Honda has been named the automaker that sells the best cars in the U.S. by consumer reports.  This is the second year in row.  They based their decision on many factors from the comfort of the vehicle to reliability.

Toyota was ranked second, and Subaru third.  Next were BMW, Mazda, Nissan and then Volkswagen.  There weren’t any domestic vehicles on the list.

Other vehicle winners for various segments are as follows.  The Toyota Prius was the best green car, the Hyundai Elantra was rated the highest as a small sedan, the Honda Accord was the leading family sedan, the Mazda MX-5 Miata was named the most fun car, the Toyota RAV4 ranked as the top of the small SUV’s, and The Chevy Silverado was the highest ranked pickup truck.

It is important to remember that the most important cost isn’t the sticker price, but how much it costs to own a vehicle.  In fact, a vehicle with a sticker price that is low can end up costing more than a vehicle with a higher sticker price.  This can be the case when you factor in the cost of owning the vehicle over a five-year period.  These costs include fuel, depreciation, insurance, new car warranties, maintenance, sales tax, and interest on your loan.

For example, with these costs the Mitsubishi Lancer would cost approximately $5,000 less than a Mini Cooper.  The Mini Cooper costs approximately $3,000 more for the owner over a five-year period.

Make sure to factor in these variables when deciding what car to purchase.  And of course, purchase an auto warranty to protect your investment.  You never really know how reliable your car will be in the end.