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3rd
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Loosely adapted, the dictionary defines “value” as that warm, wholesome feeling that results from getting more than you paid for. Some examples include 2-for-1 wings, a free tall-can with your 2-4, or stealing your neighbors Wi-Fi.
For today's new-car shopper, value is in high demand, and automakers are responding with high levels of technology, style and quality at lower prices than have ever been seen before.
Cars that feel equipped, engineered and designed to a higher level than their price suggests are the best kinds of cars if you like value -- which you do. So, whether it's advanced functionality, performance, a great cabin or just a whack-load of goodies for the price, here are a few price-defying cars that do a better-than-average job of feeling more expensive than they actually are.
Kia Rio: Load up the Kia Rio SX with the Luxury Navigation package, and you've got a sub-$22,000 car with a list of features that wouldn't look out of place in a flagship sedan. Heated steering wheel? Check. Navigation? Backup camera? Automatic climate control? You got it on all three counts. There's also Bluetooth audio streaming, push-button start, heated leather, and plenty more.
And it's all wrapped in one of the compact car segment's most upscale and detailed cabins, too. Colour, contrast and depth all work towards a fantastic level of sophistication in this price-defying car.
Jeep Grand Cherokee: The new Jeep Grand Cherokee combines a laundry-list of advanced features and legendary off-road performance with a seriously great-looking cabin that makes it an ideal candidate for a favourite price-defying car.
Premium materials and accents throughout the cabin, including wood and aluminum, keep eyes and fingertips engaged. There's a modern, vibrant and high-quality feel throughout, backed up by a fantastic, solid on-road ride. A power tailgate, panoramic sunroof, navigation, automatic high-beams, and even a 120-volt power outlet can all be specified.
How's this for value? You can fully deck out a top-line Grand Cherokee with all the toys for about the starting price of a BMW X5. Price-defying car? You bet.
Hyundai Genesis R-Spec Sedan: A combination of things make the Genesis Sedan feel like it should cost more. The rich, leather-wrapped cabin is sumptuous on a level that rivals $100,000 German cars. The 5.0L V8 has more ponies per litre than virtually any luxury sedan on the road, and the Lexicon stereo will rattle the plates off of your grandmother's walls.
You get 8 gears, 429 hp and all the goodies in this price-defying car -- alongside world-class levels of space, style, quiet and luxury for about $53,500. Incidentally, that's about $5,000 less than a 310 hp Audi A6.
Ford Focus Titanium: The Focus Titanium is full of thoughtful little touches that do big things to make it delightful. A capless fuel filler, one-touch up and down windows, embossed leather seats, LED mood-lighting, and a colorful, depth-y and detailed cabin with heaps of at-hand storage are some examples.
Ford Sync, keyless start, and a self-parking system add high-tech appeal, and an ultra-modern and premium cabin atmosphere rounds out the package of this price-defying car.
Volvo S60 R-Design: For about $51,000, Volvo's S60 R-Design gives drivers 325 hp, all-wheel drive (AWD), a sport-tuned chassis and the most comfortable seats in the industry. It's also one of the most beautiful cars to drive on any road, and in any weather, on this side of a six-digit price tag.
A lengthy list of exclusive safety features is standard, and a sophisticated cabin with plenty of unique touches furthers the “naughty” Volvo's character.
For today's new-car shopper, value is in high demand, and automakers are responding with high levels of technology, style and quality at lower prices than have ever been seen before.
Cars that feel equipped, engineered and designed to a higher level than their price suggests are the best kinds of cars if you like value -- which you do. So, whether it's advanced functionality, performance, a great cabin or just a whack-load of goodies for the price, here are a few price-defying cars that do a better-than-average job of feeling more expensive than they actually are.
Kia Rio: Load up the Kia Rio SX with the Luxury Navigation package, and you've got a sub-$22,000 car with a list of features that wouldn't look out of place in a flagship sedan. Heated steering wheel? Check. Navigation? Backup camera? Automatic climate control? You got it on all three counts. There's also Bluetooth audio streaming, push-button start, heated leather, and plenty more.
And it's all wrapped in one of the compact car segment's most upscale and detailed cabins, too. Colour, contrast and depth all work towards a fantastic level of sophistication in this price-defying car.
 |
| 2012 Kia Rio SX (Photo: Justin Pritchard) |
Jeep Grand Cherokee: The new Jeep Grand Cherokee combines a laundry-list of advanced features and legendary off-road performance with a seriously great-looking cabin that makes it an ideal candidate for a favourite price-defying car.
Premium materials and accents throughout the cabin, including wood and aluminum, keep eyes and fingertips engaged. There's a modern, vibrant and high-quality feel throughout, backed up by a fantastic, solid on-road ride. A power tailgate, panoramic sunroof, navigation, automatic high-beams, and even a 120-volt power outlet can all be specified.
How's this for value? You can fully deck out a top-line Grand Cherokee with all the toys for about the starting price of a BMW X5. Price-defying car? You bet.
 |
| 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee (Photo: Chrysler) |
Hyundai Genesis R-Spec Sedan: A combination of things make the Genesis Sedan feel like it should cost more. The rich, leather-wrapped cabin is sumptuous on a level that rivals $100,000 German cars. The 5.0L V8 has more ponies per litre than virtually any luxury sedan on the road, and the Lexicon stereo will rattle the plates off of your grandmother's walls.
You get 8 gears, 429 hp and all the goodies in this price-defying car -- alongside world-class levels of space, style, quiet and luxury for about $53,500. Incidentally, that's about $5,000 less than a 310 hp Audi A6.
 |
| 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec (Photo: Hyundai) |
Ford Focus Titanium: The Focus Titanium is full of thoughtful little touches that do big things to make it delightful. A capless fuel filler, one-touch up and down windows, embossed leather seats, LED mood-lighting, and a colorful, depth-y and detailed cabin with heaps of at-hand storage are some examples.
Ford Sync, keyless start, and a self-parking system add high-tech appeal, and an ultra-modern and premium cabin atmosphere rounds out the package of this price-defying car.
 |
| 2012 Ford Focus Titanium (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour) |
Volvo S60 R-Design: For about $51,000, Volvo's S60 R-Design gives drivers 325 hp, all-wheel drive (AWD), a sport-tuned chassis and the most comfortable seats in the industry. It's also one of the most beautiful cars to drive on any road, and in any weather, on this side of a six-digit price tag.
A lengthy list of exclusive safety features is standard, and a sophisticated cabin with plenty of unique touches furthers the “naughty” Volvo's character.
 |
| 2012 Volvo S60 R-Design (Photo: Volvo) |