LINCOLNWOOD, IL--(Marketwire - Jan 16, 2012) - Consumer Guide Automotive, the leading publisher of authoritative, objective new and used car reviews for more than 45 years, today announced the recipients of its 2012 Best Buy and Recommended Awards. The annual list, designed to make car buying easier for any consumer, represents the best overall values in 18 vehicle categories. With more than two million unique visitors to Consumer Guide's website each month, the awards come at a time when record numbers of consumers consult the site for information before buying their vehicle. This year's list showcases 106 vehicles from the hundreds of cars, SUVs, minivans and trucks tested. The complete list of Consumer Guide Automotive's 2012 Best Buy and Recommended Awards can be viewed at:

CGAUTO.com

Or look for the digest-sized magazine Consumer Guide® BEST BUYS 2012 at cash registers' check-out locations in grocery stores across the U.S. starting January 17^th.

Since 1967, Consumer Guide Automotive's award-winning editorial team has used a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process to identify the vehicles worthy of serious consideration by a consumer. The editors utilize objective criteria, such as price, features, performance, accommodations, fuel economy, reliability records and resale value, to assess each vehicle. The winners are divided into two categories: The Consumer Guide Automotive Best Buy and Recommended winners.

A Best Buy rating signifies that a vehicle is ranked at the top of its class and is strongly recommended by the editors. "Best Buy" vehicles represent the finest balance of attributes and price within their classes, and they are the best choices for most consumers. This year's models earning the Best Buy award include the Nissan Versa, Ford Expedition, Kia Optima, Buick LaCrosse, Dodge Charger and the Mazda MX-5 Miata.

Consumer Guide Automotive's Recommended list features vehicles that, though not ranked at the very top of their category, are still worth strong consideration by the consumer for their unique combination of attributes and value. This year's Recommended awards include the Toyota RAV4, Subaru Impreza, Honda Accord, Audi A7 and the Nissan Frontier.

The key to Consumer Guide Automotive's annual Best Buy and Recommended Awards is the careful evaluation of every aspect of each vehicle as it relates to consumers' real-world driving experience. It is this thoroughness which is driving increasing numbers of consumers to check Consumer Guide Automotive reviews before buying a new vehicle.

Consumer Guide's editorial team drives nearly 200,000 miles per year evaluating what these vehicles do well, and what they don't. Multiple editors evaluate each vehicle, a process that assure that recommendations are based on experiences that best reflect the settings and conditions that car buyers encounters every day. Whether it is driving through the city, highways, rural areas, long trips, or simply picking up the kids at school, the vehicles are tested in the same way that typical car buyers would use their vehicle.

Complete reviews of the winning vehicles, as well as other pertinent information for in-market car buyers, can be found at CGAUTO.com.

For more information, please contact Tom Appel, at tom@cgauto.com or by phone at 847-329-5764.

ABOUT CONSUMER GUIDE AUTOMOTIVE

Since 1967, Consumer Guide has published authoritative, objective reviews of new and used cars and trucks. Its staff of 16 includes 10 full-time automotive editors with more than 150 years of combined automotive experience. Consumer Guide's singular focus is to make car shopping easier for consumers. Consumer Guide editors provide professional, unbiased evaluations of nearly 1000 new and used vehicles as well as expert shopping advice, timely feature articles, and insightful automotive editorials. Consumer Guide is based in Lincolnwood, IL. It is published by Publications International, Ltd.