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IntelliChoice Announces New Car Best Deals for May 2005

CAMPBELL, Calif.--May 6, 2005--PRIMEDIA's IntelliChoice, the leading source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis, today announced its "Best Deals of the Month" selections for May, identifying the vehicles with the best ownership cost value in 29 respective classes. IntelliChoice's "Best Deals of the Month" identify the best car and truck values offered by carmakers based on current vehicle pricing, market conditions and the lowest national manufacturer consumer rebate. IntelliChoice updates their data several times a month in order to capture the many expiring rebates and ongoing programs, giving the consumer the most up-to-date data analysis.

By using the latest information from numerous automotive resources, IntelliChoice evaluates what it costs to buy, own, and operate each new model-year trim line taking into consideration the vehicle's current purchase price, including any manufacturer consumer rebates. The following are highlights of IntelliChoice's Best Deals for May listed alphabetically by class:


Class                                  Brand     Model       Body  

Base Sport                             Toyota     MR2 Spyder  Base
                                                             Sport

Compact Pickup 2WD                     Toyota    Tacoma      Regular
                                                             Cab

Compact Pickup 4WD                     Toyota    Tacoma      Regular
                                                             Cab

Compact over $16,000                   Honda     Civic       Sedan
                                                 Hybrid

Compact under $16,000                  Honda     Civic LX    Sedan
                                                 Special
                                                 Edition

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

Compact Utility under $21,000          Toyota    RAV4 2WD    Sport
                                                             Utility

Full-Size Pickup 2WD 1/2 Ton           Toyota    Tundra DLX  Regular
                                                 V6          Cab

Full-Size Pickup 2WD 3/4 Ton           Chevrolet Silverado   Extended
                                                 2500 HD     Cab,
                                                             Short
                                                             Bed

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

Full-Size Pickup 4WD 1/2 Ton           Chevrolet Silverado   Crew Cab
                                                 1500 LS

Full-Size Pickup 4WD 3/4 Ton           Dodge     Ram 2500    Quad Cab,
                                                 ST          Short
                                                             Bed

Full-Size Pickup 4WD One Ton           Dodge     Ram 3500    Quad Cab,
                                                 ST          Short
                                                             Bed

Full-Size Van                          GMC       Savana      Passenger
                                                 1500        Van

Intermediate Utility over $28,000      Lexus     RX 330 AWD  Sport
                                                             Utility

Intermediate Utility under $28,000     Toyota    Highlander  Sport
                                                 2WD         Utility

Large                                  Toyota    Avalon XL   Sedan

Luxury                                 Mercedes- CLK320      Cabriolet
                                       Benz

Midsize over $21,000                  Volkswagen Passat GL   Sedan
                                                 TDI

Midsize under $21,000                  Toyota    Prius       Sedan

Midsize/Large Wagon                   Volkswagen Passat GL   Wagon
                                                 TDI

Mini-Van over $24,000                  Honda     Odyssey EX  Passenger
                                                             Van

Mini-Van under $24,000                 Honda     Odyssey LX  Passenger
                                                             Van

Near Luxury                            Lexus     ES 330      Sedan

Small Wagon                           Volkswagen Jetta GL    Wagon
                                                 TDI

Sport                                  Acura     NSX         Coupe

Subcompact                             Honda     Civic HX    Coupe

Utility over $36,000                   Lexus     LX 470      Sport
                                                             Utility

Utility under $36,000                  Toyota    Sequoia     Sport
                                                 SR5 2WD     Utility

Please visit the IntelliChoice website at www.IntelliChoice.com, for the complete listing of Intellichoice's "Best Deals" for May and also to check the rebates section of any vehicle report for the most up-to-date incentives.

The Best Deals designation enables consumers to identify how rebates affect a vehicle's value throughout ownership and not just at the time of purchase. Ownership costs can vary significantly among different trim lines of the same model. Additionally, IntelliChoice continuously updates fuel costs based on the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Vehicles designated an "IntelliChoice Best Deal of the Month" are typically cars and trucks that have good to great ownership cost values before any manufacturer rebate. However, a rebate can often turn a good ownership cost value into a great value, and a great value into an "IntelliChoice Best Deal of the Month."

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.