Value is not the lowest price. A vehicle can be inexpensive and still a poor value, or expensive and worth every dollar. The Total Value Index® (TVI) measures value the way owners weigh it: everything they got, against everything it cost them.
How TVI is calculated
Total quality
TVI starts with the Total Quality Index: the vehicle, the dealership, reliability and the emotional response of owning and driving it.
Immediate economics
What the owner got at the time of purchase: the price and the deal offered, standard equipment, warranty coverage, technical innovations, whether the vehicle was affordable to buy, and value for the money.
Expected economics
What the owner expects over the life of the vehicle: fuel economy, how economical it is to own, reliability, durability and expected resale value.
The award
Vehicles that deliver the most value in their segment receive the Total Value Award (TVA). Each vehicle competes against the others in its own class, so a luxury sedan is judged against luxury sedans, not against compact cars.
Complete standings are available to NVES subscribers.