­One of the biggest classes, 13 contenders have been whittled down to three

1. Skoda Octavia Ambition 103 TSI THE benefit of hindsight has allowed Redbook to hone Skoda’s three-year retained value ratings from the highs of when the brand returned to Oz, to more believable numbers. Back then, Skodas were a Gold Star sure-thing.

Happily for the Czech brand, the base, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol Octavia remains in the frame for budget-conscious buyers. The mid-sizer’s affordable $21,690 purchase price and decent 60 percent resale still make it among the best cars considered in class in terms of depreciation, while a frugal 5.7L/100km economy rating makes it equally competitive in the fuel-cost discipline.

Importantly, the efficiency doesn’t come at the cost of driver appeal. The boosted Volkswagen Group four is sweet and flexible, though it does insist that the tank is filled with pricier premium 95 RON.

In the Ambition, you miss out on the better-sorted ride and sharper dynamics found up-spec in the IRS-equipped Elegance and RS, but they are priced $10K-15K more. So in terms of the numbers – and the sheer amount of car you get for the money in terms of cabin and cargo space – the entry-level Octavia is a winner.

2. Kia Optima Si IF ITS dynamics were as sharp as its looks, Kia’s Optima would be a mid-size revelation. Thankfully, the value equation is up there with its styling. Kia’s strong warranty and long service interval help it secure silver, as does solid resale.

3. Volkswagen Jetta 118TSI THE base Jetta is not as well equipped as an Octavia, and the mid-size VW’s vital stats tend to support this value judgement. Still, having beaten 10 of 13 cars considered in its class, it remains a ripper buy.

Notable classmates: Hyundai i40 CRDi Active, Mazda 6 Sport / Number of cars crunched: 13

The French Renaissance continues

1. Citroen DS5 D Sport IT’S pleasing to see a Citroen atop the podium, but how did it get there? A change of importer has seen the brand’s local pricing go from gouge-the-bastards to give-’em-a-good-deal.

The DS5 marks a welcome return of the quirkiness that characterised many of the French maker’s early offerings. The Citroen finished ahead of Mercedes-Benz’s C180 coupe and Lexus’s IS300h in third, an eclectic mix that proves medium can mean anything from eccentric to sporty to sedan. The common denominator is the bottom line.

As well as being newly affordable, the DS5 brings a trio of after-sales support bonuses: six years of warranty; capped-price servicing; and, roadside assistance. Then there’s the Citroen’s service interval; it only needs to see the mechanic once a year. How’s that for peace of mind?

2. Mercedes-Benz C180 Avantgarde Coupe PERHAPS not so avant-garde now that it’s soon to be superseded, but the sweet C180 Coupe’s value equation still adds up. Factor in a run-out deal and now could be the best time to buy.

3. Lexus IS300h THE Lexus hybrid has unexpected appeal, but the value comes as no surprise given Lexus’s long service interval and four-year warranty, and the IS300h’s stout resale and miserly fuel use.

Notable classmates: Infiniti Q50 2.2GT, Volvo S60 D4 Kinetic / Number of cars crunched: 6

WHEN you’re in the market for a slick new motor, the process of comparing, tyre-kicking and dreaming is seemingly filled with infinite possibility.

But actually laying your cash down at the dealership can snap you from a daydream into a grim reality of lacklustre resale values, wildly expensive insurance premiums, spiralling repayments and untold thirst for premium fuel.

What if someone could expose the hidden costs, crunch the numbers, present the data, and draw conclusions about how to best spend your hard-earned on a brand new car? Enter Wheels’ annual Gold Star Value Awards.

We take the cream of the crop in a number of vehicle classes – just about all of them, in fact – and break each car down into key cost components such as annual fuel cost, insurance premiums and depreciation, then feed the data into a clever set of formulae.

More than 200 cars are tipped into the hopper, but just one winner in each of 20 classes is earns the coveted Wheels Gold Star Award for value.

CLICK HERE FOR WHEELS GOLD STAR VALUE AWARDS 2014

­Style and substance meet in the premium hatch showdown

1. Citroen DS3 D Sport WHETHER it’s D Style or D Sport, Citroen’s forward-looking DS3 leads the premium compact class for value. Unlike many in the segment (see Mini Cooper), it defies retro to deliver a new take on Euro-cool hatch. But the true beauty of the DS3, as our Gold Star Value analysis reveals, is that it’s both the adventurous and the sensible choice.

The $30K D Sport is pricier than the Style, but more economical at 6.7L/100km (on 95 RON fuel). Resale is reasonable for the class, at 59 percent, while annual insurance is at the cheaper end of the scale at $1053. Its 12-month service interval is as good as it gets, and the six-year warranty sets it apart in this class.

