USAA Names 2013 Best Value Vehicles

USAA unveiled its third-annual Best Value vehicles list naming the top 2013 automobiles that offer affordability, safety and reliability. The 2013 Best Value list includes:

Best Value automobiles offer the best overall value of all vehicles USAA evaluates as part of its proprietary rating system called USAA Preferred, which uses quantitative data to evaluate vehicles’ cost, safety and reliability, among other factors. There are nearly 70 cars, trucks and minivans currently designated as USAA Preferred vehicles. The Best Value list represents the vehicles that rose to the top of each category.

“This year we raised the bar on the importance of safety standards. Vehicles must earn a top safety pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to qualify as USAA Preferred,” said Steve Thompson, vice president responsible for the USAA Car Buying Service. “A USAA Preferred vehicle is a great value financially, and is among the safest vehicles on the road.”

2013 Top 10 for Teens

For a second year, USAA also identified the top 10 vehicles for teens. These USAA Preferred vehicles cost less than $25,500 and they rank highest in safety, reliability and reasonable insurance costs, which are the factors parents indicated are the most important when choosing a car for their teen driver.

In addition to identifying the top cars for teen drivers, USAA now is offering the new Young Drivers IntelligenceTM service to help reduce teen driver accidents and save lives. The voluntary program includes a GPS-enabled device that plugs into the teen’s vehicle and records driving data such as acceleration, braking, routes, and speed. Parents and teens can review the data online, providing the opportunity to teach safe driving behavior and track progress. Young Drivers Intelligence is available at no cost for one year to members whose teen drivers are insured by USAA. The program will not be used to modify insurance policies or premiums.

“Studies show that car accidents are the No. 1 cause of teen deaths across the country, and teen drivers are three times more likely to get into an accident than drivers in their 20s,” said Lauren Fix, The Car Coach®, a recognized automotive expert. “The USAA Top 10 for Teens list makes it easier for parents to select a vehicle they can feel more confident about their teen driving, and the Young Drivers IntelligenceTM tool allows parents to turn every trip their teen takes into a learning experience.”

USAA Preferred ratings and Best Value vehicles are designated as such on usaa.com and the USAA Mobile App. For more information visit www.usaa.com/bestvalue and www.usaa.com/youngdriversintelligence.

*No vehicles met the USAA Preferred requirements in the large luxury SUV and small pickup categories this year.

About USAA Preferred

USAA Preferred vehicles represent vehicles which are determined to be a good financial value using a USAA-developed proprietary statistical model. The model relates MSRP to vehicle features (engine type, drive train, electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, number of airbags, transmission, body additions, curb weight, horsepower-to-curb weight, height and vehicle category), fuel economy, insurance cost, additional warranty cost, depreciation, and IIHS Top Safety Pick to determine the value. USAA Preferred vehicles are those vehicles ranked in the top 40 percent for each vehicle category AND obtain either the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick crash test ratings from IIHS. In providing this analysis, USAA does not consider factors other than those disclosed in determining USAA Preferred vehicles.

About USAA

USAA provides insurance, banking, investment and retirement products and services to 9.4 million members of the U.S. military and their families. Known for its legendary commitment to its members, USAA is consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee well-being and financial strength. USAA membership is open to all who are serving or have honorably served our nation in the U.S. military – and their eligible family members. For more information about USAA, or to learn more about membership, visit USAA online today.

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