IntelliChoice.com's Best New Car Deals For April: Increased Brand Competitiveness Here To Stay For U.S. Market?
CAMPBELL, CA (April 21, 2009) - IntelliChoice.com, the leading source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis, and part of media and marketing services company Source Interlink Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SORC), today announced its "Best Deals of the Month" for April 2009. The list reveals consistency in the mix of brands that have recently edged their way up as top values for consumers and highlights the increasing competitiveness of the U.S. auto market.
"IntelliChoice.com's April Best Deals list shows the growing power of brands such as Hyundai and Lincoln to compete with likes of Toyota and Honda in offering value and quality," said James Bell, editor of IntelliChoice.com. "Similar to last month, we have 20 different nameplates on a list with 31 vehicles. It's not that the brands long known for quality and value are slipping, but that other brands are catching up. The competitive gap is narrowing."
Bell added, "The most noteworthy change on April's list is in the Luxury car segment, based on the strength of rebates. The Saab 9-5 Wagon no longer features a rebate, so it fell off the list and was replaced by the Cadillac DTS, which features a $2000 rebate, and the Lexus LS."
IntelliChoice.com's "Best Deals of the Month" identify new cars, trucks, and SUVs with the best ownership cost value in 31 respective classes. Selections are based on current car prices, market conditions and the lowest national manufacturer 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 car model-year trim line over a five-year basis.
The following "Best Deals" for April 2009 are ranked by vehicle type and size
| Class | Brand | Model |
| Subcompact Car | Toyota | Yaris |
| Compact Car over 17000 | Honda | Civic Hybrid |
| Compact Car under 17000 | Toyota | Corolla |
| Midsize Car over 21000 | Toyota | Prius |
| Midsize Car under 21000 | Toyota | Prius |
| Convertible | MINI | Cooper Convertible |
| Luxury Convertible (tie) | Audi | TT Convertible |
| Near Luxury Car | Lincoln | MKZ |
| Luxury Car (Tie) | Lexus | LS |
| Cadillac | DTS | |
| Large Car | Hyundai | Sonata 4-Cylinder |
| Base Sport Car | Volkswagen | GTi 2-Door |
| Sport Car | Chevrolet | Corvette |
| Wagon | Volkswagen | Jetta TDI Wagon |
| Sport Sedan/Wagon over 38000 | Lexus | GS |
| Sport Sedan/Wagon under 38000 | Mitsubishi | Lancer Ralliart |
| Compact Utility/Crossover (tie) | Mercury | Mariner Hybrid |
| Ford | Escape Hybrid | |
| Mazda | Tribute Hybrid | |
| Midsize Crossover | Toyota | Highlander Hybrid |
| Luxury Crossover | Lexus | RX |
| Intermediate Utility | Hummer | H3 |
| Utility | Toyota | Land Cruiser |
| Luxury SUV | GMC | Envoy Denali |
| Compact Pickup Truck 2WD | Toyota | Tacoma Regular Cab 2WD |
| Compact Pickup Truck 4WD | Toyota | Tacoma 4WD |
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD 1/2 Ton | GMC | Sierra Crew Cab Hybrid 2WD |
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD 3/4 Ton | Chevrolet | Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 2WD |
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD One Ton | Dodge | Ram 3500 Quad Cab 2WD |
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD 1/2 Ton | GMC | Seirra Crew Cab Hybrid 4WD |
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD 3/4 Ton | Chevrolet | Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 4WD |
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD One Ton | Dodge | Ram 3500 Quad Cab 4WD |
| Minivan | Toyota | Sienna |
| Full-Size Van | GMC | Savana 1500 Passenger Van |
IntelliChoice.com Helps Consumers Do Their Homework
IntelliChoice.com updates vehicle data several times a month to capture the latest auto rebates and ongoing incentive programs offered by manufacturers, giving consumers the most up-to-date analysis. IntelliChoice.com's "Best Deals" list 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 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. A rebate can often turn a good ownership cost value into a great one, and a great value into an "IntelliChoice.com Best Deal of the Month."
