Looking for an affordable, reliable new car before summer? This Memorial Day weekend is a good time to hit the showrooms for deals on a new car primed for a road trip adventure. Dealers are in the final crunch to make their end-of-the-month sales quota this coming weekend, and the holiday weekend typically brings out additional incentives, putting shoppers in a strong position to negotiate a great deal on a good car. For our holiday deals, we have listed 2012 models that offer the best discounts—between 15 percent and 20 percent below MSRP. But dealers may be interested in negotiating further to reach their sales quota and to move vehicles off the lots. Also, you may find local deals and incentives, so check our pricing information on the model pages. As the model year approaches summer, it is wise to monitor which vehicles will be replaced for 2013. On this list, several deals—such as the Ford Escape, Ford Fusion, and Honda Accord—will soon be supplanted by next-generation models. The models listed below are just a few of our Best New Car Deals , meaning there are notable discounts on models that meet Consumer Reports’ criteria to be recommended. These vehicles scored well in our testing, had average or better reliability in our subscriber survey, and performed well in government or insurance-industry safety tests, if evaluated. See our full list of deals on 2012 models. Make & model Expires MSRP Invoice price Customer rebate Dealer incentive Bottom line price Go here to see the original: Best new car deals for the 2012 Memorial Day weekend

BMW replaces the Japanese automaker Toyota as the world’s most valuable car brand. The annual ranking is conducted by Millward Brown as part of the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands study. Same report says Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Audi have improved their brand value as well. Peter Walshe, Millward Brown global brand director, said that BMW has been able to effectively communicate what sets it apart from other carmakers, while still delivering “a very decent product.” “As one of the great brands in the world, BMW has been absolutely consistent in the long-term regarding what is meaningfully different about their brand, in highly competitive market places,” Walshe said. Last time BMW was awarded the number 1 spot was in 2010, while Toyota held the top spot for three years between 2006 and 2009. The Japanese automaker came back once again in 2011 to take the reign. The German automakers improved their position due to their increasing position in the Asian market, more specifically China. The Japanese automakers have been affected by earthquakes, tsunami and other disasters. “Toyota is certainly seen as a good value, very reliable and very trustworthy, which are all tremendous qualities, especially for mid-range buyers,” Walshe said. “The problem with Toyota has to do with its financials, not brand, due to the disasters, which were clearly out of its control.” Hyundai’s brand recognition continues to increase and it’s the first Korean automaker to enter the top 10. Overall, the 2012 Top 100 ranking is led by Apple, which has a brand value of $182.9 billion and ranks first for the second year in a row. IBM, with a brand value of $116.0 billion, took the No. 2 from Google, which now ranks third and is valued at $107.9 billion. Worthy brands World’s most valuable car brands in $ billion; rank in top 100; % change from 2011 1. BMW $24.6 — (23) 10 2. Toyota $21.8 — (28) -10 3. Mercedes $16.1 — (46) 5 4. Honda $12.7 — (65) -11 5. Nissan $9.9 — (81) -2 6. VW $8.5 — (95) 15 7. Ford $7.0 — * -5 8. Audi $4.7 — 23 9. Hyundai $3.6 — – 10. Lexus $3.4 — -7 * Did not qualify for the top 100 [Source: Millward Brown via...

To achieve their fuel economy goals, consumers are willing to make some sacrifices when choosing their next new car, according to our latest car owner survey about the impact of rising fuel prices. Chief among them, more than half of car owners would compromise size or capacity with their next car. About half would concede amenities or comfort. On these facets, there were no significant gender differences, although those survey respondents whose household income is less than $50,000 were more willing to compromise than those from more-affluent households. These identified concessions would yield the expected fuel economy gains. Moving down a size class can mean a significant reduction in weight and potentially a smaller, more efficient powertrain. For example, moving from a Honda Pilot to a Honda CR-V would gain 5 mpg overall, based on Consumer Reports’ tests. Plus, the smaller vehicle would likely cost less to purchase, own, and operate. Downsizing can mean sacrificing comfort, as there is generally less passenger space in a smaller vehicle. Reflecting the trend for consumers making such a shift, many newer, small vehicles offer a rich compliment of amenities. Another way to save fuel with a new car is to cut back on performance, going from, say, a six-cylinder to a four-cylinder engine. However, the consumers we spoke with were less eager to make this shift. Interestingly, men were more willing than women to compromise on performance (45 vs. 29 percent). Compromise Percentage Size or capacity 58 Amenities or comfort 52 Performance 37 Safety 12 None of these 15 These are among findings from a random, nationwide telephone survey conducted by Consumer Reports National Research Center in April, 2012, contacting 2,009 adults. The Center interviewed 1,702 adults in households that had at least one car. For more insights from this survey, read: ” High gas prices motivate drivers to change direction “. Related: Survey shows high fuel costs cause downsizing, less driving Read more here:  Consumers are willing to compromise to achieve better fuel economy