2. Mini Cooper THIRD-GEN Cooper is no longer quite so mini, but still big on value. Miserly 4.7L/100km fuel figure counts for plenty, while consistent showings elsewhere help it to the silver medal.

3. Volvo V40 D2 Kinetic TURBO-DIESEL economy and solid resale help V40’s bid, while its 4.2L/100km turbo-diesel economy and 12-month service interval drive the Volvo’s value equation home in convincing fashion.

Notable classmates: Lexus CT200h, Mercedes-Benz A180 / Number of cars crunched: 9

Mazda 3 is an all-round star ahead of diesel alternatives

1. Mazda 3 Touring MAZDA’S recent focus on shaving fuel use via its SkyActiv program is the reason its cars now feature at the pointy end rather than fighting it out mid-pack as they often did previously.

The Mazda 3 has always possessed a blend of qualities that make the model an excellent value proposition, a fact that explains the more than 3000 new buyers it attracts each month. These strengths carry into the third-gen model in the form of a stout 77 percent three-year retained value, which translates into $5900 lost over the first three years – less than any other car considered in this class and price bracket. The 3’s insurance premium is low at $982, although it’s worth noting that there’s not much variation among small cars.

A 12-month service interval is also a big plus. And, while the brand’s three-year warranty isn’t the best out there, we’d be worry-free about the reliability inherent in anything with a Mazda badge.

Then there’s the economy. The outgoing model drank 7.9L/100km on the combined cycle; the new one is some 27 percent thriftier, at 5.8L/100km (and still on bottom-shelf 91 octane). With this previous missing link addressed, the Mazda 3 is an all-round Star.

2. Hyundai i30 CRDi Active OUR summation in Showroom is, of course, spot-on: “Entry-level diesel remains excellent value.” The i30 does it by putting in consistently solid performances across the disciplines, offering excellent economy and reasonable resale, before bringing it home with a 12-month service interval and five-year warranty.

3. Renault Megane Authentique dCi 110 hatch SINCE Renault re-platformed its base Megane, driver appeal and ride quality near to the old-school French variety have been part of the deal. In base turbo-diesel form, so is excellent economy. Long warranty and service intervals are great; resale and reliability reputation less so.

Notable classmates: Kia Cerato Si sedan, Toyota Corolla Levin ZR hatch / Number of cars crunched: 8

Mazda’s top-selling 3 is also a top value pick

1. Mazda 3 Neo sedan WHY the 3 sedan? It’s better looking. Okay, that’s not particularly pragmatic; both the hatch and its booted brother offer the blend of cash-saving qualities that see the Mazda 3 dust off a 15-strong sub-$25K small car field.

Happily, the third-gen 3 adds economy to its list of high points. However, it’s solid showings across the board that help the Mazda to a well-deserved gong. The 3 is happy on a low-octane fuel (91), strong on resale (77 percent), with an annual insurance premium on the cheap side at $934. And it conveniently only needs a 12-monthly appointment with the spannerman.

The Mazda’s only downfall is its three-year unlimited-kilometre warranty – not exactly stingy, but well short of industry-best.

2. Holden Cruze Equipe TWO best-sellers figuring at the pointy end here speaks loudly about how switched-on Aussie buyers are. Cruze comes second, with strong resale and class-cheapest insurance.

3. Kia Cerato S sedan A FIVE-YEAR* warranty sees to it that Kia – and Korea – is always in the hunt for a Gold Star gong. No prizes for aesthetics, but if there were, the Peter Schreyer-styled Rio would fare well.

*STOP PRESS: Since pubication of this article, Kia has increased its warranty to seven years/unlimited kilometres

Notable classmates: Hyundai i30 CRDi Active, Golf 90 TSI / Number of cars crunched: 15

French domination a genuine surprise

1. Renault Clio Expression TCe 90 LET’S first tackle the elephant in the room: Why is it that, a price bracket up, the Clio and Mazda 2 change order, and where has the Jazz gone? There’s nothing sinister happening; it’s just that the battle raging in this class is a particularly close one, and subtle differences in price, resale and insurance premium shake up the order. Renault’s Clio takes the gong, while the Jazz is relegated to fourth.

The take-home message is that they’re all excellent buys. But the Gallic gold medallist tops them – by a slender 1.4-point margin – with a terrific 4.5L/100km official combined cycle fuel economy figure (albeit on 95-octane premium fuel) and a characterful, throbby triple-cylinder note. The Renault’s 66 percent three-year Redbook resale is reasonable, while the annual insurance bill is among the cheapest here at $933.

The brand’s adoption of an across-the-range five-year warranty counts for plenty. Without it, the Renault would slip to second. Meanwhile, the Clio’s 12-month service interval offers hassle-free motoring and cash-saving potential. Consider the driver appeal on offer for less than $18K (plus on-roads) and Renault’s baby is the archetypal Gold Star car.

