Methodology dossier
Every number has a source. Every formula is shown.
This page is the receipts drawer: how the calculator scores cars, where each figure came from, and — just as important — what our estimates can’t do.
The scoring engine
How the calculator scores a vehicle
Each vehicle gets five dimension scores (0–100). You rank the five dimensions 1–5; rank 1 gets weight 5, rank 2 gets weight 4, and so on down to weight 1. Total score = the weighted average, 0–100. The calculator shows the full breakdown for every pick — no black box.
| Dimension | What it measures | Formula (0–100) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | How the car fits your budget | Within budget: 60 + 40 × (1 − price/budget). Over budget: 100 − 150 × overrun/budget (floored at 0). Uses mid-MSRP for new, estimated 5-year-old price for used. |
| Efficiency | EPA combined economy | Gas/hybrid: mpg ÷ 50 × 100. Electric: MPGe ÷ 125 × 100. Uses the highest-volume powertrain’s figure. |
| Safety | Crash-test results | 5-star NHTSA = 90, 4-star = 75; +10 for IIHS Top Safety Pick+, +5 for Top Safety Pick. |
| Tech | Tech-to-cost: modern powertrain + safety tech per dollar | 40% electrification (EV 100 / PHEV 85 / hybrid 70 / hybrid-available 55 / gas 45) + 30% IIHS award (TSP+ 100 / TSP 80 / none 50) + 30% NHTSA stars (5★ 100 / 4★ 80). |
| Resale | How well it holds value | 100 − (5-year depreciation % × 100/65). Uses model-specific iSeeCars figures where published, segment averages otherwise. |
Must-have filters (7+ seats, hybrid-or-better, 40+ MPG, pickup bed, under-$35k start, IIHS TSP+, 5-star NHTSA) exclude vehicles that don’t qualify — they’re hard constraints, not suggestions. Passenger count filters on maximum seating.
The invoice estimate
How we estimate dealer invoice
Dealer invoice is the price the dealer theoretically pays the manufacturer. It’s not public — but two of its components are:
- Holdback: a manufacturer-to-dealer payment, publicly reported at roughly 1–3% of MSRP depending on brand (Autoblog; Autoblog/TrueCar; dealer explainer). We use the commonly cited brand figure: Ford 3%, GM (Chevrolet/GMC) 3%, Honda 3%, Toyota 2%, Hyundai ~2–3%, Tesla 0% (direct sales, no holdback).
- Destination: the delivery charge printed on the window sticker. It’s set by the manufacturer and non-negotiable — and here’s the honest math: destination appears on both the dealer’s invoice and your window sticker, so it cancels out of the invoice-vs-list gap. We show it separately for completeness, using published figures (e.g., 2025 Toyota RAV4 $1,395 per J.D. Power; 2025 Honda CR-V $1,350 per Honda; 2025 Ford F-150 $2,595 per Ford Authority; Tesla $1,390 per ConsumerAffairs).
The formula: estimated invoice = MSRP − (holdback % × MSRP), computed across the MSRP range so you see a band, not a false-precision point. Every figure on the pricing engine is labeled ESTIMATE.
Estimates, not quotes. Real invoices vary by region, incentives, and stair-step programs we can’t see. The estimate tells you roughly how much air is between sticker and dealer cost — it is not an offer, a quote, or a promise of a selling price.
Sources
Every data source, hyperlinked
| Dataset | Source |
|---|---|
| 2025 U.S. sales, F-Series | GoodCarBadCar; autoevolution 2025 report |
| 2025 U.S. sales, Silverado / Sierra / Tacoma | autoevolution 2025 report; GM Authority |
| 2025 U.S. sales, RAV4 | Autoblog |
| 2025 U.S. sales, CR-V | American Honda (official) |
| 2025 U.S. sales, Model Y / Model 3 | InsideEVs (Cox Automotive estimate); DriveTeslaCanada |
| 2025 U.S. sales, Equinox / Trax | GM Authority; CarBuzz |
| 2025 U.S. sales, Tucson | GoodCarBadCar; CarBuzz |
| 2025 U.S. sales, Explorer / Rogue / Grand Cherokee | CarBuzz; USA Today; CarBuzz |
| 2025 U.S. sales, Camry / Corolla / Ram 1500 / Crosstrek / Sportage / Forester | top-100 aggregator citing Motor Intelligence |
| Specs & MSRP: F-150, RAV4, Explorer | Edmunds (F-150); Edmunds (RAV4); Edmunds (Explorer) |
| Specs & MSRP: Silverado | J.D. Power |
| Specs & MSRP: CR-V | Honda (official pricing) |
| Specs & MSRP: Camry, Tacoma | Carfax (Camry); Carfax (Tacoma) |
| Specs & MSRP: Tucson | Centereach Hyundai (IIHS roundup) |
| NHTSA ratings | Edmunds; Carfax; vinspectorai (NHTSA data); Jalopnik (Tacoma) |
| IIHS 2025 awards | Autoblog; kevinsautos (Camry TSP+); Centereach Hyundai (Tucson TSP+); Ford Authority (F-150 2024 TSP) |
| Depreciation | iSeeCars 5-year study (Mar 2026); TFLcar coverage; MotorBiscuit (2025 study) |
| Holdback method | Autoblog; Autoblog/TrueCar; Liberty CDJR explainer |
| Destination charges | J.D. Power; Honda; Ford Authority; ConsumerAffairs |
| Video reviews | All embeds use youtube-nocookie and were oEmbed-verified on 2026-10-05; see Best Sellers for per-model credits. |
| Photography | All marquee/card photos are Pexels free-license stock; per-photo source pages are credited under each image. |
Limitations
What this data can’t do
- Tesla figures are estimates. Tesla doesn’t publish U.S. model-level sales; Model Y/Model 3 rows are Cox Automotive estimates.
- Some rows rest on an aggregator. Camry, Corolla, Ram 1500, Crosstrek, Sportage, and Forester figures come via a top-100 aggregator citing Motor Intelligence — solid, but a step removed from the manufacturer.
- MSRPs moved through 2025. Mid-year price changes (e.g., Equinox base price raised twice late in the year) mean ranges are indicative, not a fixed price list.
- Destination charges moved too. The F-150’s went $1,995 → $2,595 for 2025. Always read the window sticker.
- Invoice is an estimate. Real dealer cost includes regional incentives and stair-step programs we can’t see. The band is directional.
- Depreciation is backward-looking. iSeeCars measures what happened to 5-year-old cars, not what will happen to 2026s. Segment averages stand in where model-specific figures aren’t published.
- Used-price estimates are rough. “Estimated 5-year-old price” = mid-MSRP × (1 − 5-yr depreciation). Condition, miles, and region swing real prices thousands either way.
- Videos can disappear. Review IDs were verified live on 2026-10-05; takedowns happen. Tell us if one breaks.
- We never scrape. Live market pricing is pulled by hand during your consultation — we don’t scrape dealer or third-party sites, because their terms forbid it.