How can you get the biggest bang for the buck? This happens when you drive a vehicle that delivers much more than expected for its class. That could be exceptional safety features, a lower-than-expected starting price, or higher quality materials than expected. Could one of the best cars for the money fit your needs? Let’s find out.

U.S. News gives us twelve models rated the best for the money

The Best Car for the Money awards from U.S. News & World Report covers several categories. This makes it easy to find a high-rated vehicle to meet your driving needs. Here are the twelve winners for 2023 are:

• Hyundai Santa Fe- Best 2-Row SUV
• Hyundai Palisade – Best 3-Row SUV
• Honda Civic -Best Compact Car
• Mazda CX-5 – Best Compact SUV
• Chevrolet Bolt – Best Electric Car
• Chevrolet Bolt EUV – Best Electric SUV
• Hyundai Elantra Hybrid – Best Hybrid Car
• Kia Sportage Hybrid – Best Hybrid SUV
• Kia K5 – Best Midsize Car
• Honda Odyssey – Best Minivan
• Kia Rio – Best Subcompact Car
• Hyundai Kona – Best Subcompact SUV

As you can see, Hyundai has four models winning this award while Kia won three. This puts seven of these twelve awards in the display cast at Hyundai Automotive Groupe. The Honda Odyssey won this award for the seventh time, while the Honda Civic has won this award four times.

How does U.S. News come up with the winners?

This organization determines the best cars for the money based on several factors, including quality and value. The overall score for each vehicle also goes into the calculation, arriving at an aggregate score for each model.

Are all the best cars for the money rated at the top of their respective categories?

Not all of these vehicles are the top-rated models in each category. The distinction is that these are the models in these classes that deliver the best overall value, the biggest bang for your buck, or the best packaging for the money, no matter how you want to say it.

Here’s how U.S. News ranks each best car for the money winner in its class:

• Hyundai Santa Fe – Third
• Hyundai Palisade – Second
• Honda Civic – First
• Mazda CX-5 – First
• Chevrolet Bolt – First
• Chevrolet Bolt EUV – Fourth
• Hyundai Elantra Hybrid – Sixth
• Kia Sportage Hybrid – First
• Kia K5 – Second
• Honda Odyssey – First
• Kia Rio – Third
• Hyundai Kona – Third

While several models are both the best car for the money and the top-rated for their respective classes, many are not. The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is the lowest-rated model on this list at sixth in its category, with the Chevrolet Bolt EUV being the next lowest at fourth.

What does this tell us about each of these cars and SUVs?

These cars, SUVs, and one minivan are ranked as the best value models, but that doesn’t mean drivers won’t have to make a few concessions when driving these vehicles instead of those rated at the top of each class. Still, U.S. News tells us these are the best overall value in these twelve categories.

Next, check out the top SUVs from J.D. Power, or learn more about vehicles that offer the greatest value in this video below: