New Car Value for Money

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Most Satisfied Customers | Subaru, Kia & Suzuki

Which car brand offers the best value for money? Aussies deemed Subaru, Kia and Suzuki as the go-to brands for a good deal, rating them five stars for value for money.

Fact Checked Fact Checked

How we rate new car value for money

Our review compares new cars on customer satisfaction, so you can find out what other Aussies think about the compared brands before you go ahead with a purchase. Think of it as like asking hundreds of your closest mates which new car they think is best!


Canstar Blue surveyed 1,571 Australians for their feedback on the new car(s) they’ve purchased in the last five years.

  • The outcomes reported in these ratings are measured via accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics.


Respondents rate their satisfaction with their new car brand(s) from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:
  • Overall satisfaction: measures consumer satisfaction with a new car brand as an individual score NOT a combined total of all criteria.
  • Reliability: the new car operates consistently and as expected.
  • Driving experience: the new car responds well to actions, including acceleration and handling, and is comfortable to be behind the wheel of.
  • Value for money: the cost is reasonable for the quality and performance of the new car.
  • Customer service: the new car brand’s staff were readily available to contact, and help with questions or solve issues that arose.
  • Features: the new car brand includes a range of useful elements covering performance and comfort.
  • Appearance: the new car brand looks appealing externally and internally.
  • Upgrades & extras: the new car brand has a range of additional upgrades and extras available to purchase.

The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.

  • Overall satisfaction is asked as a specific question and represents an individual measure, not a combined total of all criteria.
  • When we cannot determine a clear winner from the criteria for the Overall satisfaction rating, we will then look at the other criteria measured in the rating.
    • The brand with the highest number of five-star ratings within the supporting criteria will become the five-star recipient in overall satisfaction, and thus win the award. If a clear leader still cannot be determined from the supporting criteria, joint winners will be declared.

Find more detailed information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.


Best value cars in Australia

  • Subaru, Kia & Suzuki
  • Mitsubishi
  • MG
  • Nissan
  • Hyundai
  • Mazda
  • Ford
  • Toyota
  • Honda
  • BMW
  • Audi
  • Volkswagen
  • Mercedes

How to get the best deal on your new car

Every dollar really does count, especially when Australians are spending an average of $37,362 on a new car, down almost three grand compared to last year. While we all have that one dream car that we’d love to get behind the wheel of, it’s often the price tag that stands in the way. Here are a few tips below to help you get the most out of your trip to the dealership.

  • Compare dealerships
  • Trade in your old car
  • Pick your timing
  • Don’t be afraid to negotiate
  • Ease off the extras

Compare dealerships

Your local dealer may be just down the road, but it may not offer the best deals. So, it’s best to look around before you lock yourself into a contract. Each dealership may also offer you different deals or additional extras at no cost depending on who you go with.

Trade in your old car

As long as it’s in good condition, most dealerships are more than happy to take your old faithful off your hands for a discount. This is clearly a popular option for Aussie motorists, with 48% of survey respondents buying their new car via an exchange deal.

Pick your timing

Deals aren’t just at the EOFY. With car dealerships setting monthly sales targets, you’re more likely to get a better deal at the end of the month than at the start. Also keep an eye out for the release of newer models, as you may be able to pick up older models at a more affordable price.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate

If you don’t ask, you won’t get it. Our survey showed over a third (39%) of respondents tried to negotiate a lower price on their new car. As a general rule, most car dealers are willing to chip off a chunk of the price to seal the deal!

Ease off the extras

Additional extras such as that sparkly paint job can quickly add up, so be sure to only get what you really need. Some extras may even affect your insurance premiums, costing you further down the line.

The bottom line

Ultimately, purchasing a new car will be an exciting time, with plenty of sleek, shiny and heart-racing models available to get your motor running. Despite the excitement, however, it’s important to remember that a new car will also be an investment, as well as an expense, for years to come.

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About our consumer experts


Dean Heckscher: Site Editor

This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Site Editor, Dean Heckscher. He’s our resident expert on all things automotive, health & fitness, streaming and more. Dean is also one of Canstar Blue’s customer research report producers, helping to turn complicated subjects into easily-digestible information for our readers. He’s passionate about helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services.

 

Meet the Editorial Team

 

Samantha Howse: Consumer Research Specialist

Sam Howse Research Specialist

Samantha Howse is Canstar Blue’s Consumer Research Specialist, coordinating the consumer research program behind our customer satisfaction awards across Canstar and Canstar Blue in Australia and New Zealand. Sam has earned a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from Griffith University and, with seven years in market research and 2 years in marketing, she is experienced in survey design, implementation and analysis, coupled with an understanding of marketing principles and best practice.

 

Meet the Research Team

Past Ratings

Here are the best-rated brands for value for money from Canstar Blue’s previous ratings:

  • 2022: Kia & MG
  • 2021: Isuzu UTE
  • 2020: Suzuki
  • 2019: Mitsubishi Motors & Kia
  • 2018: Suzuki, Hyundai & Kia
  • 2017: Hyundai
  • 2016: Kia
  • 2014: Mitsubishi Motors, Suzuki & Kia

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