Best Value Cars
Gallery1
Smooth beats rough but you can have either.
Ford Territory TX petrol
MANY in this category major on off-roadability, but the Tezza shines on tarmac. It kicks off its Gold Star Value Awards campaign with a tantalisingly low entry price – the TX wears a $37,490 sticker – and although it’s on the thirsty side (10.2L/100km), it’s happy on regular 91-octane petrol. It’s also among the least costly to insure in class – about $990 per year – and boasts a 12-month service interval.
The Territory, in updated and facelifted 2015 form, remains a great buy despite having been on sale for more than a decade. And if your big wagon will mainly live on the road, the Ford is a better bet than most 4x4s.
Mitsubishi Pajero GLX diesel
SOMETHING of a serial Gold Star Value Awards podium finisher, the Pajero brings fundamental strengths such as an affordable purchase price, generous five-year warranty and decent economy (8.4L/100km).
Mazda CX-9 Classic
THE big Mazda wagon is more SUV than bush-basher. Relatively thirsty V6 stops it from climbing higher than third, but the CX-9 is backed by an appealingly low entry price, stout resale and a long service interval.
| Large SUV/4WD | Ford Territory TX 4.0i auto RWD | Mitsubishi Pajero GLX DiD man | Mazda CX-9 Classic |
| Purchase Price | $37,490 | $50,990 | $43,770 |
| Combined cycle fuel (L/100km) | 10.2 | 8.4 | 11 |
| Fuel RON (min. rec.) | 91 | D | 91 |
| Three-year fuel cost | $5822 | $5077 | $6279 |
| Redbook resale (%) | 55.6 | 60.1 | 60.0 |
| Three-year depreciation | $16,646 | $20,345 | $17,508 |
| AAMI insurance premium | $989 | $1169 | $1096 |
| Service interval (months) | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Warranty (years) | 3 | 5 | 3 |
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