Rivian Automotive (RIVN) stock is one of the best performers Wednesday, up nearly 30% Wednesday after the electric vehicle (EV) maker announced a major partnership with Volkswagen Group.

Under the terms of the deal, Volkswagen will make an initial investment of $1 billion in Rivian through an unsecured convertible note. This will convert into Rivian common stock on or after December 1, 2024, the companies said in a press release. 

Volkswagen will invest an additional $1 billion in both 2025 and 2026. The German automaker will also make an extra $2 billion investment in 2026 as part of a joint venture that will "create next-generation software-defined vehicle (SDV) platforms to be used in both companies' future electric vehicles."

The investment will accelerate the development of software for both automakers and will allow them to combine their strengths while lowering the cost per vehicle through scale and speeding up innovation, the companies said.

"We're very excited to be partnering with Volkswagen Group," Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said in a statement. "Since the earliest days of Rivian, we have been focused on developing highly differentiated technology, and it's exciting that one of the world's largest and most respected automotive companies has recognized this."

Meanwhile, Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume said its customers will "benefit from the targeted partnership with Rivian to create a leading technology architecture."

Is Rivian stock a buy, sell or hold?

Wall Street is generally bullish towards the consumer discretionary stock. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the average analyst target price for RIVN stock is $16.30, representing implied upside of about 6% to current levels. Additionally, the consensus recommendation is Buy. However, these estimates may be revised higher following the Volkswagen news.

Financial services firm Wedbush is one of those firms revising their price target after the news. 

"We are raising our price target on Rivian from $15 to $20 while maintaining  our Outperform [Buy] rating with the VW news a game changer for the Rivian story," Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said in a note this morning. "This is a core game changer for Rivian and changes the capital structure of the company looking ahead for the story and the Street's view at a key time."

Wedbush's new $20 price target represents implied upside of roughly 30% to current levels.

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Chip stocks are garnering their fair share of attention in 2021, as a global semiconductor shortage affects all aspects of our daily lives.

The reality is that our modern world runs on chips, and they provide the backbone to everything we do – from working on computers to talking on phones and, increasingly, to driving our cars.

Today's newer cars, from electric vehicles (EVs) to hybrids to traditional combustion engine cars, have more technology in them than autos of the past. And technology such as lidar (light detection and ranging) for parking assistance or rudimentary systems for driver assistance requires more semiconductor chips to power it.

Due to the global chip shortage, car companies from General Motors (GM) to Ford (F) to Volkswagen (VWAGY) are temporarily shutting down facilities, lacking the chips they need to manufacture more vehicles.

Even amid this slowdown in production, demand for automobiles remains high. And more importantly, the longer-term trend of vehicles becoming even more technology-reliant is here to stay, which means continued and growing demand for chips – great news for semiconductor stocks.

Here are five "auto chip" stocks to watch. Each of these semiconductor companies is exposed to the automotive sector. Thus, they have room to benefit in the months and years ahead as manufacturers work through the supply shortage and their products become ever more integral to the world's vehicle fleet.

Data is as of Oct. 25. Dividend yields are calculated by annualizing the most recent payout and dividing by the share price. Analysts' average long-term growth rate expectations represents the estimated average rate of earnings growth for the next three to five years, and is courtesy of S&P Global Market Intelligence.

• Market value: $24.0 billion
• Dividend: N/A
• Analysts' average long-term (LT) earnings growth rate: 9.8%

When it comes to auto chip stocks, Renesas Electronics (RNECY, $6.16) is one that often flies under the radar, even though 52% of its revenues are strictly from the automotive sector. That's likely in part because RNECY is a Japanese company and its stock trades "over-the-counter" in the U.S.

But in the age of a global auto chip shortage, and amid an explosion in growth for chip-heavy vehicles, Renesas could become a more popular name.

Renesas Electronics is a global player not only in automotive semiconductors, but also in microcontrollers and processors. This combination of digital and analog products creates a one-stop solution for automakers looking for the technology to back their vehicles.

Its chips already power camera and battery systems for companies in the key German and Chinese markets. More applications for the technology are being developed – including creating higher-resolution rear-view cameras at a lower cost – which should expand RNECY's product portfolio in the next few years.

It's also a company that has been able to grow in the past year as many other companies facing supply shortages have started to falter. In its most recently reported quarter, adjusted earnings per share surged nearly 88% from the year prior. That has provided a lift to RNECY shares, which are up almost 40% in the past 12 months.

Those shares remain attractively valued, however, at 20 times forward earnings – considerably lower than the 25 forward P/E of the broader tech sector, according to Yardeni Research data.

• Market value: $6.3 billion
• Dividend: N/A
• Analysts' average LT earnings growth rate: 11.5%

II-VI (IIVI, $59.07) is a play on the rise of laser technologies. Today's lasers are integrated onto semiconductor chips, and where automobiles are involved, are a key part of lidar and other object-detection technology.

