Best Bang for the Buck: Passenger Cars

Consumer Reports predicted reliability: Better than average
Vincentric 5-year cost of ownership: $37,880
Vincentric value rating: Good

The Honda Accord is so unassuming that it can sometimes be easy to overlook its greatness. Though newer competitors have begun to surpass it in some areas, it remains one of the most refined, practical and imminently enjoyable sedans at any price. Honda will likely unveil a new version within the year, as previewed by the Accord Coupe concept it showed at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in January.

Watch Video:  2012 Honda Accord

Consumer Reports predicted reliability: Average
Vincentric 5-year cost of ownership: $32,190
Vincentric value rating: Good

The Hyundai Elantra is an amazing value, offering the comfort, performance and refinement of a midsize sedan in a less expensive, smaller package. It gets great gas mileage — 29 mpg overall, according to Consumer Reports long-term testing — yet it isn't annoyingly under-powered and slow. The GLS is the base trim, but it comes well equipped. Perhaps best of all, this frugal ride looks great, too.

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Consumer Reports predicted reliability: Average
Vincentric 5-year cost of ownership: $35,528
Vincentric value rating: Good

The Hyundai Sonata is the Elantra's bigger brother and offers similar bang for the buck in a slightly larger package. Its road-test score is the fifth-highest of any family sedan awarded Consumer Reports' "recommended" stamp of approval. That's impressive. The base GLS trim is a better value when equipped with the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine rather than the optional 2.0-liter turbocharged four-banger because the latter costs more and is slightly less fuel efficient.

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Consumer Reports predicted reliability: Better than average
Vincentric 5-year cost of ownership: Excellent
Vincentric value rating: $54,063

Those who prefer European luxury sedans deride the Infiniti G37 as the poor man's BMW. They're just jealous. This sporty, premium sedan is clearly an all-star; it is Consumer Reports' top-rated sports sedan. While the G37 isn't exactly cheap, it is a better deal than the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, both of which cost more and score lower in Consumer Reports testing. Like many Japanese sedans we've driven, the ride is a bit less refined than that of its German counterparts. Another count against it is its snug interior. But taking all factors into account over five years of ownership, it far outshines the competition.

Watch Video:  2012 Infiniti G37 Sedan

Consumer Reports predicted reliability: Better than average
Vincentric 5-year cost of ownership: $37,400
Vincentric value rating: Good

For those who find the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry bland, there is the Nissan Altima. It makes just a bit more of an impact, both in style and performance. That's probably why it's one of the best-selling cars in America. But you have to be choosey to get the best value. All versions of the Altima except the 2.5 SL trim are either "average" or below in terms of ownership costs, according to Vincentric. The SL comes with a 4-cylinder engine, like other Altima 2.5 variants, but gets an SL package with extra amenities such as nicer wheels and a leather interior, among other things.

Compare: Nissan Altima vs. Honda Accord vs. Toyota Camry

Consumer Reports predicted reliability: Average
Vincentric 5-year cost of ownership: $46,804
Vincentric value rating: Good

This is the largest car on the list, and it's far from the most exciting. But it offers tons of space, amenities and value for the money. It feels almost like a luxury car inside its quiet cabin. The V6 engine is smooth and strong, but handling is, shall we say, not the most agile. Then again, you don't buy an Avalon with spirited driving in mind. Both the base and the Limited trims have "good" value ratings from Vincentric. But we've called out the base trim because it saves buyers $2,000 over two years, basically by omitting some features found on the Limited.

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Consumer Reports predicted reliability: Better than average
Vincentric 5-year cost of ownership: $36,165
Vincentric value rating: Excellent

Our top 10 list wouldn't be complete without a Toyota Camry. This perennial favorite was completely redesigned for 2012 and is much improved over the version it replaced. It rides better, looks nicer and has a higher-quality feel. The L, SE and LE trims all have an "excellent" value rating from Vincentric. Being one level above the base trim, the LE offers a good amount of amenities without going overboard.

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Consumer Reports predicted reliability: Much better than average
Vincentric 5-year cost of ownership: $34,517
Vincentric value rating: Good

As much as we'd like to say we're tired of the appliance-like Prius and its squeaky-clean image, there's no denying what a great value it is. Consumer Reports says it's the most fuel-efficient car you can buy that doesn't plug into a wall. It averages 44 mpg, according to Consumer Reports long-term testing. It is highly reliable, too. If there are any downsides, it's that the Prius is not a particularly fun car to drive, and the rear seat and trunk are tight.

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Consumer Reports predicted reliability: Better than average
Vincentric 5-year cost of ownership: $40,154
Vincentric value rating: Excellent

The Volkswagen Golf TDI is a 4-door hatchback that runs on diesel. It gets 38 mpg overall, according to Consumer Reports testing, which is phenomenal considering it doesn't have any fancy electric motors or batteries like hybrids do. Even with the higher cost of diesel fuel, the Golf TDI ends up being a better value over five years than the gas-powered Golf and most of its competitors. The Golf excels at more than just fuel economy, too. It has a supple but sporty ride that is distinctly German and its hatchback design offers a lot of versatility.

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Consumer Reports predicted reliability: Average
Vincentric 5-year cost of ownership: $40,803
Vincentric value rating: Excellent

As the diesel-wagon counterpart to the Golf TDI, one could argue that the Jetta SportWagen TDI is too similar to warrant its own position on this list. But its character is distinct from the smaller Golf, and as such the two models appeal to different people, even though they share the same engine. The Jetta wagon is based on the previous generation Jetta platform and is not to be confused with the latest Jetta sedan, which has been redesigned and scores lower in Consumer Reports testing. The Jetta SportWagen offers nearly as much versatility as a compact crossover or SUV, but with better fuel economy, at 36 mpg overall.

View Slideshow:  Wagon Roundup 2012

For more information on any vehicle in this slideshow, click the links below:

-Honda Accord LX-P
-Hyundai Elantra GLS
-Hyndai Sonata GLS
-Infiniti G37 Journey Sedan
-Nissan Altima 2.5 SL
-Toyota Avalon
-Toyota Camry LE
-Toyota Prius
-VW Golf TDI
-VW Jetta SportWagen TDI

Compare: All 10 Cars

Matthew de Paula wanted to be an automotive journalist ever since reading his first car magazine in grade school. After a brief stint writing about finance, he helped launch ForbesAutos.com and became the site's editor in 2006. Matthew now freelances for various outlets.

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