In November, Kelley Blue Book (KBB) named the 2018 Honda Accord as the “Overall Best Buy” (as well as the best mid-size car) in their annual list of best new vehicles.
The Accord won due to its relatively low price, vast array of new features, better fuel economy, and an overall outstanding reliability factor.
“This year’s Best Buy Award winners can help shoppers narrow the consideration list of new models across every major vehicle category, providing car buyers with confidence in their next new-car purchase,” said Karl Brauer, executive publisher for Kelley Blue Book.
In the crossover/ SUV category, the contenders were divided by vehicle size, with the small SUV Honda CR-V, mid-size SUV Honda Pilot, and full-size SUV Ford Expedition all winning for their respective size categories.
As far as trucks go, the consistent KBB-favorite Ford F-150 won “Best Truck Buy” for the fourth straight year.
The 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid won this year’s “Electric/Hybrid Car Best Buy Award” — a category that's growing more and more important to consumers. Clarity was the closest electrified car to becoming mainstream, KBB officials said in the report.
Overall, 13 awards were given out to 12 different vehicles. KBB reviewed 300 cars and evaluated them based on price, performance, reliability, and five-year cost-to-own data.
While this is only one report from a single company, KBB’s authority on the matter is well-recognized. These awards have helped 64% of consumers choose a vehicle when it was time to buy.
“Kelley Blue Book takes great pride in providing a significant consumer service by identifying the new vehicles our experts believe to be the absolute best-value choices for new-car shoppers,” Brauer said.
2018 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Car Winners
Overall: Honda Accord
Small Car: Honda Civic
Mid-Size Car: Honda Accord
Full-Size Car: Chevrolet Impala
Luxury Car: Audi A5 Sportback
Performance Car: Porsche 718 Boxster
Electric/Hybrid Car: Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid
Small SUV/Crossover: Honda CR-V
Mid-Size SUV/Crossover: Honda Pilot
Full-Size SUV/Crossover: Ford Expedition
Luxury SUV/Crossover: Audi Q5
Truck: Ford F-150
Minivan: Honda Odyssey