For most of its history, the Volkswagen Jetta was the three-box version of the two-box Golf hatchback , which also meant that the performance-oriented Jetta GLI was simply the sedan version of the coveted 10Best-winning GTI. The Jetta’s sixth-generation makeover , however, included plopping the four-door onto new underpinnings. The idea was to give it a bigger back seat, a larger trunk, and reduced complexity to better compete with the likes of the Honda Civic, the Ford Focus, and the Toyota Corolla. (The Golf will move to VW’s new MQB architecture .) (more…) More: 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Long-Term Test: Halfway Through the 40,000-Mile Gauntlet View original here: 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Long-Term Test: Halfway Through the 40,000-Mile Gauntlet

Perhaps you’ve seen the TV ad showing a CX-5 zoom-zooming across a dry lake and then whistling past an array of scientific apparatus, staffed by a bevy of guys in lab coats who seem to be deliriously happy with what they’re witnessing. The spot suggests a dynamic trait—speed—that isn’t readily apparent in the CX-5’s real-world persona. Or, more accurately, acceleration, since speed can be summoned. Eventually. (more…) Here is the original: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Sport Manual: Fun, not Fast Read the original: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Sport Manual: Fun, not Fast

The king of cheap rides? Can a hybrid or plug-in ever be the most cost-effective new car buy? In this sluggish economy, many new car buyers want to spend less on a new ride, plus they want to save money on their monthly fuel bill. Obviously, saving money on a fuel bill makes you think of hybrid and electric cars. Of course, MSRP and total costs of ownership are also part of this equation. Thus, when it comes to the cheapest rides — the total cost of ownership after 5 years — can hybrid and plug-in cars compete? To start with I’m going to use data provided by Forbes regarding the cheapest cars to own considering total cost of ownership after 5 years. In terms of all cars, the Nissan Versa is the cheapest car. After 5 years, the Versa’s total cost of ownership is $25,868, or $.34 cents per mile to own. The cheapest hybrid or plug-in, on the other hand is the Honda Insight, at a total cost of $30,659, or $.41 cents per mile. So, did hybrid cars and plug-ins just get crushed? To start with, a base Honda Insight offers more standard equipment than a base Versa, plus the base Versa is a manual. To upgrade to an automatic transmission, you have to add $2100. The next level Versa costs around $4,000 more than the base model and includes a manual transmission and some of the extra features the Insight offers compared to the base, but it also offers more upgrades than the Insight. So, after 5 years, the Insight can’t compete with the cheapest conventional car. All things considered, I’m going to give the Versa a $1,000 advantage. But just to be generous, let’s say its $2000 (Assuming automatic transmission. If you want a manual, hybrids and plug-ins can’t compete.). As a result, after 10 years the Insight wins. Saving an extra $500 in fuel per year provides the Insight with another $2500 in fuel savings after another 5 years. Thus, if you think long term, a hybrid purchase is a very cost-effective purchase. Nevertheless, it’s a lot easier for most ‘cheap’ buyers to spend less upfront. And that has me thinking about a hybrid like the Toyota Prius c. The c hybrid costs a bit over $1,000 more than the Insight, which is probably why the Insight still wins after 5 years. But the c’s better fuel economy has...

