Tag Archives: Kelley Blue Book

Cadillac CTS Named Motor Trend’s Car of the Year

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and for Cadillac, the reasons for celebration go beyond turkey and presents.

Last week, Motor Trend announced that the Cadillac CTS had beat out the Mazda3 and Chevrolet Corvette Stingray to win the Car of the Year award. The official announcement was made on Fox and Friends, Fox News’ morning show. The Cadillac CTS, which Motor Trend dubbed “a car for all seasons,” has been exceedingly well-reviewed. Jalopnik called it GM’s best sedan ever, and it earned top reviews from Car and Driver, Kelley Blue Book, and Auto Guide.

Standard features on the Cadillac CTS 2.0L Standard include a 5.7” color display, Bose 11-speaker premium audio system, Ultrasonic Rear Park Assist, remote start, StabiliTrak, and OnStar services including emergency services and hands-free calling. Additionally, the CTS 2.0L Standard gets an estimated fuel economy of 20 mpg city in RWD, 19 mpg city in AWD, 30 mpg highway in RWD, and 28 mpg highway in AWD.

No matter what car you are looking for from the Cadillac CTS to favorite Chryslers, Fords, Kias, Mazdas, and more, Approved Loan Store is ready to help YOU! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to work with you to find a car you want at terms you can afford! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Toyota Sells 3 Millionth Prius Worldwide

Last week, Toyota announced that 3 million Priuses have been sold worldwide.

It has been 16 years since the Prius was first launched and a whole decade since the introduction of the second generation Prius. In 2009, Toyota introduced the third and most recent generation Prius which produces only 89 g CO2 per km.

The Toyota Prius, one of the first and most popular widely-available hybrid vehicles, also has the distinction of receiving the NHTSA 5-Star Overall Safety Rating. Kelley Blue Book rated it a 9.1 out of 10, and Edmunds awarded it a 4.9 out of 5-star rating.

At the time of publication, the starting price for the 2013 Prius is $24,200. Standard features for the 2013 Prius Two include LED daytime running lights, climate control, UV reduction glass windshield, touch-screen audio player with iPod connectivity, fuel consumption history and rear spoiler with LED center high-mount stop lights.

Are you looking for a safer car or one with better fuel efficiency? No matter what you’re looking for, Approved Loan Store wants to help you get in a car you want at terms you can afford! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

LA Auto Show: Honda Announces New Civic Premiere

In 2 weeks, Honda will unveil the new Civic at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and early word that Honda listened to its fans and critics with the newest model of one of their most popular cars.

Almost 50 vehicles will debut during the show including world premieres from Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, and Honda will be showing off several new vehicles including the Civic. Some members of the press, though, got an early look this week to stir up excitement for the official premiere at the show.

On the outside, the 2013 Civic will have an open-mouth lower bumper, a black mesh grille with integrated fog lights, and larger jewel-style tail lights, but reports are saying that it is what’s on the inside that counts with the new Civic. According to the Wall Street Journal, Honda has updated the interior, turned their focus to the driver’s comfort, and overall aimed to give it a feeling of luxury and youth.

Will the new Civic live up to the hype? We won’t know for another two weeks yet, but looking at the LA Auto Show line-up, it will have to bring its A-game to stand out from the pack. Then again, Honda has a history of excellence with awards from Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, and Green Car Journal, not to mention About.com’s 2012 Best New Car award. They just might be up to the challenge.

No matter if you’re looking for a Civic, an Accord, or something else entirely, Approved Loan Store can help you! Whether if you have good credit, bad credit, or no credit, we want to get you into the car you want at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and get the latest auto news and tips by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

CBS News Picks 5 Best Cars Made in America

Yesterday, CBS News MoneyWatch named their 5 best American-built cars. With so many great American cars on the market today, we were curious as to what made the cut. The list is below along with our thoughts on each of their picks.

Cadillac CTS – Winner of Popular Mechanics’ Top 10 Car, Car and Driver’s 10Best, and Edmunds.com’s Best Retained Value Award, CBS couldn’t really make the list without the Cadillac CTS. The Cadillac CTS’s latest tagline is, “If you’re going to make a statement, don’t mumble,” and with its combination of power and luxury, a driver won’t be able to blend in driving the Cadillac CTS.

