The Bottom Line
Wendy’s is taking its Junior Bacon Cheeseburger and doubling the beef, the cheese and the bacon. It’s now the Giant JBC. This limited-time offer also can be part of a value meal, which includes chicken nuggets, fries and a beverage for $5.
“Buy American” is a slogan that’s getting a lot of attention lately, but it can be tough to put into practice when you’re car shopping.
A U.S.-built 2017 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck with a diesel engine and a manual transmission might sound American through and through. But in that configuration, the Colorado is a worldly truck. The diesel engine is built in Thailand, and the transmission is made in Brazil. In other words, a U.S. automaker’s badge isn’t a sure marker of an American vehicle.
American content in autos has been falling for several years, said Frank DuBois, a global supply-chain expert and a professor at the Kogod School of Business at American University. DuBois is the creator of the Made in America Auto Index, which since 2013 has ranked automotive “American-ness” in a time of increasingly globalized auto manufacturing.
In 2013, the 30 most American vehicles in the index had an average of 77 percent “domestic” content (meaning from the U.S. and Canada; the U.S. labeling law doesn’t consider Mexico a domestic source). By 2017, that figure had slipped to 72.5 percent.
If you don’t want to pore over window stickers one by one to find the most American cars, here’s a helpful list from car-buying website Edmunds: Ten excellent vehicles that are U.S.-built using significant domestic content. Half are from U.S.based automakers. The rest are from automakers that are based in Japan and build vehicles in the U.S.
Edmunds began compiling the list by using its 2017 New Car Buying Guides, which highlight its reviewers’ top picks by vehicle type. Then Edmunds put those selections through the Made in America Auto Index. It ranks vehicles based on seven factors, including: where the car was built where the manufacturer is headquartered
where research and development take place where the engine is built where the transmission is built
where the body, chassis and electrical components are made
A rank of 1 is the highest possible.
If you’re shopping for a 2018 car, you’ll have to wait several months for rankings. DuBois can’t start work on the next index until later this year, when automakers report vehicle content to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Convertible & performance car
3 82 percent The 2017 Chevrolet Corvette is a unique slice of Americana that can compete on the world stage. This rank is for the Corvette with an automatic transmission. The manual transmissions for this car come from Mexico, and Corvettes so equipped come in at 14 in the index.
Coupe
12
76 percent The model is civilized and packed with current technology, but it holds on to the American swagger that has defined it for 50 years. This rank is for the Mustang with an automatic transmission. The manual transmissions for the car come from Mexico or China, and Mustangs with them rank 20 in the index.
Crossover Hatchback Luxury Minivan
12 78.5
percent The model has lots of space, a versatile interior and even a bit of off-road capability, which makes it a great all-around family vehicle.
61 percent The five-seat hatchback sedan also happens to be a plug-in hybrid, capable of going more than 50 miles on all-electric power before switching to gas. 78.5 percent This stylish crossover is an Edmunds favorite, thanks to its fuel-efficient and powerful V-6 engine, comfortable interior and long list of standard features.
76 percent Few minivans are better in providing ample space for passengers and luggage and kid-friendly features.
Sedan SUV Truck Wagon
78.5
percent The midsize sedan offers a spacious interior, a refined ride quality and all the safety features you expect in a family car.
5 81 percent This one of our top recommendations for a full-size SUV, thanks to its massive interior, composed ride and substantial towing capability.
2 85 percent The perennial best-selling vehicle in the country has a diverse lineup of features, packages, engines and bed configurations to suit the needs of just about any kind of truck buyer. 42.5 percent The midsize wagon has standard all-wheel drive and optional high-tech safety features that make it a great all-weather family vehicle.