In a year that saw several new nameplates join the list, only five brands won multiple awards: Toyota (9), Chevrolet (8), Lexus (4), Honda (3) and MINI (2). IntelliChoice.com named the  Chevrolet Corvette Convertible the Best Overall Car Over $24,000. 2008 marks the second consecutive year that Toyota and GM have vied for the highest total number of IntelliChoice.com's Best Overall Values of the Year.

"There is a diverse mix of automakers among the car winners," said James Bell, publisher and editor of IntelliChoice.com. "But Toyota and GM account for more than half the total list of winners. Toyota is a perennial leader in quality and value, but these findings also speak to the tremendous strides that GM has made in recent years in delivering desirable, durable, and high-value vehicles."

"The BOVY Awards are an important guide at a time when consumers are tightening their belts," said Bell. "They tell us which cars, trucks and Crossover/SUVs deliver the most bang for the buck. With indicators pointing to a tough 2008, it is vital that buyers do their homework and determine the vehicles that fit their budget."

Now in its 22nd year, IntelliChoice.com's "Best Overall Value of the Year" awards recognize vehicles whose cost of ownership is significantly lower than expected compared to competitive models in the same class. The awards provide a quick reference to finding vehicles that promise the best return on investment. A listing of this year's winners and additional information on the awards can be found online at www.IntelliChoice.com.

Rather than focusing solely on sticker price, IntelliChoice.com uses multiple criteria such as depreciation/retained value, maintenance and repair costs, fuel costs, insurance and state fees to analyze the value of every vehicle. Against these criteria, buyers can expect a lower cost of ownership for BOVY winners in relation to what they would expect a vehicle in its class to cost. In other words, as a vehicle's price rises, costs would be expected to rise along with it. Not so for IntelliChoice.com?s Best Overall Values of the Year.

"It is important to note that a low sticker price or even low ownership costs do not necessarily make a vehicle a good value," said Bell. "IntelliChoice.com's Best Overall Value of the Year awards recognize those vehicles whose total cost of ownership is significantly lower than expected compared to its peers. These vehicles are not just excellent values, but the top-ranked models in their respective classes."

How IntelliChoice.com Determines "Best Overall Value"

2008 marks IntelliChoice.com's twenty-second year publishing ownership cost and value analysis. For the Best Overall Value of the Year (BOVY) awards, IntelliChoice.com analyzes nearly 2000 models to identify the vehicles that promise the best return on investment within their respective classes. IntelliChoice.com aggregates and analyzes data from auto manufacturers, the U.S. government, and third-party data resources to determine the actual costs of ownership of new vehicles over a five-year period, and assigns a value rating to all mainstream vehicles sold in America each year. This insightful value rating factors the accumulated ownership costs of depreciation, maintenance, repairs, fuel, fees, financing, and insurance to identify the true standout models in each class.

INTELLICHOICE.COM 2008 BEST OVERALL VALUES OF THE YEAR
Cars
Subcompact Class - MINI Cooper Hatchback
Compact Class under $17,000 - Honda Civic Sedan
Compact Class over $17,000 - Honda Civic Hybrid
Midsize Class under $21,000 - Toyota Prius
Midsize Class over $21,000 - Toyota Prius
Large Class - Toyota Avalon
Near Luxury Class - Lexus ES
Luxury Class - Infiniti M35
Luxury Convertible - Audi A4 Convertible
Convertible - MINI Cooper Convertible
Small Wagon Class - Scion xB
Midsize/Large Wagon Class - Subaru Outback Wagon
Base Sport Class - Volkswagen R32
Sport Class - Chevrolet Corvette Convertible