How we rate and rank vehicles
Our car rankings are based on a thorough review of more than 3,400 makes and models, with upward of 500 data points for each, as well as inputs from respected third-party automotive resources. Within specific vehicle segments, we select 60 or more data points that matter most to buyers and owners of those vehicles. We then score the vehicle with the heaviest emphasis on helping you make a smart financial decision.
Review and rating process
NerdWallet’s overall car ratings are weighted averages in seven categories.
Cost and value includes metrics like starting MSRP, warranties, five-year cost of ownership and resale value.
Safety includes safety features and industry safety awards.
Fuel efficiency includes combined, city and highway mpg for gas vehicles and MPGe for electric vehicles.
Driving features and functionality combines data points such as horsepower and drivetrain options, along with cargo and towing capacity. Cars can also lose points in this category for the number of recalls.
Comfort and interior covers metrics related to head and leg room, seating and temperature control.
Tech and convenience includes things like smartphone integration, wireless phone charging and infotainment. We get that these are must-haves for some people, but our methodology focuses most on cost and value factors.
Awards includes industry awards from Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, Consumer Reports and Vincentric.
Subcategories within each of these categories vary slightly based on vehicle segments and what’s important to drivers in that group.
About outside-award winners
Consumer Reports and Kelley Blue Book each have a history of evaluating vehicles and delivering useful information to consumers. Their awards reflect well-rounded assessments and, we think, are worth noting.
About safety winners
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a nonprofit group with decades of experience performing crash tests and other safety evaluations on vehicles. Top performers are issued one or both of two designations: Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+. To earn a TSP+ rating, vehicles must meet additional criteria for a higher level of safety performance related to front and side crash tests, headlight performance and pedestrian front crash prevention.
About the five-year cost of ownership
Our five-year cost of ownership estimate is based on information from AAA and Vincentric and includes the categories of financing, fees, fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation. For comparison purposes, our cost of ownership estimate is based on the national average for a new, base-model vehicle driven 15,000 miles annually, with equal amounts of city and highway driving, and figured gas costs using the current national average price per gallon at the time
About resale value
We base resale value on J.D. Power's forecast of a vehicle’s depreciation over the next three years. J.D. Power uses their industry-leading valuations data for this assessment and ranks each vehicle on a 100-point scale: Best (91-100), Great (81-90), Average (70-80) and Fair (0-69).
Who we are
Our autos team is made up of writers and editors who cover a wide range of auto industry and financial topics. We have more than 30 years of combined experience in finance and autos. Each team member adheres to NerdWallet’s strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Our writers’ bylines have appeared in Nasdaq, MSN, MarketWatch, Yahoo! Finance and other national and regional media outlets.
