Edmunds.com Announces True Cost to Own(R) Award Winners: Honda and Ford Vehicles Shine

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jul 25, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Honda Motor Co. won five categories in the 2011 Lowest True Cost to Own(R) Awards, given by Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information. The awards name the 2011 model year cars and trucks in 23 categories that offer the lowest True Cost to Own(R) (TCO(R)), which is the projected ownership cost over a five-year period.

The 2011 Honda Accord earned victories in two categories: Coupes $25-$35K and Sedans $20K-$30K. Honda's other award winners are the Honda Civic Hybrid (Hybrids), the Honda Ridgeline (Large Light Duty Truck) and the Honda Pilot (SUV $35K-$45K).

Ford Motor Co. also had a strong showing in this year's awards, with Edmunds.com recognizing the Ford Ranger (Compact Truck), the Ford Flex (Wagon Over $35K), the Ford Fiesta (Sedan Under $20K) and the Ford Transit Connect (Van/Minivan).

The other automotive brands receiving at least two awards were Chevrolet and Cadillac.
"One of the key factors that pushed many of this year's award winners over the top was their free maintenance plans, which can save car owners hundreds or even thousands of dollars over a five-year period," said Danny Zhou, senior director of data products and operations at Edmunds.com. "The 2011 Volkswagen CC, for example, edged past its closest competitors in the Sedan $30K-$40K category in large part because it offers free maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles."

To calculate the Lowest True Cost to Own(R) winners, Edmunds.com uses an algorithm that takes into account depreciation, interest on financing, taxes and fees, insurance premiums, fuel, maintenance, repairs and any federal tax credit that may be available. In order to estimate certain mileage-dependent costs, Edmunds.com assumes that vehicles will be driven 15,000 miles per year. Only vehicles launched during the period from July 29, 2010 to April 14, 2011 were considered for the 2011 awards.

To see the full list of all 23 winners this year, please visit the award page at http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/2011-lowest-cost-to-own.html .

Consumers can learn more about Edmunds.com's True Cost to Own(R) (TCO(R)) before they buy their next car at http://www.edmunds.com/tco.html .

About Edmunds.com, Inc. ( http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/index.html )
Edmunds.com Inc. publishes Web sites that empower, engage and educate automotive consumers, enthusiasts and insiders. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.edmunds.com , makes car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and otherwise on the go. InsideLine.com is the most-read automotive enthusiast Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.insideline.com , features the wireless Web's highest quality car photos and videos. AutoObserver.com provides insightful automotive industry commentary and analysis. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on Twitter@edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/edmunds .

Source;
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/edmundscom-announces-true-cost-to-ownr-award-winners-honda-and-ford-vehicles-shine-2011-07-25?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Edmunds.com Announces True Cost to Own(R) Award Winners: Honda and Ford Vehicles Shine

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jul 25, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Honda Motor Co. won five categories in the 2011 Lowest True Cost to Own(R) Awards, given by Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information. The awards name the 2011 model year cars and trucks in 23 categories that offer the lowest True Cost to Own(R) (TCO(R)), which is the projected ownership cost over a five-year period.

The 2011 Honda Accord earned victories in two categories: Coupes $25-$35K and Sedans $20K-$30K. Honda's other award winners are the Honda Civic Hybrid (Hybrids), the Honda Ridgeline (Large Light Duty Truck) and the Honda Pilot (SUV $35K-$45K).

Ford Motor Co. also had a strong showing in this year's awards, with Edmunds.com recognizing the Ford Ranger (Compact Truck), the Ford Flex (Wagon Over $35K), the Ford Fiesta (Sedan Under $20K) and the Ford Transit Connect (Van/Minivan).

The other automotive brands receiving at least two awards were Chevrolet and Cadillac.
"One of the key factors that pushed many of this year's award winners over the top was their free maintenance plans, which can save car owners hundreds or even thousands of dollars over a five-year period," said Danny Zhou, senior director of data products and operations at Edmunds.com. "The 2011 Volkswagen CC, for example, edged past its closest competitors in the Sedan $30K-$40K category in large part because it offers free maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles."

To calculate the Lowest True Cost to Own(R) winners, Edmunds.com uses an algorithm that takes into account depreciation, interest on financing, taxes and fees, insurance premiums, fuel, maintenance, repairs and any federal tax credit that may be available. In order to estimate certain mileage-dependent costs, Edmunds.com assumes that vehicles will be driven 15,000 miles per year. Only vehicles launched during the period from July 29, 2010 to April 14, 2011 were considered for the 2011 awards.

To see the full list of all 23 winners this year, please visit the award page at http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/2011-lowest-cost-to-own.html .

Consumers can learn more about Edmunds.com's True Cost to Own(R) (TCO(R)) before they buy their next car at http://www.edmunds.com/tco.html .

