IntelliChoice.com’s Best New Car Deals for March Driven by Manufacturer Incentives

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(EON:Enhanced Online News)--IntelliChoice.com (www.intellichoice.com), the leading source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis, today announced its “Best Deals of the Month” for cars, trucks, and SUVs for March. The list reveals a new level of volatility among the list of winners due in large part to manufacturer new car incentives. It also delivers a message for car buyers: do your homework.

“There are models that have never been on our list, like the Nissan Xterra and Nissan Titan, which replaces the Chevy Silverado 1500 with help from a $5,000 rebate. Chevy had been king of the full-size truck segment for many months.”

“IntelliChoice.com’s Best Deals of the Month rank a vehicle’s price according to its long-term cost of ownership, which is based on factors like fuel costs and resale value,” said James Bell, publisher and editor of IntelliChoice.com. “Usually, car rebates and other incentives are not enough to alter a car’s or truck’s overall ranking. But that’s the not case this month, as automakers are putting a lot of money ‘on the hood’ of many new cars to help them sell.”

“Huge rebates played a role with virtually all the significant changes we see in our list of winners such as the Hyundai Sonata taking the top spot from the Toyota Avalon. Is this the heaviest season I have seen for consumer belt-tightening PLUS attractive rebates? Quite possibly,” said Bell. “There are models that have never been on our list, like the Nissan Xterra and Nissan Titan, which replaces the Chevy Silverado 1500 with help from a $5,000 rebate. Chevy had been king of the full-size truck segment for many months.”

Bell added that the Nissan Xterra beating out the Toyota 4Runner was a big surprise—but one that shows the power of rebates. “The Xterra’s inventory/overstock situation, paired with a higher rebate, gave Nissan the upper hand. The Xterra offers a $2,500 rebate as opposed to the 4Runner’s $1,500. The Xterra is a good, solid vehicle. But money on the hood of a good car can turn it into a Best Deal,” Bell remarked.

IntelliChoice.com’s “Best Deals of the Month” identify new cars, trucks, and SUV’s with the best ownership cost value in 33 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 2008 are ranked by vehicle type and size

Class		Brand		Model
Subcompact Car		Toyota		Yaris Sedan
Compact Car over $16,000		Honda		Civic Hybrid
Compact Car under $16,000		Honda		Civic Sedan
Midsize Car over $21,000		Toyota		Prius
Midsize Car under $21,000		Toyota		Prius
Convertible		MINI		Cooper Convertible
Luxury Convertible		Audi		A4 Convertible
Near Luxury Car		Lexus		ES
Luxury Car		Infiniti		M35
Large Car		Hyundai		Sonata
Base Sport Car		Volkswagen		R32
Sport Car		Chevrolet		Corvette Convertible
Sport Sedan/Wagon over $38,000		Lexus		GS Hybrid
Sport Sedan Wagon under $38,000		Pontiac		Grand Prix GXP
Compact Utility/Crossover		Mercury		Mariner Hybrid
Midsize Crossover		Honda		Pilot
Luxury Crossover		Lexus		RX 400h
Small Wagon		Scion		xB
Midsize/Large Wagon		Subaru		Outback Wagon
Intermediate Utility		Nissan		Xterra
Full-Size Utility		Chevrolet		Tahoe
Luxury Utility		Lexus		GX
Compact Pickup Truck 2WD		Toyota		Tacoma Regular Cab 2WD
Compact Pickup 4WD		Toyota		Tacoma Regular Cab 4WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD 1/2 Ton		Toyota		Tundra Regular Cab 2WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD 3/4 Ton		Chevrolet		Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 2WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD One Ton		Chevrolet		Silverado 3500 HD Crew Cab 2WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD 1/2 Ton		Nissan		2008.5 Titan King Cab 4WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD 3/4 Ton		Chevrolet		Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 4WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD One Ton		Chevrolet		Silverado 3500 HD Crew Cab 4WD
Minivan		Toyota		Sienna
Full-Size Van		Ford		E150
Cargo Van		Chevrolet		Uplander Cargo Van

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 as “IntelliChoice.com Best Deals of the Month” are typically cars and trucks that have good to great ownership cost values before any manufacturer rebate. 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

IntelliChoice.com, part of SOURCE INTERLINK MEDIA, is the market leader in automotive ownership cost and value analysis. Founded in 1986, IntelliChoice.com is committed to empowering consumers to make better purchase decisions by providing independent and essential automotive information and tools. Through the IntelliChoice.com 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. SOURCE INTERLINK MEDIA is a division of Source Interlink Companies, Inc., (NASDAQ: SORC), a media and marketing services company. Source Interlink (www.sourceinterlink.com) is one of the largest publishers of magazines and online content for enthusiast audiences and a leading distributor of home entertainment products, including DVDs, music CDs, magazines, games, books and related items.

View All Releases from This Organization