The economy may be beginning to bounce back, but the past year has changed the perspective of even the wealthiest of consumers. As they make their way back to car dealerships, these consumers are not going for their typical BMWs and Mercedes vehicles. Instead, they’re trading in their high-end models for Buicks and Hyundais.

These brands may be less expensive than their German counterparts, but what many buyers are discovering is that these cars aren’t necessarily “cheaper” when it comes to the comfort and amenities that they provide.

As the economy gets back on solid footing, more affluent car buyers are feeling not-so-affluent as homes values are still down and portfolios have condensed. As a result, companies such as Buick and Hyundai are reaping the benefits. Luxury car buyers demand the amenities, but are weary of the luxury car price tags. Sedans such as the 2010 Buick LaCrosse provide the much needed comforts for a price that’s as much as $20,000 less than comparable German sedans. Aside from the Buick LaCrosse, the Hyundai Genesis is also an appealing luxury sedan that offers available V8 power and a range of electronic and safety features that help make it an incredibly good value.

In addition to moving away from the higher priced brands, consumers are saving money by simply downsizing. For example, even Acura customers are trading in their midsize TLs in favor of the compact TSX model.

While car buyers may be beginning to return to showrooms, the vehicles striking their interest are far different than in pervious years. Even in the premium segment, buyers certainly don’t want to give up the amenities, but they’re choosing to be more frugal nonetheless. Luckily for those buyers that don’t want to sacrifice anything, including their bottom line, there are ample options available.

Despite more attractively priced luxury options, one dealer suggests that if you’re looking for a new Infiniti EX Framingham, you’re not suddenly going to choose a Hyundai because of the lower price tag. But nevertheless, these new vehicles are sending a powerful message to premium brands. And, with so many comparisons between the Genesis and the Infiniti G coupe and sedan, Westborough Infiniti dealerships are expecting branding to play a larger role in future products.

For Hyundai, the Genesis sedan was only the beginning as Hyundai Winston Salem has already encountered high demand for the luxurious Tucson crossover and Sonata sedan. With market share climbing, it seems Hyundai is unstopped as they give consumers much more for their money.

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The Nissan GT-R is arguably a good value. Compared with other sports cars that deliver the same performance, the Nissan GT-R is cheaper, more affordable (relatively speaking of course), and benefits from and reliability of Japanese engineering. But one way in which the GT-R is more expensive than its rivals is in insurances costs.

Based on estimates for an adult male, the Nissan GT-R is the most expensive car to insure according to insurance quotes from Insure.com. Comparing twenty of the most expensive vehicles and twenty of the least expensive vehicles, the GT-R is hands down has the highest car insurance rates, requiring about $2,500 to insure.

The high insurance rates for the Nissan GT-R are based on the fact that customers will be buying this car specifically for its speed admits Alexandria Nissan dealers. As such, insurance companies will charge a premium warns one used car dealer Los Angeles since there is a greater risk of accidents. Other vehicles that ranked high on the list of most expensive vehicles to insure include the Dodge Viper and BMW M6. Aside from sports cars, SUVs also made their way on to the list. These included the Land Rover Range Rover, Hummer H2, and BMW X6.

Also included were the least expensive cars to insure. To Hyundai Washington DC‘s delight Hyundai and Kia dominated the top of this list. At the top was the Hyundai Santa Fe, which is no surprise to Los Angeles auto loans specialists as the Santa Fe balances safety and value well. Also included on the list were vehicles known for safety and/or family hauling such as the Honda Odyssey and the Volkswagen Passat. Check out the full list below.

The 20 most expensive 2009 vehicles to insure:
1 $2,533 Nissan GT-R
2 $2,446 Dodge Viper
3 $2,236 BMW M6
4 $2,186 Ford Shelby GT500
5 $2,088 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
6 $2,071 Audi S8
7 $2,020 BMW M5
8 $1,912 Hummer H2
9 $1,881 Lexus IS F
10 $1,819 Porsche 911
11 $1,762 Chevrolet Cobalt SS
12 $1,717 Jaguar XK Series
13 $1,714 BMW M3
14 $1,694 Cadillac XLR
15 $1,637 Audi R8
16 $1,603 Land Rover Range Rover
17 $1,592 Cadillac Escalade EXT
18 $1,587 Honda S2000
19 $1,584 BMW X6
20 $1,577 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

The 20 least expensive 2009 vehicles to insure:
1 $832 Hyundai Santa Fe
2 $840 Kia Sportage
3 $848 Hyundai Entourage
4 $857 Kia Sedona
5 $870 Kia Rio5
6 $871 Honda Odyssey
7 $881 Smart Fortwo
8 $911 Saturn Vue
9 $913 Mazda Tribute
10 $915 Chrysler Town & Country
11 $921 Scion xB
12 $929 Mazda Mazda5
13 $936 Volkswagen Passat
14 $939 Jeep Wrangler
15 $951 Honda Accord
16 $954 Suzuki Forenza
17 $955 Lincoln Town Car
18 $957 Mazda Truck (B-Series)
19 $959 Chevrolet Impala
20 $960 Dodge Grand Caravan

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In Korea, the Kia Soul has already received a solid start. The youth oriented Kia Soul features unusual shapes, colors, and features, which all help it stand out from the crowded market segment. The Hyundai owned automaker plans to sell more than 40,000 units a year in the U.S. and Canada, and with demand at Kia dealers already high, those projections are certainly appear realistic.

Kia has struggled to make inroads in the U.S. auto market. Hyundai has recently gained momentum for its high-value and surprisingly luxurious new models. But for Kia, Philadelphia Kia dealers believe that the Soul maybe the fun, dynamic car they need to make a similar impact.

The Kia Soul is a new direction for the Kia brand. Previously, most models have been centered on price and value. The Soul adds styling and should appeal to people that are attracted to the car itself and not just its price. Used Kia Connecticut sees Kia as moving away from dull vehicles, and toward cutting edge design. This may mean Kia vehicles may move slowly up market as well.

Priced from $13,995, dealers say the Kia Soul is priced right. A fully loaded model can be had for under $20,000. Its base four-cylinder engine can also get 31 mpg on the highway further reinforcing its value. But thanks to combining these high value features with the distinctive design, St Louis Kia expects plenty of new customers venturing to a Kia dealership for the first time.

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