About Edmunds.com, Inc. ( http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/index.html )
Edmunds.com Inc. publishes Web sites that empower, engage and educate automotive consumers, enthusiasts and insiders. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.edmunds.com , makes car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and otherwise on the go. InsideLine.com is the most-read automotive enthusiast Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.insideline.com , features the wireless Web's highest quality car photos and videos. AutoObserver.com provides insightful automotive industry commentary and analysis. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on Twitter@edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/edmunds .

Source;
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/edmundscom-announces-true-cost-to-ownr-award-winners-honda-and-ford-vehicles-shine-2011-07-25?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Auto123: 2011 Honda Pilot Touring Review

By Michel Deslauriers
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Honda can, without a doubt, be considered an environmentally friendly car company. Their small cars, the Fit and the Civic, are versatile, fuel-efficient and produce low levels of CO2 emissions. Their hybrid models, the Insight and CR-Z, are extremely efficient. So how can they justify an 8-passenger SUV in their product line-up?

Well, it has to maximize fuel economy. It has to maximize interior space. And it has to avoid being perceived by the public as a dirty, socially-irresponsable truck. The Pilot manages to meet at least two of these three conditions.

Under the hood of the Pilot resides a 24-valve, 3.5-litre V6 that’s found in various Honda and Acura products. In this case, it gets cylinder deactivation systems across the model range and develops 250 horsepower as well as 253 pound-feet of torque. The sole transmission choice is a 5-speed automatic; Honda does have a 6-speed in the tool shed, which equips the Odyssey Touring and several Acura models, so why don’t they quit fooling around and put it in the Pilot?

Whatever. Zero to 100 takes 8.8 seconds, which isn’t bad by truck standards, but some of its rivals are quicker. As for fuel economy, our average of 13.2 L/100 km is decent but didn’t trigger any high-fives in the office. The Advanced VCM system, or Variable Cylinder Management, helps a little but isn’t a miracle worker.

The V6 is smooth while providing enough muscle for a tow rating of 4,500 pounds (or 2,045 kg). That’s better than the Mazda CX-9, but not as good as pretty much every other mid-size, 7- or 8-passenger SUV.

The VTM-4 all-wheel drive system works the front wheels under normal conditions, and sends up to 70 percent of engine torque back to the rear during acceleration or when wheel slippage is detected. The system can be locked in four-wheel mode with the help of a dash-mounted button, but it only works under about 30 km/h.

The Pilot is a trooper on the highway, but the driving experience is tarnished by a steering rack that doesn’t send up enough road feel. Change lanes on a snowy day, and you’ll barely feel that strip of slush as you merge back into the slow lane; it should be more communicative.

The cockpit’s overall appearance is industrial-strength robust, although the dash piece seams at the top of the centre stack spoil it a little. It takes a few days to get used to the climate control switchgear, while the sound system includes a USB port in the Touring trim only; however, you can flip through music folders by holding down the song-skip buttons on the wheel, which is practical. Oh yeah, the rear-seat DVD with wireless headphones works beautifully for the kiddies.

We’re a little less enthusiastic about the navigation system. While relatively easy to use, spelling out a city or a street name by turning the system’s control knob isn’t a quick operation. The navigation display’s crude graphics makes me feel like I’ve fired up my Super Nintendo console.

Space-wise, the Pilot’s interior is muy grande. All three rows can accommodate adults, a pretty rare accomplishment in this vehicle category. Imagine a bus built by Honda, and it would look a lot like the Pilot. The Touring trim also benefits from heated front and outboard second-row seats. Visibility all around is great, and the truck’s narrow turning radius makes it easy to park.

Cargo space with the second and third rows of seats folded amounts to 2,464 litres; that’s bigger than in the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder, but smaller than in the Mazda CX-9 and way smaller than in the Chevrolet Traverse/GMC Acadia twins. The tailgate window can also be opened separately.

In general, though, the Pilot feels solid. Not just solid, but Tonka truck durable. The Pilot’s squared-off look doesn’t offend anyone, and the truck’s front fascia also makes it socially acceptable because it looks sympathetic, not truckish.

The entry price for a LX 2WD model is $34,820 before tax, freight and delivery charges. The Touring version we’re driving this week escalates the price ladder like the yodeling mountain climber in The Price is Right, reaching $48,420. Ouch.

But wait. Similarly-equipped rivals are also a wallet-drain. A Chevrolet Traverse 2LT AWD costs $54,720. A Mazda CX-9 GT AWD costs $49,790. A Nissan Pathfinder LE costs $52,548. A Toyota 4Runner Limited costs $49,665. A Dodge Durango Crew Plus costs $48,995. Actually, only the $46,999 Ford Explorer Limited and the $44,900 Toyota Highlander Limited are cheaper, although the latter doesn’t offer a rear-seat DVD.

With every passing year, the competition gets better and better, and the Pilot needs to stay in the game. In typical Honda product mid-cycle fashion, a facelift should arrive in 2012; we’ll see what other changes will be made.

Still, the Pilot is a competent, practical SUV that’s easy to live with. It maximizes interior space, it arguably consumes a reasonable amount of fuel, and its lack of aggressiveness prevents it from being conceived as an environmentally-unfriendly vehicle. Can the Pilot justify its presence in Honda’s line-up? We think so.

