. The sticker price is less than $30,000 and over time it costs a very economical 49 cents per mile to own.

On the other end of the spectrum, Consumer Reports said the BMW 750Li costs almost $100,000 and $1.80 per mile to own. It came as the worst value on the list.

“Every category from small cars to SUVs have both good and bad performers,” Paul said. “But if you want some space and want a good value, we recommend a wagon, a small SUV, or a minivan.”

Consumer Reports also said some good choices include the Toyota Sienna and the Mazda5.

For those looking for a smaller vehicle, Consumer Reports said the Mini Cooper's base model is another great value. It's 49 cents per mile to own and has plenty of luxury features.

It is also important to keep in mind that just because a car is an American company doesn't mean all the parts are American made.

The Chevrolet Spark and the Toyota Sienna are good examples of this. Consumer Reports said only 10 percent of the Chevy's parts are American or Canadian Made. With the Toyota, Sienna, 75 percent are American made. That information is typically on the window sticker.