PRIMEDIA's IntelliChoice Announces Winners of the 19th Annual Best Ov

PRIMEDIA's IntelliChoice Announces Winners of the 19th Annual Best Overall Value of the Year Awards; Toyota, Honda and Chevrolet Dominate Across Categories

    Business Editors/Automotive Writers
    2005 Chicago Auto Show

    CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 9, 2005--PRIMEDIA's (NYSE: PRM) IntelliChoice, the leading source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis, today announced the winners of its 19th annual "Best Overall Value of the Year" awards for 2005 model year cars, trucks, vans and SUVs. IntelliChoice's Best Overall Value of the Year awards recognize vehicles whose cost of ownership is significantly less than that of other peer models and provides a quick reference to finding vehicles that promise the best return on investment. A listing of this year's winners and additional information on the awards are featured in the Spring issue of IntelliChoice Magazine, on newsstands April 5, 2005 and can be found online at www.IntelliChoice.com.
    This year, from the vehicles analyzed, IntelliChoice has identified 37 winning models for segment and class accolades. The overall category winners include:

--	Best Car Value Under $23,000 - Toyota Prius
--	Best Car Value Over $23,000 - Lexus LS 430
--	Best SUV Value Under $28,000 - Toyota Highlander 2WD
--	Best SUV Value Over $28,000 - Toyota Sequoia SR5 2WD
--	Best Truck Value Under $26,000 - Toyota Tundra Regular Cab
--	Best Truck Value Over $26,000 - Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab LS 2WD
--	Best Van Value Under $25,000 - Honda Odyssey LX
--	Best Van Value Over $25,000 - Honda Odyssey EX

    "Cost of ownership plays a significant factor in the vehicle purchasing decision and IntelliChoice's resources provide consumers a valuable service by analyzing all the necessary data that consumers are not capable of calculating on their own," said James Bell, publisher of IntelliChoice. "As the only data-driven cost of ownership awards, we're able to give our readers the ability to feel confident and assured they have chosen their car wisely."
    The IntelliChoice evaluation process aggregates and analyzes data from auto manufacturers, the U.S. government, and third-party data resources to determine the true costs of ownership of new vehicles over a five year period. IntelliChoice also assigns a rating to more than 1300 mainstream vehicles sold in America. This insightful value rating factors the accumulated ownership costs of depreciation, maintenance, repairs, fuel, fees financing, and insurance to identify the true standout models in each class.
    In addition to the eight category winners, IntelliChoice also recognizes the following vehicles as class winners:

    Cars

    -- Subcompact Class - Honda Civic Coupe

    -- Compact Class under $16,000 - Honda Civic Sedan

    -- Compact Class over $16,000 - Honda Civic Hybrid

    -- Midsize Class under $21,000 - Toyota Prius

    -- Midsize Class over $21,000 - Volkswagen Passat TDI

    -- Large Class - Chrysler 300

    -- Near Luxury Class - Lexus ES 330

    -- Luxury Class - Lexus LS 430

    -- Small Wagon Class - Volkswagen Jetta TDI

    -- Midsize/Large Wagon Class - Volkswagen Passat TDI

    -- Base Sport Class - Toyota MR2 Spyder

    -- Sport Class - Lexus SC 430

    Sport Utilities

    -- Compact Sport Utility Class under $21,000 - Toyota RAV4

    -- Compact Sport Utility Class over $21,000 - Honda CR-V 4WD

    -- Intermediate Sport Utility Class under $28,000 - Toyota
    Highlander

    -- Intermediate Sport Utility Class over $28,000 - Lexus RX 330

    -- Full-Size Sport Utility Class under $36,000 - Toyota Sequoia
    SR5

    -- Full-Size Sport Utility Class over $36,000 - Toyota Land
    Cruiser

    Trucks

    -- Compact Pickup Class 2WD - Toyota Tacoma

    -- Compact Pickup Class 4WD - Toyota Tacoma

    -- Full-Size Pickup Class 1/2 Ton 2WD - Toyota Tundra

    -- Full-Size Pickup Class 1/2 Ton 4WD - Chevrolet Silverado 1500
    Extended Cab

    -- Full-Size Pickup Class 3/4 Ton 2WD - Chevrolet Silverado 2500
    HD

    -- Full-Size Pickup Class 3/4 Ton 4WD - Chevrolet Silverado 2500
    HD

    -- Full-Size Pickup Class One Ton 2WD - Chevrolet Silverado 3500
    DRW

    -- Full-Size Pickup Class One Ton 4WD - Chevrolet Silverado 3500
    DRW

    Vans

    -- Mini-Van Class under $24,000 - Honda Odyssey

    -- Mini-Van Class over $24,000 - Honda Odyssey

    -- Full-Size Van Class - Chevrolet Express 1500 Passenger Van and
    GMC Savana 1500 Passenger Van

    Founded in 1986, IntelliChoice is committed to empowering consumers to make better purchase decisions by providing independent and essential automotive information and tools. Now in its 19th year, the IntelliChoice Best Overall Value of the Year awards distinction is a significant honor in the automotive industry. As the leading source for cost of ownership data, IntelliChoice continues to grow and evolve as the trusted one-stop resource for consumers when making their purchasing decisions. With more than 50 brands serving the automotive market, including Motor Trend, Automobile Magazine, Super Street, Import Tuner, Sport Compact Car, Hot Rod, and European Car, PRIMEDIA has the broadest reach to automotive enthusiasts of any media company.

    About IntelliChoice

    Part of PRIMEDIA Enthusiast Media, IntelliChoice is the market leader in automotive ownership cost and value analysis and in automotive leasing cost analysis. Founded in 1986, IntelliChoice is the most authoritative provider of independent automobile pricing, specifications, ownership cost and leasing data. Offering proprietary ownership cost and value information, IntelliChoice also publishes the IntelliChoice Buyer's Guide, a quarterly magazine for consumers featuring the nation's most trusted automotive cost and value data.

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CONTACT: Sloane & Company Jocelyn Johnson, 212-446-1867 jjohnson@sloanepr.com or Lisa Bruno, 212-446-1873 lbruno@sloanepr.com

KEYWORD: ILLINOIS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: CONSUMER/HOUSEHOLD ADVERTISING/MARKETING AUTOMOTIVE TRADESHOW SOURCE: PRIMEDIA, Inc.

Copyright Business Wire 2005