U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today unveiled the 2022 Best Cars for the Money awards. Covering 11 automotive categories, the awards put a spotlight on cars, SUVs and minivans that represent the best combination of long-term value and excellent ownership experience. For the second time, U.S. News will present the Best Cars for the Money awards at the Washington, D.C. Auto Show.
“Buying a new car is a big decision, and finding a car that is a good value requires more than just a low price tag,” said Jim Sharifi, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars. “The least expensive car on the lot could carry high ownership costs, or be poorly suited to the buyer’s needs. A Best Cars for the Money award represents a strong value at the dealership and over the course of ownership. These vehicles also provide a rewarding ownership experience, with comfort, features and performance that buyers will appreciate.”
Hyundai won five Best Car for the Money awards this year, which is more than any other brand. Honda earned three, while Kia, Nissan and Toyota each earned one. The Honda Odyssey won this award for the sixth time, while the Toyota Avalon now has four Best Large Car for the Money wins under its belt. The Honda Civic earned the award for the third time, while two-time winners include the Hyundai Kona, Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Tucson and Nissan Versa. The Honda Accord, Hyundai Elantra Hybrid and Hyundai Tucson Hybrid each won the award for the first time
| Winner | Category |
| 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe | Best 2-Row SUV for the Money |
| 2022 Kia Telluride | Best 3-Row SUV for the Money |
| 2022 Honda Civic | Best Compact Car for the Money |
| 2022 Hyundai Tucson | Best Compact SUV for the Money |
| 2022 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid | Best Hybrid and Electric Car for the Money |
| 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid | Best Hybrid and Electric SUV for the Money |
| 2022 Toyota Avalon | Best Large Car for the Money |
| 2022 Honda Accord | Best Midsize Car for the Money |
| 2022 Honda Odyssey | Best Minivan for the Money |
| 2022 Nissan Versa | Best Subcompact Car for the Money |
| 2022 Hyundai Kona | Best Subcompact SUV for the Money |
Methodology
Within each class, the award winner has the best combination of quality and value. We measured quality using a car’s overall score in the U.S. News Best Car Rankings. The overall score is based on safety and reliability data, as well as the collective opinion of the automotive press on a given model’s performance and interior and how strongly each reviewer recommends the car. We measured value by looking at each model’s real-time transaction prices, provided by TrueCar, and five-year total cost of ownership data, calculated by Vincentric.