Buick LaCrosse – In the past, the Buick LaCrosse has had no trouble racking up stellar reviews and awards, and 2012 is no exception. Already, it has earned five-star safety ratings from the NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program as well as a Consumer Digest Best Buy. Kelley Blue Book reviewers also gave it a 4.5 out of 5 rating, making it popular with everyday drivers and car reviewers alike.

Ford Flex – The Ford Flex is probably the most underrated of the bunch here. It still isn’t a household name, but consumers and car reviewers who have driven it are hoping that changes soon. This cross-over is a seven-passenger family car with a completely different feel from the usual minivan or SUV.

Chrysler 300 – In 2012, the Chrysler 300 has already taken home some of the industry’s top awards. The 2012 Chrysler 300 was named one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines and Interiors as well as a Consumer Digest Best Buy. It was also ranked #1 in Kelley Blue Book’s 10 Most Comfortable Cars Under $30,000 and made Kelley Blue Book’s 10 Best Family Cars list. Like the Cadillac CTS, it would be difficult to make a list of the best American-made cars without including the Chrysler 300.

Ford Focus – Edmunds claims that the Ford Focus the first American-made compact car to really give Japanese automakers a run for their money, and though that initial success might have gone to their head, Ford has made some big changes to the Focus that have made it a must-see American-made model. Edmunds specifically cited the 2012 Focus as a “monumental improvement,” calling it a “well-rounded, well-built car that is easy to recommend.”

We want to know what you think of CBS News’ list! Did your favorite car make the cut? What do you think got snubbed? Leave a comment below and tell us what you think!

Are you looking for a great new or used car? Approved Loan Store wants to help you get into the car you want at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest auto news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Gas Prices Increasing Used Car Prices?

There’s been a lot of news on the rise of gas prices lately. With the increase of sales for the auto industry, it’s clear that people are looking for a car that spends more time on the road and less at the pump.

Kelly Blue Book has put out a report stating that rising gas prices might be driving the used car prices up 20 percent this year. While prices only saw a moderate growth of .4 percent in February, the prices saw a fast increase in the final week of the month. Compact cars rose 1.3 percent in that time and hybrids had an 3.6 percent increase.

Alec Gutierrez, senior market analyst of automotive insights for Kelly Blue Book, said of the increase, “Dealers have been aggressively bidding on fuel-efficient vehicles at auction as consumer demand increases in response to rising gas prices. If the past is any indication of things to come, Kelley Blue Book could see values of used fuel-efficient vehicles increase more than 20 percent during the course of the next few months.”

Now is definitely the time to get into the dealership to get the car that you’ve been wanting. There is a wide range of fuel-efficient models, new and used, to choose from. Apply online on Approved Loan Store’s website and see how we can pair you up with a local dealer. Check out our Facebook page and you can read the latest industry trends and see testimonials from our satisfied customers.

Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Top Family Cars of 2012 Revealed by Kelley Blue Book

Any family who heads into the dealership is always wanting to make sure they walk away with the best deal. To that end, Kelley Blue Book has released their top picks for family cars in 2012.

Their number 1 pick is the Volkswagen Passat. The sedan has five seats, and according to Kelley Blue Book, is the “automotive equivalent of the extra value meal at your local fast food joint.” They also make note that the aspiring family who is wanting the Passat will find the newer model is not only larger but also less expensive than last year’s model.

Second place is the Honda Odyssey minivan. The vehicle provides a large family with plenty of size and a fantastic set of safety features. The powerful V6 engine is noted along with the stylish interior and handling as to the reason that it placed so high on the list. Rounding out the rest of the five picks on the list is the Ford Flex, Subaru Outback, and the Honda CR-V.

Approved Loan Store is wanting to make sure that you leave in the car you need. They want to help get the growing family the car they need at the most affordable prices and best interest rates. Call today at 877-217-2217 or go online to apply today. Be sure to also follow on Facebook so that you can see all the latest news and offerings.