The company is currently putting the finishing touches on its roughly $7 billion merger with Coherent (COHR). The final deal is expected to create massive scale, which should help the combined entity better compete in the laser market.

"With COHR's laser capabilities, IIVI is among the most diversified companies in its space, with wide-reaching capabilities across end-markets that are only just beginning to benefit from long-term secular growth cycles," say Stifel analysts, which rate the stock at Buy.

They add that "higher expenses and the pending COHR merger will likely limit upside in shares over the near term" – indeed, shares are off 10% since the merger was announced in late March – but they "remain positive on the long-term outlook."

Translation: While this M&A event is impacting the stock now, it also might be presenting a buying opportunity for patient investors willing to wait out the turbulence.

And the company's role in the growing automotive space could make this a potential gem among chip stocks in the years ahead.

• Market value: $53.1 billion
• Dividend: 1.1%
• Analysts' average LT earnings growth rate: 28.4%

Headquartered in the Netherlands, NXP Semiconductors (NXPI, $200.29) manufactures a number of different products. Among them are application processors, communication processors and wireless and Bluetooth solutions.

As a global giant, it's no surprise that this is one of the key players for the tech trends of the next decade, including the increased technology going into automobiles. In fact, it's already noted as one of the largest auto chip stocks, with a double-digit percentage market share.

On the charts, NXPI has pulled back from its late-August highs. Weighing on the shares was insider selling by some company executives, as well as broad-market headwinds. Nevertheless, this selloff has created an opportunity to pick up a high-quality name at a discount. Adding to the argument for an attractive valuation: shares are currently trading at less than 18 times forward earnings.

The general consensus among analysts is that NXPI is a Buy – and with fairly high conviction, at that. Of the 29 pros following the stock that are tracked by S&P Global Market Intelligence, 13 say it's a Strong Buy, six call it a Buy, nine deem it a Hold and just one rates it at Sell.

For investors with a long-term outlook, this is also an appealing company thanks to the firm's growing dividend. While the yield is low at 1.1%, NXPI's dividend growth – it has more than doubled its payout since 2018 – could pay off for patient investors in the years ahead.

So while supply chain issues may impact some technologies, NXP's diversity will truly be its strength in the months and years ahead.

• Market value: $184.8 billion
• Dividend: 2.3%
• Analysts' average LT earnings growth rate: 11.1%

The company behind your high school graphing calculator has a lot more tricks up its sleeve. It's also one of the largest players in the automotive semiconductor industry. Texas Instruments (TXN, $200.20) plays a big role and looks set to continue being a leader among auto chip stocks.

Thanks to the rise of more technologically complex products from cars to calculators, the company has been on a tear. And a new report on the Machine Vision market that showcases the growth of machines like robots that need vision-guidance – a precursor to self-driving vehicles – highlights Texas Instruments as a notable player.

Another impressive feat? TXN has a fat 40% profit margin, the kind of margin that comes more from a software developer rather than a company that engages in physical manufacturing. These hefty profit margins combined with future growth trends from all tech, including automotive, should lead to years of outsized growth.

As with other big-name semiconductor companies, TXN can reward investors with dividend hikes over time. Shares currently yield 2.3% – a decent starting point for future growth.

And Wall Street pros are generally bullish toward Texas Instruments. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, 31 analysts cover the stock, with an average rating of Buy.

• Market value: $59.1 billion
• Dividend yield: 0.6%
• Analysts' average LT earnings growth rate: 33.0%

Infineon Technologies (IFNNY, $45.42) is based out of Germany and makes chips for a number of automotive firms, including big European players like Volkswagen. And like other large, global semiconductor firms, the company's role goes far beyond just automotive chips.

Surging cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in Asia led many chipmakers – including IFNNY – to suspend some production. Yes, that is bad for the company's operations in the short term, but Infineon is still faring well on a long-term basis. Specifically, in its fiscal third quarter, the company reported a 25% year-over-year jump in revenues.

And while the share price declined alongside the broader market in September, it is up nearly 10% since its early October lows.

In the meantime, the two analysts following the U.S.-listed shares of IFNNY are steadfastly bullish on the chip stock, with both maintaining a Strong Buy rating. Plus, the average price target of $54.50 represents expected upside of 20% over the next 12 months or so.

Shares don't pay a huge dividend, but given the company's leading position in the European automotive market and the region's leadership in rising EV technology, this could be a surprising winner for U.S. investors in the years ahead.