The Scion tC is a small, sporty coupe with an affordable price, an attractive interior design, and an extensive list of standard features for the money. Top rivals include the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, and Kia Forte Koup. First offered for 2005, the original tC was essentially a U.S. version of the Toyota Avensis, a vehicle that had already met… Original post: Scion tC

The Kia Rio nameplate applies to a family of inexpensive, South Korean-produced subcompact sedans and hatchbacks. The Rio has for many years been among the lowest-priced models for sale in the U.S. market—with a strong set of features for the money—but with its last redesign, for the 2012 model year, it makes significant advances in… See the original post here:  Kia Rio

We’re heading into the busy summer travel season and if a road trip is in your getaway plans, a used SUV may be a good choice to fit the family and gear. As we have been reminded by our recent tests, new SUVs can be pricey. To make shopping easier, we have identified some of the best used deals on small and midsized SUVs. Buying a used car has many benefits. Most important is that the original owner takes the initial depreciation hit, as new cars lose much more value in the first and second years than those that follow. And, if you look for a used vehicle from a recent model year, you can still find one that is safe and reliable with key safety features such as electronic stability control and curtain air bags, while also saving on the purchase price. When shopping, look for vehicles that scored well in Consumer Reports’ tests when new, have proven reliability, and perform well in government and insurance industry crash tests. Before handing over the cash, have the vehicle inspected by a trained and trusted mechanic to make sure there are no hidden problems. Check out our top deals for recommended vehicles from the 2007-2008 model years in the chart below. We placed the vehicles in order of the cheapest price you might be able to get when buying from the dealer. As you’ll see, the models listed below are between 21- and 41-percent less than the retail price when the vehicle was new. Plus, all of the models have at least average reliability according to our latest subscriber survey. Make & model MSRP (new) Buying from dealer avg price Drop in retail value vs. MSRP 2007 Kia Sportage 18,895 11,150 41% 2008 Kia Sportage 19,045 12,825 33% 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander 23,770 13,150 45% 2008 Hyundai Tucson 19,520 13,275 32% 2007 Hyundai Tucson 22,495 13,800 39% 2007 Honda CR-V 20,600 14,200 31% 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander 23,330 14,650 37% 2007 Toyota RAV4 22,985 15,575 32% 2008 Honda CR-V 20,700 15,700 24% 2008 Nissan Rogue 20,450 15,750 23% 2007 Honda Pilot 28,395 15,775 44% 2008 Honda Pilot 27,575 16,425 40% 2007 Toyota Highlander 28,965 17,075 41% 2008 Subaru Forester 22,495 17,825 21% 2007 Mazda CX-9 29,035 17,875 38% 2008 Toyota RAV4 24,685 18,075 27% 2007 Subaru Forester 28,695 19,650 32% 2007 Acura RDX 32,995 22,375 32% 2008 Acura RDX 33,195...

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and if a new car is on the wish list, there are many choices from which to select the perfect one. Whether she is a mother with young children or teens, has an outdoorsy or sporty personality, or an empty nester dreaming of retirement, we have test-based recommendations on good, safe, and reliable new cars. New moms All mothers naturally place a priority on safety, but new moms also need plenty of cargo room to fit all the baby gear. A small SUV can be the ideal choice for carting around your new bundle of joy. Their elevated height means easy-on-your-back installation of the baby seat. The Honda CR-V , Subaru Forester , and Toyota RAV4 all score well in Consumer Reports tests and have excellent safety scores and reliability. Plus, they deliver relatively decent fuel economy. Environmental moms If you’re looking for a fuel-efficient vehicle, it’s hard to top the Toyota Prius . It has an average fuel economy of 44 mpg overall, roomy interior, and excellent reliability. However, if you need something a little larger, the Prius V wagon adds even more second-row and cargo space, while delivering a still-excellent 41 mpg overall. Sporty moms Moms who want a sporty ride, but still need a backseat to tote kids around, may want to look at the BMW X3 , Volkswagen Tiguan ; sporty wagons such as the Acura TSX or Audi A4 ; or a hot hatch like the Volkswagen GTI . All are relatively practical, deliver good acceleration, braking, and handling and are fun to drive. Adventurous moms With the warmer weather here and more opportunity for fun in the sun, moms who like to spend time outdoors will need a car that can fit items such as bikes, camping equipment, and beach gear. The Subaru Outback is a rugged wagon with generous cargo space, plus good fuel economy. If mom likes to hit the trails or tow recreational toys, the powerful-and-refined Jeep Grand Cherokee can handle some off-roading adventures, too. Empty-nester moms If the mom in your life now has time for herself, a sedan a good choice for everyday outings, vacations, and trips to see the grandkids. The Toyota Camry is comfortable and refined, with a nice interior. Fuel economy is excellent at 27 mpg for the four-cylinder. For more space, consider the roomy Toyota Avalon...

