Ford Dominates in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Cars for the Money Awards

Londonderry, 03/01/2013 / SubmitMyPR /

Car buyers are often forced to choose between a model that is enjoyable to drive or one that is easy on the wallet, but U.S. News & World Report recently honored a group of vehicles that offer the best of both worlds. The news publication’s 2013 Best Cars for the Money Awards feature more Ford models than any other auto brand, with the 2013 Ford Focus, Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Taurus, Edge and Escape all leading their segments.

The U.S. News Best Cars for the Money Awards are not determined only by the opinions of the automotive press, but also by a wealth of industry data. Editors factor in average price paid and five-year total cost of ownership from TrueCar.com, reliability information from J.D. Power and Associates and crash testing from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. After all was said and done, Ford landed six models on the 2013 list, with the Taurus topping the Large Cars segment for the fourth year in a row and the Edge emerging victorious in the Midsize SUVs with 2 Rows category for the second straight year.

"Whether you're looking for a compact car, a midsize hybrid or a crossover, the U.S. News awards show that you're going to get a great deal with a Ford and, perhaps more importantly, that you won't regret your decision once you put the vehicle through its paces," said Jim McGovern, general manager of Ford of Londonderry, a New Hampshire Ford dealer. "Ford has worked feverishly in recent years to simultaneously improve reliability, safety and fuel efficiency, and its entire lineup is benefiting from those efforts."

A significant factor in Ford's push for greater fuel economy has been the success of its new EcoBoost engines, which combine direct injection, turbocharging and variable valve timing to improve gas mileage without diminishing performance. In response to increased consumer demand, the automaker recently announced that it will bring production of its 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine from Valencia, Spain, to its Cleveland Engine Plant for North American models in late 2014, a nearly $200 million move that will create 450 new jobs at the Ohio facility.

The 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine is available on four of Ford's Best Cars for the Money award winners, including the Edge, Escape, Fusion and Taurus, as well as on the Focus ST performance trim and the Explorer SUV. In the all-new 2013 Ford Fusion, the unit churns out 240 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, yet it still returns up to 33 mpg on the highway. Ford predicts that it will sell more than 500,000 EcoBoost-powered vehicles in the United States this year, a big jump over the 334,364 units sold stateside in 2012.

"Fuel efficiency can have a lasting impact on a car's value, but a lot of that appeal gets lost if the engine can't produce responsive performance at the same time," added McGovern. "Ford's EcoBoost powerplants address that issue by ensuring that your commute is not only less costly, but also more fun, and that is proving to be a very compelling thought for buyers."

About Ford of Londonderry:
Ford of Londonderry is a premier New Hampshire Ford dealer, serving those in nearby Derry, Concord, Nashua and Manchester. Ford of Londonderry has the extensive new and used Ford inventory New Hampshire drivers desire, with amazing prices and specials on all the latest models. They also have a skilled Ford service team that can handle any repairs or maintenance their customers need completed. You can preview their wide selection of Fords at www.fordoflondonderry.com, call them at 888-871- 1155, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FordofLondonderry, or visit their Ford dealership at 33 Nashua Road in Londonderry, N.H.