I recall two moments distinctly from my recent drive in a Volkswagen e-Golf. The first was marveling at how this electric vehicle’s instantly available torque made it the best car I’d ever found for the cut-and-thrust of city driving. The second came only 80 miles or so later, as I was feather-footing the same car in the right lane of a divided highway, windows fogged because the air-conditioning was disabled, with a dashboard full of warning messages (including an illuminated turtle to let me know that all that zip I had enjoyed was gone). Most critically, the car’s range gauge indicated it had juice to go only 10 more miles. My destination: a charging station nine miles away.

Electric-car early adopters are now shaking their heads at my plight and saying, “Well, duh, Dave. You’ve got to plan ahead.” But that’s exactly my point: Who does that? Gasoline-powered cars, hybrids included, require only a modicum of attention to keep them fueled. In most areas, gas stations are abundant, and the refueling experience is as consistent as grabbing fast food. You can pick the station based on the quality of the gas or whether they sell lottery tickets inside.

When was the last time you pulled up to a filling station where none of the pumps worked? Or the nozzle didn’t fit your car? Or there was only one pump, and the guy ahead of you needed four hours to fill up?

As I sought to recharge my loaner electric, all of those things happened to me, triggering a condition the industry calls range anxiety. It felt more like range panic.

The e-Golf I drove is a battery electric vehicle (BEV). It had an electric motor where a gasoline engine would be and a battery instead of a fuel tank. So, no plug, no go. BEVs sit at one extreme of the range of power choices for today's vehicles. At the other end are internal combustion vehicles that only burn fuel (what we used to just call cars). In between are hybrids that have both electric motors and gas engines, which help charge the batteries and propel the car (think Toyota Prius). Then there are plug-in hybrids with big batteries. If you charge them up at an outlet, the cars will run on electricity alone for a number of miles before their gas engines kick in.

Future of driving. Electric cars have many merits. Besides quick acceleration, and the potential for lower operating costs (because they don’t need gas), they don’t pollute from the tailpipe. Yes, the claimed environmental benefits depend on how the electricity that powers these cars is made, but we don’t have room for that here. The environmental benefit is why big money is being thrown at electric cars around the world. China, in particular, subsidizes them heavily because it wants to meet rising consumer demand for cars and improve its often-dismal air quality.

Not surprisingly, a lot of studies point to many more electric cars in the global future. But is one in your future? That is, will you buy a battery electric as your next vehicle? I doubt it. Sure, there are always the early adopters, who have the commitment and money to make a statement (looking at you, Tesla bros, with your vanity tags saying “ENVT 1,” “4GET GAS” and such). However, if your driving habits take you more than, say, 150 miles from home more than a few times a year, it’s hard to see a true electric working out as your primary vehicle, given the primitive state of the recharging architecture.

My wife’s cousins, Alex Horowitz and Emily Diamond-Falk, are about as green as they come. Their Washington, D.C., row house roof is covered with solar panels. But even they didn’t go fully electric for their first car. “As a one-car household, an all-electric would have covered 90% of our driving,” Emily explained. “But that last 10% matters, too.” They opted for a Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid. On longer trips, such as the 650-mile drives they take to visit her mom in Michigan, the gas engine kicks in, saving them the hunt for a charger.

That said, BEVs do work for some people. Got a predictable commute and room for a charger at home? You could save money because electrics are inherently more efficient than gas cars at turning energy into motion. Take my e-Golf: Running it 100 miles would cost about $3.60 for the electricity. For a gas-burning Golf, it would cost $10.50 in gasoline. While the manufacturer’s suggested retail price on the e-Golf is substantially higher than the gas model, a $7,500 federal tax credit is available. Another electric cost-saver: Lower maintenance costs, starting with no oil changes. Those savings might cover a few car rentals if you need a car with the range for a proper road trip.

What about Tesla? The cars are impressive, sure, with mind-blowing acceleration and range well over 200 miles, but, for now, they’re very, very dear. The saga of whether Tesla can meet demand and become a mainstream car manufacturer (with affordable products) is fascinating to watch, but whether the company will survive is not a judgment I’m qualified to make. Notably, Tesla has developed a charging system that can move the electrons a whole lot faster. Just stop in for a 30-minute top-off at one of their “Superchargers” located around the country. But only in a Tesla. Work is being done on fast chargers for other vehicles (including by VW), but it’s far from complete.

In case you’re wondering whether I reached the charger or had to call for a flatbed to haul away a now-useless car (remember, a friend can’t bring you a can of electrons), I’m proud to say that I made it.

The destination was Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia, where my ChargePoint app said there were eight charging plugs in the daily garage, some of which were available. That was technically true: When I crawled into the parking garage, several of the chargers (analogous to pumps) were ready to deliver juice, as the last customers’ cars were fully charged. But those cars were all still in the parking spots, with their owners off to Dubuque—or Dubai.