2. Peugeot 208 Active THE three-pot Peugeot goes close to Clio’s economy, but without the turbo torque. Betters its rival’s resale, at 70 percent, and matches it for cheap insurance and a 12-month service interval, but falls two years short of Renault’s five-year warranty, which is certainly a consideration on French cars.

3. Mazda 2 Maxx Sport hatch WITH fuel economy to rival the pair of Frenchies above it, the Mazda 2 coodabeen a contender. In fact, a small but meaningful drop in fuel use would see it take out the category, and the next-gen 2, due in December, will bring that efficiency improvement.

Notable classmates: Hyundai i20 5-dr Elite, Honda City VTi / Number of cars crunched: 13

A wide choice in this diverse category brings a mixed final three

1. Honda Jazz VTi A $14,990 pricetag is low in this company, and is the high note on which the well-equipped entry-level Jazz signals the start of its successful Gold Star Value campaign. However, it’s not purchase price itself, but the product of a cheap sticker and a spectacular 79 percent Redbook three-year retained value that works for would-be Jazz buyers. The resale is among the best of any car considered for 2014. It means the little hatch only sheds about $1000 over each of the first three years, bagging the Honda big points.

The $945 annual insurance figure is as good as most, while official fuel economy from the CVT-equipped, 91 octane-sipping 1.5-litre four is decent, if not class-leadingly great. The Japanese brand’s three-year warranty is the norm, but bettered by some here, and the six-monthly service requirement is less convenient – and may mean more money spent in the workshop – compared with cars that only call for an annual check-up.

The Jazz may have an image problem alongside stylish rivals like the Clio, while the fussy styling of the new third-gen model won’t be for everyone. But in terms of saving bucks, it can’t be beat.

2. Mazda 2 Neo Hatch WITH first-drive reports of the new 2 filtering out of Japan, the third-gen model has only weeks of life left – run-out deals make it a great time to buy this little doer. Factor in solid resale and a 12-month service interval, and the Mazda mite’s silver medal is deserved.

3. Renault Clio Authentique TCe 90 FOURTH-GEN French supermini marks the return of mainstream models to the Australian market and the dawn of Clio’s value story in Oz, with brilliant 4.5L/100km combined-cycle economy from its 898cc turbo triple, a long 12-month service interval and a generous five-year warranty.

Notable classmates: Suzuki Swift GL, Hyundai i20 3-dr Active / Number of cars crunched: 13

Sub-Light category hatches weighed up­

1. Mitsubishi Mirage ES hatch EACH of the base-model Mirage’s vital figures is among the best in class, and the 2014 Gold Star field. The little Mitsubishi can be considered not only the best buy of the cheapies, but of every car put through the GSVA wringer.

With its 4.6L/100km official fuel consumption, it costs just $2626 to fuel for three years. There are cars that would cost almost that much to fuel for one year. Who would want to buy second-hand when the Mirage costs only $12,990 new? Well, the stout 65 percent Redbook retained value figure suggests that there is a market for an $8400 three-year-old Mirage.

Insurance is cheap, at $882, and 12-month service intervals and a five-year warranty if Mitsubishi services the car all help.

2. Holden Barina Spark CD THE Barina Spark’s silver reflects consistency rather than any one exceptional result. There’s value packed in the little Lion’s fuel efficiency, resale, insurance premium and nine-month service interval.

3. Fiat 500 Pop ITS 5.1L/100km official fuel consumption figure is the high point because Fiat’s charming Cinquecento remake is a bit pricier than its truly bare-bones rivals, with a three-year warranty compared with a class-best of five.

Notable classmates: Smart ForTwo Coupe mhd, Nissan Micra / Number of cars crunched: 5

­Fiat’s 500 proves fashion can be somewhat frugal

1. Fiat 500 C Pop BEING the smallest, cheapest ragtop on the market helped the Fiat 500 C’s chances, and made the frugal (5.1L/100km) $20K fashion accessory a Gold Star certainty. At this price, it hardly matters that the service interval is a too-frequent six months. Neither does it matter that the atmo 1.2-litre four offers a paltry 51kW, nor that you pay $4K for the privilege of no roof, only to introduce body flex.

2. Renault Megane CC THE departure of the Holden Astra and Ford Focus CC, and the impending demise of Volkswagen’s Eos, has handed this small slice of the convertible segment to Renault’s much-improved Megane CC.

3. Volkswagen Golf cabriolet THE drop-top Golf, although double the price of the winning Fiat, is easily twice the car. A 65 percent retained value is class-best, and it works out better in dollars per year.

Notable classmates: Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.4 TFSI, Peugeot 308CC / Number of cars crunched: 6