Slide Show | January 2012

12 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

By Jessica L. Anderson

Thinkstock

An important measure of a vehicle’s value -- and appeal -- is what it’s expected to be worth three and five years down the road. These figures are the estimated price a dealer would pay if you traded in the vehicle, expressed as a percentage of the original sticker price.

Resale values come from a complex set of calculations based in part on historical data and economic predictions, as well as competition in each automotive segment, how strong a car's brand is, and supply (including fleet and leasing sales) versus demand.

To win best-resale plaudits, the model must first be selected as one of the top 25 vehicles in its category. Then we pick the vehicle with the highest three-year resale value. No model is eligible for the award if another trim level of the same model has won Best Resale in a lower-price category.

Source: Data comes from TrueCar.com

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12 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

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12 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

Cars Under $20,000: Ford Focus SE hatchback

Ford

Sticker price: $19,095

Invoice price: $17,903

TrueCar national average price: $18,375

3-year resale value: 63%, 5-year: 45%

City mpg: 26, Hwy: 36

Part of what clinched the Best New Car award in its class for the Focus was its stellar resale values. Good looks, plenty of standard equipment and tons of cargo space in the hatchback don’t hurt either.

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Cars Under $20,000: Ford Focus SE hatchback

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12 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

Cars $20,000-$25,000: Mini Cooper Countryman

MINI

Sticker price: $22,450

Invoice price: $20,275

TrueCar national average price: $22,332

3-year resale value: 69%, 5-year: 53%

City mpg: 27, Hwy: 35

With a short-SUV-style body reminiscent of a Scion xB or Kia Soul, but with the Mini’s characteristically rounded features, the Countryman’s introduction last year has helped reinvigorate the brand. The biggest Mini also has the highest resale value of any vehicle in our rankings this year -- worth a stunning 69% of the original price after three years.

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Cars $20,000-$25,000: Mini Cooper Countryman

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12 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

Cars $25,000-$30,000: Mini Cooper Coupe S

MINI

Sticker price: $25,300

Invoice price: $22,840

TrueCar national average price: $25,217

3-year resale value: 68%, 5-year: 53%

City mpg: 27, Hwy: 35

New for 2012, the Mini Coupe (not to be confused with the long-standing Hardtop model) boasts a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine that gets 35 miles per gallon on the highway and among the highest resale values of any vehicle (sliding in just below its sibling, the Mini Countryman).

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Cars $25,000-$30,000: Mini Cooper Coupe S

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12 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

Cars $30,000-$40,000: BMW 128i coupe

BMW

Sticker price: $31,925

Invoice price: $29,440

TrueCar national average price: $30,782

3-year resale value: 63%, 5-year: 43%

City mpg: 18, Hwy: 28

Although it’s one of the littlest Bimmers, the 1-series is no slouch -- in value or on the road. Its 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine produces 230 horsepower and manages nearly 30 mpg on the highway.

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Cars $30,000-$40,000: BMW 128i coupe

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12 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

Cars $40,000-$50,000: Infiniti G37x coupe

Infiniti

Sticker price: $41,595

Invoice price: $38,593

TrueCar national average price: $39,521

3-year resale value: 62%, 5-year: 45%

City mpg: 18, Hwy: 25

Every member of Infiniti’s G series is fun to drive -- with a sporty suspension and plenty of power -- but the model that’s tops for trading in is the all-wheel-drive G37x coupe.

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Cars $40,000-$50,000: Infiniti G37x coupe

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12 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

Cars $50,000 and Over: Audi A7 Quattro 3.0 Premium Plus

Audi

Sticker price: $63,745

Invoice price: $59,344

TrueCar national average price: $61,806

3-year resale value: 60%, 5-year: 44%

City mpg: 18, Hwy: 28

New for 2012, Audi’s A7 shares basic architecture, powertrain and interior styling with the A6, but the A7’s hatchback styling has more cargo space -- 25 cubic feet -- and higher resale values. It rates a Worth a Look nod from Kiplinger’s.

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Cars $50,000 and Over: Audi A7 Quattro 3.0 Premium Plus

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12 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

Sports Cars: Ford Mustang

Ford

Sticker price: $23,105 (base coupe)

Invoice price: $22,040

TrueCar national average price: $20,974

3-year resale value: 63%, 5-year: 46%

City mpg: 19, Hwy: 29

Ford’s classic pony car won Best New Car last year with a redesign that added more power (305 horsepower from the 3.7-liter V6 engine) but kept fuel economy a priority. One of its shining achievements is a stellar resale value: It’ll be worth 63% of the sticker price after three years.

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Sports Cars: Ford Mustang

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12 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

Small Crossovers: Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Touring

Subaru

Sticker price: $30,670

Invoice price: $28,767

TrueCar national average price: $29,259

3-year resale value: 60%, 5-year: 46%

City mpg: 19, Hwy: 24

Kiplinger’s Best in Class small crossover for the second year running, the Subaru Forester has sure-footed handling with the brand’s standard all-wheel drive, loads of interior space and a speedy yet thrifty turbocharged engine.

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Small Crossovers: Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Touring

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12 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

Midsize and Large Crossovers: BMW X5 35i

BMW

Sticker price: $48,375

Invoice price: $44,575

TrueCar national average price: $45,706

3-year resale value: 62%, 5-year: 45%

City mpg: 16, Hwy: 23

With seating for up to seven passengers, German-engineered driving dynamics and high resale values, BMW’s X5 has always been appealing. For 2012, more standard features are added: roof rails and a cargo cover for added utility and an iPod/USB connection and Hi-Fi sound system for added enjoyment while driving.

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Midsize and Large Crossovers: BMW X5 35i

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12 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

Truck-based SUVs: Jeep Wrangler Sport

Jeep

Sticker price: $22,845

Invoice price: $22,261

TrueCar national average price: $22,295

3-year resale value: 61%, 5-year: 46%

City mpg: 17, Hwy: 21

Jeep’s classic go-anywhere off-roader stays ahead of the pack on value. It offers the best mileage in its class (outside of hybrid models), with 17 mpg in the city, and tops the resale charts.

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Truck-based SUVs: Jeep Wrangler Sport

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12 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

Minivans: Toyota Sienna 7-Passenger V6

Toyota

Sticker price: $27,110

Invoice price: $25,138

TrueCar national average price: $25,599

3-year resale value: 56%, 5-year: 42%

City mpg: 18, Hwy: 25

Redesigned last year, the Toyota Sienna is the only minivan to offer models with a four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive. It seats up to eight passengers and features seven airbags, and its 3.5-liter V6 puts out 265 horses. It narrowly edges out the Honda Odyssey for Best Resale, and it receives a Worth a Look nod.

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Minivans: Toyota Sienna 7-Passenger V6

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12 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

Wagons: Toyota Prius v Two

Toyota

Sticker price: $27,160

Invoice price: $25,337

TrueCar national average price: $26,732

3-year resale value: 62%, 5-year: 48%

City mpg: 44, Hwy: 40

The Prius v wagon is the new, slightly bigger sibling of the ubiquitous Prius hatchback. Starting at just $2,400 more than the hatchback, the Prius v has 55% more cargo space -- a total 34 cubic feet -- and shares the family’s top-notch fuel economy and resale values.

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Wagons: Toyota Prius v Two

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12 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

More From Kiplinger

Thinkstock

SLIDE SHOW: Best Values in New Car Models

SLIDE SHOW: Best in Class Car Values

SLIDE SHOW: Most Fuel-Efficient Car Values

TOOL: Our 2012 Vehicle Rankings

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