Ranking the Best Cars by Value Rating

The CarEdge Value Rating is determined by using a proprietary algorithm that compares the average purchase price of a new model to its future resale value and ongoing maintenance, repair, and insurance costs. The CarEdge Value Rating provides vehicle shoppers with an unbiased and candid financial assessment of whether a new vehicle model is likely to be a good or bad investment, relative to over 200 other models.

While the CarEdge Value Rating does not measure the qualitative aspects of models, such as ride comfort, styling and handling, a model's resale value will reflect its overall attractiveness in the used vehicle market, which takes into consideration all of these qualities. Importantly, the CarEdge Value Rating does not grade specific trim levels or specific used vehicles, but instead, assesses the model as a whole, and should be used as a guide in which to conduct further research.

New automobiles are rarely money-making investments, but smart vehicle shoppers can minimize their vehicle costs by choosing cars and trucks that better hold their value and are less costly to maintain. Visit our Research pages to learn more about the resale value and costs of the models that interest you.