KBB's 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000
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Mazda3 No. 1 for Third Year Running, Featured on Kelley Blue Book's Annual List Every Year of Vehicle's 13-Year ExistenceIRVINE, Calif., May 19, 2016 -- Proving that cool and affordable really can continue to coexist, the experts at Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com, the vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry, have named their annual list of the 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000. The Mazda3 is No. 1 once again for 2016, marking its third straight year in a row of capturing the top spot and notably being featured on KBB.com's annual affordable "cool cars" list every year of the vehicle's 13-year existence.
Two longstanding criteria -- fun-to-drive and fun-to-own -- are critical among the deciding factors of what the editors freely admit is a very subjective "cool factor," the over-arching number-one criterion for a vehicle to place on this list. Each vehicle is available for purchase starting at $18,000 or less, using Kelley Blue Book's exclusive Fair Market Range as the yardstick. Kelley Blue Book® Fair Market Range is part of KBB.com's Price Advisor tool, and shows the range of what consumers can reasonably expect to pay this week in their area for a new vehicle when purchasing from a dealer. Factors such as current market conditions, vehicle availability, local demand, and seasonal buying trends all help determine a vehicle's Fair Market Range and Fair Purchase Price.
"Cool sure has come a long way. Our annual Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 is one of Kelley Blue Book's longest-running lists, and it's incredible to see all of the amazing tech features and amenities you can get on an affordable car these days compared to a decade ago," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. "In our eyes, the combination of cool and affordable doesn't get better than the Mazda3, which has been on the list every year since it debuted and snagged the top spot for three years running. Gorgeous and sporty outside as well as inside, the Mazda3 backs it all up with fun-focused driving dynamics with praiseworthy fuel efficiency."
KBB.com's 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 of 2016
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About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue
Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the vehicle valuation and
information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the
automotive industry. Each week the company provides the most
market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website KBB.com,
including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In Values and Fair Purchase Price,
which reports what others are paying for new and used cars this week. The
company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products
and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and
insurance companies, and governmental agencies. Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com
ranked highest in its category for brand equity by the 2015 Harris Poll
EquiTrend® study and has been named Online Auto Shopping Brand
of the Year for four consecutive years. Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc. is a
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