Toyota Prius Tops "Consumer Reports" Ratings - East Idaho News
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Toyota Prius Tops “Consumer Reports” Ratings

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2012 Toyota Prius 002?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1356614974386Toyota(NEW YORK) — The Toyota Prius topped Consumer Reports’ annual list of Best and Worst New-Car Values for the first time, with the magazine saying the hybrid’s cost to operate is about one-half that of a conventional vehicle.

The Prius (at 26,$750 for the Four model) knocked the much cheaper $16,915 base-price Honda Fit out of first place — a position that car has held for the past four years.  Consumer Reports said the Fit’s lower reliability rating was the reason for its fall from number one.

At 49 cents a mile to operate, the Prius costs about half as much to run than the average car, said the magazine, which looked at over 200 models for its annual buying guide.  

Consumer Reports looks at the five-year cost of ownership for each vehicle, road-test scores and predicted reliability.  Toyota and its Lexus cars topped the best values in six of 10 of the magazine’s categories.

These are some of the Consumer Reports best and worst values in the most popular categories:

  • Best Value Small Hatchbacks: Toyota Prius Four
  • Worst Value Small Hatchbacks: Ford Focus SE
  • Best Value Family Sedan: Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE
  • Worst Value Family Sedan: Chrysler 200 Limited (V6)
  • Best Value Large-Luxury SUV: Lexus RX 350
  • Worst Value Large-Luxury SUV: Nissan Armada Platinum
  • Best Value Minivan-Wagon: Toyota Prius V Three
  • Worst Value Minivan-Wagon: Chrysler Town & Country Touring-L
  • Best Value Small SUV: Honda CR-V EX
  • Worst Value Small SUV: Mini Cooper Countryman S

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