Mercedes-Benz, Ram, Toyota offer best values in Canada

As was the case last year, when the awards were inaugurated, Toyota was the big winner in the second annual Vincentric Best Value in Canada awards for automobiles.

For the second consecutive year, Toyota was named the Best Value Passenger Car Brand in Canada, earning eight individual category awards in the process. Volkswagen ranked second among passenger cars, with six segment winners.

Mercedes-Benz retained its Best Value Luxury Brand title, with five model-level awards, and Ram replaced GMC as the 2013 Vincentric Best Value Truck Brand in Canada.

Other segment award winners included Audi and Lexus, earning three awards each, and GM, Ford, Mazda, and Honda, each of which earned two awards.

The awards were based on cost-of-ownership analysis of more than 1,800 vehicle configurations. Eight different cost factors were considered in the analysis: depreciation, fees & taxes, financing, fuel, insurance, maintenance, opportunity cost, and repairs.

Each vehicle was evaluated in all ten provinces plus the Northwest Territories using a range of annual kilometer intervals and insurance profiles.

Vincentric, a Michigan-based automotive data compilation and analysis firm, used a statistical model to identify the winners, which experienced lower-than-expected ownership costs for their market segment and price.

"We look forward to providing Canadian consumers with the opportunity to gather insight into Canadian-specific automotive ownership costs by honouring vehicles that offer buyers the best overall value," said David Wurster, president of Vincentric.

Alternative fuels and powerplants played a major role among the winners, with Toyota taking four of the five hybrid awards, Volkswagen’s TDI clean diesels earning five awards and Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC diesels accounting for three winners. In addition, the Ram pickup winners were diesel-powered as were two of three Audi award winners.

The complete list of winners, by segment, includes: