Ten Most Value-Packed Cars

Jacqueline Mitchell 07.25.08, 4:00 PM ET Prices at the pump are holding steady for the moment, but there's still plenty of uncertainty. So buying a new, affordable car that you can count on to provide some bang for the buck over the long term should be a sure thing. "Consumers have had plenty of surprises over the last 12 months, and don't want more," says Jeff Bartlett, online deputy editor at ConsumerReports.org. (The automakers probably don't want many more surprises either, what with Ford Motor (nyse: In Depth: 10 Most Value-Packed Cars With automakers trying to regain consumers' attention, they're offering a range of vehicles designed to appeal to value-conscious buyers who want a quality ride, better than average long-term reliability and a low-cost ownership experience. Extra safety features like multiple airbag... [read full story]