Source;
http://www.auto123.com/en/honda/pilot/2011/review?carid=1112301205&printable=1&artid=130547

Auto123: 2011 Honda Pilot Touring Review

By Michel Deslauriers
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Honda can, without a doubt, be considered an environmentally friendly car company. Their small cars, the Fit and the Civic, are versatile, fuel-efficient and produce low levels of CO2 emissions. Their hybrid models, the Insight and CR-Z, are extremely efficient. So how can they justify an 8-passenger SUV in their product line-up?

Well, it has to maximize fuel economy. It has to maximize interior space. And it has to avoid being perceived by the public as a dirty, socially-irresponsable truck. The Pilot manages to meet at least two of these three conditions.

Under the hood of the Pilot resides a 24-valve, 3.5-litre V6 that’s found in various Honda and Acura products. In this case, it gets cylinder deactivation systems across the model range and develops 250 horsepower as well as 253 pound-feet of torque. The sole transmission choice is a 5-speed automatic; Honda does have a 6-speed in the tool shed, which equips the Odyssey Touring and several Acura models, so why don’t they quit fooling around and put it in the Pilot?

Whatever. Zero to 100 takes 8.8 seconds, which isn’t bad by truck standards, but some of its rivals are quicker. As for fuel economy, our average of 13.2 L/100 km is decent but didn’t trigger any high-fives in the office. The Advanced VCM system, or Variable Cylinder Management, helps a little but isn’t a miracle worker.

The V6 is smooth while providing enough muscle for a tow rating of 4,500 pounds (or 2,045 kg). That’s better than the Mazda CX-9, but not as good as pretty much every other mid-size, 7- or 8-passenger SUV.

The VTM-4 all-wheel drive system works the front wheels under normal conditions, and sends up to 70 percent of engine torque back to the rear during acceleration or when wheel slippage is detected. The system can be locked in four-wheel mode with the help of a dash-mounted button, but it only works under about 30 km/h.

The Pilot is a trooper on the highway, but the driving experience is tarnished by a steering rack that doesn’t send up enough road feel. Change lanes on a snowy day, and you’ll barely feel that strip of slush as you merge back into the slow lane; it should be more communicative.

The cockpit’s overall appearance is industrial-strength robust, although the dash piece seams at the top of the centre stack spoil it a little. It takes a few days to get used to the climate control switchgear, while the sound system includes a USB port in the Touring trim only; however, you can flip through music folders by holding down the song-skip buttons on the wheel, which is practical. Oh yeah, the rear-seat DVD with wireless headphones works beautifully for the kiddies.

We’re a little less enthusiastic about the navigation system. While relatively easy to use, spelling out a city or a street name by turning the system’s control knob isn’t a quick operation. The navigation display’s crude graphics makes me feel like I’ve fired up my Super Nintendo console.

Space-wise, the Pilot’s interior is muy grande. All three rows can accommodate adults, a pretty rare accomplishment in this vehicle category. Imagine a bus built by Honda, and it would look a lot like the Pilot. The Touring trim also benefits from heated front and outboard second-row seats. Visibility all around is great, and the truck’s narrow turning radius makes it easy to park.

Cargo space with the second and third rows of seats folded amounts to 2,464 litres; that’s bigger than in the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder, but smaller than in the Mazda CX-9 and way smaller than in the Chevrolet Traverse/GMC Acadia twins. The tailgate window can also be opened separately.

In general, though, the Pilot feels solid. Not just solid, but Tonka truck durable. The Pilot’s squared-off look doesn’t offend anyone, and the truck’s front fascia also makes it socially acceptable because it looks sympathetic, not truckish.

The entry price for a LX 2WD model is $34,820 before tax, freight and delivery charges. The Touring version we’re driving this week escalates the price ladder like the yodeling mountain climber in The Price is Right, reaching $48,420. Ouch.

But wait. Similarly-equipped rivals are also a wallet-drain. A Chevrolet Traverse 2LT AWD costs $54,720. A Mazda CX-9 GT AWD costs $49,790. A Nissan Pathfinder LE costs $52,548. A Toyota 4Runner Limited costs $49,665. A Dodge Durango Crew Plus costs $48,995. Actually, only the $46,999 Ford Explorer Limited and the $44,900 Toyota Highlander Limited are cheaper, although the latter doesn’t offer a rear-seat DVD.

With every passing year, the competition gets better and better, and the Pilot needs to stay in the game. In typical Honda product mid-cycle fashion, a facelift should arrive in 2012; we’ll see what other changes will be made.

Still, the Pilot is a competent, practical SUV that’s easy to live with. It maximizes interior space, it arguably consumes a reasonable amount of fuel, and its lack of aggressiveness prevents it from being conceived as an environmentally-unfriendly vehicle. Can the Pilot justify its presence in Honda’s line-up? We think so.

Source;
http://www.auto123.com/en/honda/pilot/2011/review?carid=1112301205&printable=1&artid=130547