If you're looking to buy a car, you probably want two things.

Value and reliability. Oh sure, a little style doesn't hurt, but you'll probably sacrifice style for good resale value.
If you can have your cake and eat it too, why not.
Consumer Reports is one of the top sites to help you make the right choice. They research their choices thoroughly and back it up with strong data.
Here's a fact you may not be aware of; the average new car loses 47 percent of its value in the first three years. How can you counter that sort of depreciation?
According to Consumer Reports, think used. It's an affordable, intelligent way to get the car you want with all the safety features and added options, without all the drastic drive off the lot depreciation.

When buying used however, there are a few more things to keep in mind.
Do you trust the dealer. Have they been around for a while? And what sort of bumper to bumper warranty do they offer.
 Do your blue book price comparisons. Sometimes a deal that is too good to be true, often is. If the car is priced way below blue book value, there is likely something you've missed. It could be obvious such as above average kilometres. Calculate that the average driver, in normal use, drives about 20-25,000 kilometres a year. If the car is only two years old and has 80,000 kilometres it means the car has likely been part of a fleet of rental cars, or it has put some hard time in.
This will greatly reduce the lifespan of the car and should probably be taken out of consideration.

What cars are most highly rated?
Well, courtesy of Consumer Reports, here are some vehicles to consider. In the small car category they rate the Honda Fit number one. For family cars they have great things to say about the Toyota Prius.
If you would like something upscale but have no issue with something a year or two old, seriously consider the Lexus ES. Still in the luxury arena consider the Acura RL. Need something a little sportier? They give a thumbs up to the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Small SUV's are very popular these days. Consider the Honda CRV In the midsized category, try the Toyota Highlander. Next, minivans; Consumer Reports says to go with the Toyota Sienna FWD. If it's a pickup truck, again Honda gets the nod with their Ridgeline.

That’s it for our overview of Consumer Reports top recommendations for used cars and trucks. They recommend these vehicles on average over the last ten years. We suggest that you do your homework, then choose the vehicle that feels most comfortable for you and your circumstances.

For more information about making intelligent used vehicle decisions, go to PrudentValuecars.com