USAA Ranks Top Automobiles of 2011

March 30, 2011, 12:37 p.m. EDT 2 Min Read

USAA makes headlines often for its superior customer service in insurance and its other areas of business. Just yesterday, INN reported that USAA scored the highest of any insurer in a recent customer experience ranking.

In its continued quest for customer service excellence, the company has found yet another way to help its policyholders. USAA yesterday unveiled its first "Best Value" vehicle list that names the top 2011 automobiles in 16 categories based on quantitative data used in USAA's proprietary rating system.

"Our members turn to us for help and advice because they know they can trust us," says Steve Thompson, assistant VP, USAA. "The Best Value list helps members make smart financial decisions by determining which vehicles give them the most bang for their buck."

Best Value vehicles rose to the top in each of the 16 categories for offering the best financial value of all vehicles USAA evaluates as part of a broader vehicle rating system, called USAA Preferred. There are more than 80 cars, trucks and minivans that are currently designated as USAA Preferred vehicles, of which the Best Value vehicle list is a subset.

"We’re making members’ lives easier by taking the guesswork out of buying a new vehicle," Thompson says. "The Best Value vehicles typically have better safety ratings, lower Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price and insurance costs, higher fuel economy and better overall reliability than other vehicles in the same category."

The USAA Preferred rating system involves three steps:

1. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) Value — As the first step, and a key differentiator to USAA's proprietary scoring model, USAA weighs key attributes such as engine type and safety features to determine whether the vehicle's MSRP is a good value.

2. Depreciation & Ownership Costs — Next, USAA factors depreciation and added costs for fuel, auto insurance and extended warranty into the methodology. Extended warranty costs are an indicator of vehicle reliability and maintenance costs.

3. Safety — Once all of these criteria are quantified and weighted, the top 40% of vehicles are evaluated for safety—the final and most critical indicator of all USAA Preferred vehicles. Only vehicles that receive one of the top two safety ratings as reported by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) are qualified to be a USAA Preferred vehicle. Vehicles on the IIHS Top Safety Picks list are given additional weight in the rating system.

The 2011 Best Value list includes:

Large Sedan: Dodge Charger

Midsize Sedan: Hyundai Sonata

Small Sedan: Chevrolet Cruze

Large Luxury Sedan: Hyundai Genesis

Midsize Luxury Sedan: Audi A4

Large SUV: Chevrolet Travers

Midsize SUV: Toyota FJ Cruiser

Small SUV: Kia Sportage

Large Luxury SUV: Audi Q7

Midsize Luxury SUV: Lexus RX 450h

Large Pickup: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hybrid