US News: These cars are the best bang for the buck

Everyone is looking for a great deal when stepping into the shiny halls of a car dealership. But getting a car that is a great value extends past the price you pay at the showroom. You have to consider the quality of the car, how much you'll pay, and how much it costs to operate the vehicle in the long run.

This is exactly what US News and World Report delved into when creating a list of the best cars for the money. The publication took into consideration a car's performance, safety, comfort, and reliability, but it also used TrueCar.com data to determine the average cost of purchase. In addition, the publication obtained five-year cost of ownership data from Vincentric.

US News' list rates the best value in 20 vehicle categories, ranging from hybrids to full-size trucks.

The biggest winner this year is Toyota/Lexus, whose vehicles took the top spot in five categories.

"Most consumers know to look to Toyota for value and reliability," U.S. News Best Car rankings managing editor, Jamie Page Deaton, said in a statement. "However, these wins show that Toyota and Lexus go beyond the basics and impress reviewers with the performance, comfort and connectivity of their products, while also providing compelling pricing and ownership costs versus the competition."

Following close behind Toyota, Honda/Acura emerged victorious in four categories. In total, import brands took 15 of the 20 categories.

Here's a closer look at US News and World Report's Best Cars for the Money list for 2017.