I’ve Driven Over 200 Cars – These Are the 4 Best and Worst American-Made Cars for the Money

Choosing the right car for you – and yours budget – it’s not always easy. After all, there are seemingly endless options available.

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The best cars are those that will last years beyond the initial purchase and any financing you may have had. They are generally reliable, efficient and affordable in both the short and long term. Some even have a decent resale value.

The worst cars, meanwhile, are those that not only cost a lot upfront, but also tend to depreciate quickly, handle poorly, have questionable fuel economy, and cost a lot in repairs and maintenance. In short, they are a money pit.

To determine which vehicles offer the best – and worst – value for your money, GOBankingRates spoke with Geoff Cudd, consumer advocate and automotive professional at FindtheBestCarPrice.com. He has driven hundreds of cars, and although those he thinks offer the best and worst value are made in the USA, and not just in the USA, here are your thoughts.

Cars with the best value

Honda Accord

The Honda Accord is a compact sedan with great performance and fuel economy. The LX and EX trims have a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 192 horsepower. The hybrid version has a 2.0 four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, totaling 204 horsepower.

Although Honda is a Japanese brand, it has more than 12 million factories in the US. More than that, it’s so important in the American automotive industry that it makes Cudd’s list of the best options on the market today.

“Over the years, I have had the opportunity to drive and evaluate hundreds of cars, which has given me a broad perspective on the automotive market,” said Cudd. “Among the cars with the best value for money [is] the Honda Accord.”

According to him, this vehicle brings together the right combination of economic efficiency, reliability and comfort.

In terms of fuel efficiency alone, the 2022 Honda Accord gets 30 MPG in the city and 38 MPG on the highway for a combined total of 33 MPG. Newer models may have even better efficiency, but if you’re looking for a true standout, the Honda Accord hybrid is the way to go. It gets 51 MPG in the city and 48 MPG on the highway.

Cudd also highlighted that in his experience, the Honda Accord is a good value. Purchased new, its MSRP is around $30,000, but even an older model has a similar resale. CarEdge reported that these vehicles depreciate relatively slowly, at a typical rate of about 21% after five years.

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As for maintenance, Cudd also chose the Accord for its long-term affordability. According to Repair Pal, this vehicle costs about $400 annually in repairs – not bad considering the overall low cost of these vehicles.

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Toyota Camry

Like Honda, Toyota is a multinational brand founded in Japan. That said, it is widely recognized as one of the best American-made vehicles on the road. And the Camry, Cudd said, stands out from the rest.

“These vehicles are known for their reliability, economical maintenance and strong resale values,” explained Cudd.

A new Toyota Camry also has a starting MSRP of $29,495, making it an affordable option from the start. But it also has a lot to offer in terms of performance. The 2024 version has a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 203 horsepower. It also has an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard front-wheel drive – although all-wheel drive is also available.

As for fuel economy, the Camry gets about 25 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway, for a combined total of 29 MPG. Hybrid models can get almost double that.

The Toyota Camry also has a standard depreciation rate of about 24% after five years. That puts the resale value at just over $26,000. And Repair Pal estimates it costs less than $400 per year in average annual repair costs.

Cars with the worst value

Jaguar XF

It’s no secret that luxury cars are often among the worst in terms of value alone, but Cudd said the Jaguar XF is one of the worst he’s ever driven.

“Luxury vehicles like the Jaguar XF often turn out to be poor investments in terms of value for money,” he warned. “These cars tend to depreciate quickly and require expensive maintenance and repairs that can add up quickly.”

Unfortunately, this also gives them a much lower resale value.

The Jaguar XF, and its associated brand, is a British but also multinational car manufacturer. You may not find many of these specific vehicles on America’s roads, but they are out there—and as stylish as they are, they may not be worth the price.

A 2024 Jaguar XF has a starting MSRP of $51,075, nearly double the current price of Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys. It also only gets about 23 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway, which means you can expect a higher bill at the pump.

But maintenance and depreciation are two main factors that make Cudd rate the Jaguar XF as one of the worst cars he’s ever driven. It has a standard depreciation rate of 50% after five years and a resale value of just under $30,000. It also costs an average of $1,066 in annual repairs.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Mercedes-Benz was originally manufactured in Germany, but is another multinational brand commonly found on American highways. As beautiful as this car is and as exceptional as the performance it offers, it’s not worth the high price – at least for Cudd.

Like the Jaguar XF, he said a big problem for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is that it is too expensive for its value. It has a starting MSRP of $118,450 and costs an average of $1,076 in annual repairs. It also depreciates 46% after five years, on average.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class gets similar fuel consumption to the Jaguar XF. For the six-cylinder S500 version, expect around 21 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway. The V-8 S580 version, however, only offers 16 MPG in the city and 25 on the highway.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates. with: I’ve Driven Over 200 Cars – These Are the 4 Best and Worst American-Made Cars for the Money