Used cars offer consumers with the opportunity to get behind the wheel of car that is not only reliable but affordable as well. While there are plenty of excellent choices, some options stand above the rest, and Edmunds.com recently unveiled its list of the best used cars for 2011 in a number of different categories.

Hyundai put in a good performance on the list, with two of the manufacturer's models making appearances. In the compact sedan category, the website named the 2004-2009 Elantra as its top pick, and the 2006-2009 Hyundai Azera was chosen as the best large sedan.

The Elantra earned the nod for a number of reasons but it separated itself due to its smooth ride and build quality. Additionally, the writers at Edmunds were swayed by its impressive scores on crash tests, and a fresh 2007 redesign certainly did not hurt either. The Azera was picked because it offers a luxurious look and refined performance while still having an affordable price tag.

Those looking to pick up a used SUV would be wise to turn to one of the most popular models in recent memory. The website picked the 2004-2009 Ford Explorer as the best in the midsize SUV/crossover category due mostly to its impressive towing capacity combined with plenty of seating – including a spacious third row.

When it comes to minivans, the 2004-2009 Honda Odyssey stood out the most. In years past, minivans from Dodge and Chrysler have been the best, but according to Edmunds the Odyssey is now the top pick because of its powerful V-6 engine.

Whether you're looking to get behind the wheel of a used sedan, SUV or minivan, New Jersey State Auto Auction has plenty of options to choose from. Additionally, securing a loan is especially easy as well, as everyone who visits New Jersey Auto is approved regardless of their credit history. 

There are a number of actions that experts recommend consumers take before purchasing a used car. From getting a detailed service history of the car to making sure your credit is in order most of the steps are equally important, but one of the most crucial is going ignored by many would-be drivers. A recent study conducted by LeaseTrader.com found that the number of people who do not test drive their cars has nearly doubled since 2007, The New York Times reports.

The findings seemed to back up similar experiences from dealers and industry insiders. One man, consultant Oren Weintraub, said that even though he strongly urges his customers to test drive a car before buying it, as many as one-third of these drivers decide not to do so. He believes the reason has a lot to do with the fact that people are increasingly sure of what they want.

"Generally these are people who know what they want, whether it’s because they're very brand-loyal or they’ve fallen in love with the styling of a particular model," Weintraub told the Times. "Same goes for buyers who are strictly interested in getting the best deal, and those with limited choices like a big family that needs a nine-passenger vehicle with 4-wheel drive."

While this may be the case, there are still many benefits of a test drive, especially when it comes to a used car. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, there are a few steps you should always follow.

To start, the DMV recommends checking out everything including the mirrors, the seat adjustment controls and storage compartments. As for the drive itself, make sure you test out the car's acceleration on the highway and steering ability most of all.

Of course, visiting a reliable dealer is a great way to ensure you're getting a good deal. New Jersey State Auto Auction provides consumers with numerous makes and models at affordable prices.

Cars, movies and auto racing go hand-in-hand, and this week in auto news saw cars featured prominently in all three.

• For years, many police stations across the country have been using Fords as their primary cars. The manufacturer recently released new versions of the Taurus and Explorer to help meet the unique needs of police forces and Ford is ready to debut them in a very unique way. The new vehicles are going to be the pace cars at the upcomign Ford Championship Weekend races at the Homestead Miami Speedway.

Although this is not the first time that Ford has used its products as the pace cars for an auto racing event, it is the first time that their police vehicles have been involved. It's no wonder why they chose now given the impressive design of the new Explorer and Taurus.

"Both of the Police Interceptor vehicles provide the highest level of safety, performance, durability, driver convenience and comfort, and we’re excited to be able to show off these new vehicles to the millions of fans on site and watching on national television," said Lisa Teed the brand manager for Ford Police Interceptors.

• Car chases play a big role most action movies, and with the next installment of the Mission Impossible series on the way, fans are getting an early glimpse of what they can expect. Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol is set for release on December 21 and will feature an impressive line of BMWs.

Though several of the manufacturer's products will be featured in the film, one of the most prominent will be the futuristic BMW Vision EfficientDynamics, a concept car for a pair of upcoming models.

"The film allows us a wonderful opportunity to showcase not only BMW’s vision for future vehicles but to highlight some of the newest and most popular cars in our current fleet," Trudy Hardy, the manager of Marketing Communications and Consumer Events at BMW of North America.

• Although BMW will feature prominently in the Tom Cruise movie, it is not the only impressive car to be highlighted at the theaters in the coming weeks. In the upcoming movie Tower Heist, Steve McQueen's famous Ferrari 250 GT Lusso will be making an appearance, according to USA Today.

While some people might recognize the classic car, they may notice that it has been changed from its original chestnut brown color to a bright red.

"It just didn't look good brown," Ratner told the publication. "So for the purpose of the movie, we made Steve McQueen's car red."

The Royal Automobile Club recently sponsored a race to find which automaker could come up with the most fuel-efficient vehicle, and despite entrants from some of the biggest names int he business it was an electric vehicle from Gordon Murray Designs that drove away the winner. According to Forbes, the small two-passenger car completed the 57.13 mile course with an impressive 350 miles per gallon.

The Future Car Challenge included entries from Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes, but it likely doesn't surprise some people that Gordon Murray was victorious. The manufacturer has long been dedicated to trying to reduce the weight of cars through innovative means such as replacing steel parts with plastics or composites.

The winning car, dubbed the T.27, is completely electric and gets about 100 miles on a single charge. Though the mileage is comparable to other electric models such as the Nissan Leaf, the T.27's battery is much smaller, meaning it takes less time for it to fully charge, the publication reports. Not to mention, a smaller battery also means a smaller price tag.

Seeing electric cars on the road on a regular basis may still be several years off, but that doesn't mean that motorists can't practice a number of habits to make sure they save on gas. According to Edmunds.com, one of the best ways to save a significant amount of money at the pump is to curb aggressive driving. Actions such as accelerating easily and not braking so harshly can save you up to 37 percent at the pump.

Of course, getting behind the wheel of a fuel-efficient car is a good start as well. New Jersey State Auto Auction has plenty of gas-saving makes and models all at affordable prices. Sign up now.