It’s the annual list automakers strive to find themselves on; out of hundreds of possible vehicles, only a select few get the distinction of being called “Best Buys” by Consumers Digest. For 2012, Chrysler gets two spots on the list with the redesigned 300 sedan and the family-friendly Town & Country minivan.

 

Before doling out the hardware, editors at Consumers Digest get behind the wheels of 244 cars, trucks, SUVs, minivans and hybrids, sizing them up to determine which new vehicles offer the best overall value to today’s consumers. In test drives and in real-world conditions, each vehicle is picked apart and thoroughly examined inside and out, ensuring that the vehicles with the highest scores represent the absolute best their classes have to offer. 

 

Editors start with design, scrutinizing everything from the styling, fit and finish and interior ergonomics to the seats, amenities and cargo space. Then they get the vehicle out on the road, and pore over its acceleration and shifting, handling and ride quality, brakes and fuel efficiency. Last, they examine the intangibles; everything from the warranty and estimated repair costs to the crash-test results and resale values is thoughtfully weighed, considered and measured to ensure that no stone is left unturned, no feature is left untried and every result is ultimately unmistakable.

 

What’s left is a Consumers Digest Best Buy, a vehicle that outshines its competitors and offers more features, performance, safety and style to its buyer than the rest of its class. This year, thanks to a reinvestment in vehicle development and a commitment to improving its lineup across the board, Chrysler takes home two of the coveted honors, so in addition to their grille-top Chrysler wings, the 2012 300 sedan and the Town & Country minivan can now proudly wear the “Best Buy” designation.

 

Atop the luxury sedan segment and amidst imported sedans with substantially higher price tags sits the powerful and refined 2012 Chrysler 300. Reinvented with world-class luxury, available HEMI V8 power, a class-exclusive eight-speed automatic transmission and class-leading fuel efficiency, the 300 earns its honor by offering premium amenities at an economy price: MSRP starts at just $27,170.

 

Chrysler’s second Best Buy, the value-laden, people-moving Town & Country, integrates an elegant design (introduced just a year ago), luxurious amenities and innovative safety features. The 2012 model year brings the introduction of even more standard features including leather seating and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, as well as some additional premium appointments like LED cabin lighting and wood and leather interior trim options. With its striking emphasis on quality, the Town & Country still comes in at just $29,995.

 

To anyone who’s driven the Chrysler brand’s revamped 2012 300 and/or Town & Country, the company’s pair of Consumers Digest Best Buy awards will come as no surprise. Drivers know that each offers some of the best value, performance and innovation in its respective class. Now, it looks like the rest of the world is catching on.