IntelliChoice.com’s Monthly “Best Deals” List for March 2007 Makes Room for Crossovers

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(EON:Enhanced Online News)--PRIMEDIA’s IntelliChoice.com (www.intellichoice.com), the leading source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis, today announced its “Best Deals of the Month” for March 2007. For the first time, IntelliChoice.com’s monthly list makes room for the increasingly popular category of crossover vehicles, with the 2007 Volkswagen Touareg TDI tops among midsize crossovers. The Ford Escape Hybrid holds down the compact SUV/crossover segment, while the Lexus RX 350 placed first among luxury crossovers.

“In particular, we wanted to offer greater insight into crossovers, which have quickly established themselves as a critical segment with automakers and consumers alike.”

The list also includes a new convertible category, won by MINI Cooper, and luxury convertible category, taken by the 2007 Audi A4 Cabriolet.

“With the summer driving months approaching, IntelliChoice.com is giving consumers a more complete picture of the new car offerings for the year,” said James Bell, publisher of IntelliChoice.com. “In particular, we wanted to offer greater insight into crossovers, which have quickly established themselves as a critical segment with automakers and consumers alike.”

Bell noted that, unlike their truck-based SUV predecessors, crossovers are engineered on their own car-like platform, with independent rear suspension and better handling. Crossovers have garnered increased consumer interest for their combination of practicality, maneuverability and better fuel efficiency.

IntelliChoice.com’s “Best Deals of the Month” identifies new cars, trucks and SUVs with the best ownership cost value in 34 respective classes. Selections are based on current car pricing, market conditions and the lowest national manufacturer consumer new car rebate. In addition, IntelliChoice.com uses the latest information from numerous automotive resources to evaluate what it costs to buy, own, and operate each new model-year trim line over a five-year basis.

The following “Best Deals” for March 2007 are ranked by vehicle type and size:

Class		Brand		Model
Subcompact car		MINI		Cooper Hatchback
Base Sport car		Honda		Civic Si
Compact car over 16000		Honda		Civic Hybrid
Compact car under 16000		Honda		Civic DX
Midsize car over 21000		Toyota		Prius Touring
Midsize car under 21000		Toyota		Prius
Convertible car		MINI		Cooper Convertible
Luxury Convertible car		Audi		A4 2.0T Cabriolet
Near Luxury car		Audi		A4 2.0T Cabriolet
Sport car		Chevrolet		Corvette Coupe
Sport Sedan/Wagon over 38000		Lexus		GS 350
Sport Sedan/Wagon under 38000		Infiniti		G35 Sport
Large car		Toyota		Avalon Touring
Luxury car		Lexus		ES 350
Small Wagon		Toyota		Matrix
Midsize/Large Wagon		Subaru		Outback 2.5i Basic
Compact SUV/Crossover		Ford		Escape Hybrid 2WD
Midsize Crossover		Volkswagen		Touareg TDI
Luxury Crossover		Lexus		RX 350 FWD
Minivan		Honda		Odyssey LX
Full-Size Van		Chevrolet		Express 1500 Passenger
Cargo Van		Ford		Freestar
SUV		Chevrolet		Tahoe LS
Intermediate SUV		Toyota		4Runner SR5 V6 2WD
Luxury SUV		Lexus		GX 470
Compact Pickup truck 2WD		Toyota		Tacoma Regular Cab PreRunner 2WD
Compact Pickup truck 4WD		Toyota		Tacoma Regular Cab 4WD
Full-Size Pickup truck 2WD 1/2 Ton		Ford		F150 Regular Cab XL 2WD Short Bed
Full-Size Pickup truck 2WD 3/4 Ton		Ford		F250 Super Duty Crew Cab XL 2WD Short Bed
Full-Size Pickup truck 2WD One Ton		Ford		F350 Super Duty Super Cab XL 2WD DRW
Full-Size Pickup truck 4WD 1/2 Ton		Chevrolet		Silverado 1500 Extended Cab LT 4WD Short Bed
Full-Size Pickup truck 4WD 3/4 Ton		Ford		F250 Super Duty Crew Cab XL 2WD Short Bed
Full-Size Pickup truck 4WD One Ton		Ford		F350 Super Duty Super Cab XL 2WD DRW

IntelliChoice.com Helps Consumers Do Their Homework

IntelliChoice.com updates vehicle data several times a month in order to capture the many expiring car rebates and ongoing incentive programs offered by manufacturers—giving consumers the most up-to-date analysis.

IntelliChoice.com’s “Best Deals” designation enables consumers to identify how car rebates affect a vehicle’s value throughout ownership and not just at the time of purchase. Ownership costs can vary significantly among different trim lines of the same model. Additionally, IntelliChoice.com continuously updates fuel costs based on the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Vehicles designated an “IntelliChoice.com Best Deal of the Month” are typically cars and trucks that have good to great ownership cost values before any manufacturer rebate. However, a rebate can often turn a good ownership cost value into a great value, and a great value into an “IntelliChoice.com Best Deal of the Month.”

Please visit www.intellichoice.com for more information or to check the auto rebate section of any vehicle report for the most up-to-date incentives.

About IntelliChoice.com

Part of PRIMEDIA's Enthusiast Media, IntelliChoice is the market leader in automotive ownership cost and value analysis. Founded in 1986, IntelliChoice is committed to empowering consumers to make better purchase decisions by providing independent and essential automotive information and tools. Through the IntelliChoice web site (www.intellichoice.com), consumers get the help they need to research, compare, configure and price vehicles. The site also connects buyers to the buying alternatives of their choice, including vehicle manufacturers and an online car buying guide.

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