In major metropolitan areas, motorcycles appeal to some commuters for their ability to split lanes, thereby squeezing between slow-moving cars, as well as to save fuel and be easier to park. However, a new survey by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) shows that drivers have mixed feelings about this practice, and more significantly, it highlights the dangers. Released to support Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month , the survey explored issues of perceived legality and risk. It found among the 733 licensed car drivers surveyed that only 53 percent knew that lane splitting is legal in California. Further, 63 percent either somewhat or strongly disapprove of it. An OTS spokesman told us that California is the only state in which there is no law concerning lane splitting. The OTS also surveyed 560 motorcyclists, almost half (45.9 percent) of whom ride just for pleasure on the weekends. About a third (30.8 percent) ride for fun and commuting, while about a fifth (18 percent) use their motorcycle to ride to work. When asked how far they ride on a typical day, the distances were great, averaging 72 miles. This was skewed by long-distances tourers, and the median was a still significant 50 miles. Three-quarters (77.6 percent) of the group said they lane split when riding on the freeway, and this is done at a much higher frequency by men (79.7 percent) than women (48.6 percent). So, we’ve established: It is legal in California. It is common. And now, the survey shows it is rather dangerous. The bulk of the riders have never been in an accident as a result of lane splitting, but that still leaves 14.9 percent who either hit a vehicle or were they themselves hit. About half (45.2 percent) said they nearly hit a vehicle—no surprise given the tight squeeze often associated with lane splitting. Of those involved in an accident, 34.6 percent said they struck a car side mirror, 11.1 percent had minor injuries, and 9.9 percent suffered severe injuries. When lane splitting, a quarter of the motorcycles (24.1 percent) reported going 5 mph faster than other traffic. A larger 42.1 percent travel 10 mph faster than traffic, and 20.5 said they go 15 mph faster than traffic. The vast majority report lane splitting when traffic is at a standstill (32.9 percent) or...

The original FT-HS hybrid concept at NAIAS in 2007 Do Supra fans want a $60,000, 400-hp hybrid? Since at least 2007, Toyota has been kicking around the idea of a sporty hybrid, but just how sporty has been a bit unclear. Would the new hybrid follow more in the lines of the Honda CR-Z hybrid that offers a sporty look and sportier drive than most hybrids, but isn’t really a sport’s car? Or would it be a real horsepower-loaded sports car? In the last few years a Supra replacement has been the hot idea, and Toyota could be ready to offer a new Supra hybrid by 2015. According to MotorTrend the all-wheel drive, 400-hp Supra hybrid has not been officially approved, and it probably won’t be confirmed until the economy improves a bit more. One way or another, however, a sporty hybrid from Toyota does seem inevitable. If the Supra hybrid gets the nod, I wonder about the market. Is there a market? Supra fans on MotorTrend don’t seem too happy with the idea of a hybrid powertrain, but I’m betting they might change their mind if Toyota can kick up the torque thanks to a burst of electric power, for instance. Still, it’s not going to be an easy sell. In my opinion a Toyota sporty hybrid should follow the path of the CR-Z, but backed up with about twice as much horsepower — around 200 hp — instead of 4 times as much. Think of consumers that might like the idea of a Prius, but that want something with more power and, definitely, a more sporty look. It doesn’t have to have super car horsepower. If someone is going to buy a sporty hybrid, it’s not pure performance they want. It’s higher fuel economy in a sporty package that can offer an occasional burst of performance. Nevertheless, I have to admit that I’d be interested to see if Toyota could use its hybrid technology to convince a consumer group like Supra fans, that are often driven by hybrid-hate, that hybrid cars are better. That might make the Supra hybrid worth the effort. Go here to see the original:  Stupid? Toyota’s 400 hp super Supra hybrid car

