Whether shopping for new or used cars in NJ, drivers should research their options before making a decision, as a vehicle is a major purchase. There are more resources available to motorists these days, and TrueCar.com recently released its latest Performance Scorecards. These monthly reviews assess automakers in a number of categories – including price, sales, incentives and brand loyalty.

This month BMW, General Motors, Mazda and Volkswagen had the most improvement over last month's scores. BMW came out on top of the list in general, with an A+ rating for brand as well as manufacturer. Fiat tied the German car company for first place by brand. Kia, Audi and Land Rover rounded out the top five. The scorecard ratings only rank the top three manufacturers, and Subaru and Jaguar came in just behind BMW with A grades.

On the other end of the spectrum, Volvo took a turn for the worse. TrueCar.com also reports the lowest grades by manufacturer and brand. Volvo's manufacturer score dipped from a C to a D+, putting it in third place. However, the Swedish brand had the worst scorecard, with a D- rating.

It is important to bear in mind that these scorecards are based upon new sales and more recent models. For example, Volvo has a reputation for producing safe, reliable vehicles that will last a long time. Drivers looking to get behind the wheel of a used Volvo or any other model can head to New Jersey State Auto Auction. The dealer offers a variety of vehicles at affordable prices, and each car is CARFAX certified so consumers know they'll be driving away in a reliable ride.