Filed under: Latest News Honda has developed a system that can detect whether a driver is likely to cause a traffic jam, then take measures to prevent it happening. Hallelujah! It’s actually remarkably simple, and based on the notion that adopting an ‘on/off’ driving style on a motorway – in which a driver accelerates and decelerates rather than maintaining a smooth, constant speed – can trigger congestion. We’ve all been stuck in motorway tailbacks that are apparently caused by nothing. Research suggests that these jams are often caused by that special group of tailgating, brake-tapping, outside lane-hogging drivers who ruin motorways for everyone . What Honda’s system does is detect this particular driving style and does something about it. Sadly, that ’something’ doss not involve a hand appearing from the steering wheel boss and slapping the offender in the face. Instead, it provides a colour-coded display on the dash that encourages smooth driving. In future, it will also be able to connect the car to a ‘cloud’ computer server that will make cruise control systems ‘talk’ to each other, and work in harmony to keep rows of cars an appropriate distance apart. Honda says that the system improves average speeds by a significant 23% (proving the folly of the aforementioned group), as well as reduces overall fuel consumption by 8%. Developed in conjunction with the University of Tokyo, the system is still in development, but will be trialled on public roads for the first time this month, in Italy and Indonesia.   Excerpt from: Honda develops clever traffic jam avoidance technology See the original post: Honda develops clever traffic jam avoidance technology

Filed under: Latest News Satellite navigation giant TomTom has launched an iPhone app that “improves safety by keeping users informed about speed limits during their journey.” That’s one way of looking at the company’s new Speed Camera app. Another way is that it encourages drivers to look at their phones behind the wheel in order to avoid getting caught speeding. Launched yesterday, the app includes the location of 95% of fixed speed cameras, and has the backing of 1.6m users in 15 countries, any of which can update the database with the location of temporary or mobile cameras. The app gives a countdown of the distance to a camera as the driver is approaching it. It can also monitor a vehicle’s speed so that a driver can avoid getting caught in an average speed enforcement zone. “We all know that confident driving is safer driving,” said TomTom’s Gerry Hinds, “and that’s why we’re so pleased that we can now offer this accessible service to a much larger segment of the driving community.” The app costs £3.99 for one month or £26.99 for twelve, although TomTom us currently offering introductory prices of £1.99/£16.99. On a completely different topic, it’s illegal and stupid to use your mobile phone while driving . The best way to avoid a speeding fine is to avoid speeding.   Original post:  TomTom releases iPhone app that detects speed cameras Originally posted here: TomTom releases iPhone app that detects speed cameras

Filed under: Latest News Let’s face it, hybrid vehicles aren’t really that exciting . And nor are HGVs. And nor are Volvos, if we’re honest. So a hybrid Volvo HGV is unlikely to be the most riveting thing in the world. Wrong. The Mean Green (above) is pretty awesome – it’s a world speed record holder that’s just recorded a standing kilometre and a flying kilometre faster than any truck before it. At Wendover Airfield in Utah, USA, Mean Green recorded the former at 95mph and the latter at 147mph, sanctioned by the FIA, motoring’s international governing body. It actually took the records from itself, having achieved speeds of 94mph and 136mph in June 2011 at Hultsfred Airport in Sweden. Despite its looks, the majority of Mean Green is standard production fayre, says Volvo (aside from the painted on grille and headlamps, obviously). That said, the engine is a “highly tuned” version of the company’s D16 diesel. And by “highly tuned,” Volvo means it has 2,100bhp and 5,000lb.ft. To use a common frame of reference, that’s twice the power… best Clarkson voice at the ready …of a Bugatti Veyron. Around 200bhp of that power comes from an electric motor, making it a ‘green’ by definition, even though it’s probably gulping diesel at a rate of gpm. That’s gallons per mile.   Go here to see the original:  Volvo’s ‘mean green’ truck breaks two world speed records View post: Volvo’s ‘mean green’ truck breaks two world speed records