With the e-Golf on its last few watts, I blocked a few of them in, unplugged one of the space hogs and made the charging cord stretch out to the aisle. I hooked up for my “free” electricity—enough charge to make it home—and fell into fitful sleep in the driver’s seat. I then had to pay $17 to get out of the garage.

When you’re shopping for a new car, dickering with the dealer to lower the sticker price may be your main concern. But even if you drive the car until the wheels fall off, overlooking resale value could be a costly mistake. “Depreciation is the largest cost in owning a car, more so than fuel and repairs,” says Tim Fleming, an analyst for Kelley Blue Book (KBB). Even if you don’t plan to sell it anytime soon—or ever—how your vehicle retains its value is important. For example, if your car is totaled in an accident, insurers will cut you a check for the value of the car at the time of the incident.

Midsize pickup trucks and midsize and large SUVs hold their value best, according to KBB. That’s because cheaper gas and improved fuel economy have boosted their appeal. Electric vehicles and subcompact and luxury cars depreciate the most over time. (Porsches are an exception because low volume fuels demand from status-conscious buyers.) Sleek “performance” vehicles, such as the Volkswagen Golf R and Subaru WRX, fare best after the bulky SUVs and trucks.

The five brands that hold their value best over five years are:

• Toyota (36.2%)
• Chevrolet (36.0%)
• Subaru (33.9%)
• Ford (32.1%)
• Porsche (31.6)

But resale values can vary widely among models within the same brand. For example, the Toyota Tacoma truck was named KBB’s resale winner for 2017, holding 67.5% of its value after three years and 57.5% of its value after five years. The 4Runner SUV came next, with a resale value of 62.2% after three years and 52.5% after five. But the tiny Prius C and Yaris models held only about 30% of their value after three years and 20% after five.

KBB and Edmunds.com both offer “cost to own” tools, which allow you to enter a make and model and calculate additional costs of vehicle ownership—including depreciation—over the course of five years. The higher the depreciation figure, the more value it loses over time.

One way to make depreciation work to your advantage is to buy a used car instead of a new one. Thanks to a glut of off-lease vehicles, prices for used cars have declined. Fleming says he expects the bargains in used cars to last another two years.

See Also: How to Get a Great Deal on a New Car

I got a letter the other day signed by Volkswagen Group of America CEO Michael Horn. “Out of respect for you and your esteemed publication,” Horn wrote, “we feel it best at this time to return the Best in Class and Best New Car Awards that you gave us for the Jetta TDI in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013; for the Passat TDI in 2012 and 2015; and for the Golf TDI in 2015.”

And so, poof, all the praise Kiplinger and other reviewers have heaped on VW for its diesel technology over the years blew away in a whirlwind of scandal.

The German automaker still has a lot of ’splainin to do about the revelations that it surreptitiously installed “defeat device” software designed to cheat on emissions tests in vehicles with its 2.0-liter turbodiesel engines. More than 480,000 such vehicles were sold in the U.S. -- and as many as 11 million worldwide -- during the past five years. (In addition to the vehicles that received Kiplinger awards, Beetle and Audi A3 diesels are guilty of the deceit.) Heads have already rolled at VW and sister brand Audi, the stock price has been pummeled since news of the cheating broke, and Horn apologized profusely in front of an incredulous congressional committee earlier this month.

VW has evidently been giving back its media awards for its implicated “clean-diesel” cars, one by one, as part of its mea-culpa campaign to put this scandal behind it. At Kiplinger, my colleagues and I were as duped by VW’s diesel cars as the Environmental Protection Agency and other regulators were. As the letter from Horn attests, we bought into the illusion that VW’s slick proprietary technology could produce a small diesel engine capable of 40-plus miles per gallon on the highway that still meets the EPA’s strict standards for nitrogen oxide levels. (If you took a federal tax credit for a 2009 or 2010 clean-diesel vehicle, at least you won’t have to return it. But VW could be on the hook for the millions of dollars in tax subsidies that went to owners under false pretenses.)

VW may be giving back its awards, but it’s not taking back its cars. Horn told the congressional panel that Volkswagen might consider a buyback—but don’t hold your breath. “Our plan is to fix the cars,” he says.

VW’s problems have given all diesel vehicles a black eye. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jeep and even Chevrolet (the Cruze) also sell diesel cars in the U.S., but they use different technologies to reduce pollutants, and there’s no indication that their emissions test results aren’t on the up and up.

Diesel, even the new-generation clean diesels that met (or claimed to meet) the strict standards that the EPA imposed in 2007, never caught on in a serious way here in the U.S. Still, it’s easy to fall in love with the torque and efficiency of a diesel vehicle. To some drivers, the eerie quiet of an electric vehicle accompanied by the shift-less acceleration of its transmission just won’t do. Volkswagen owners believed in das diesel, and many are shaken by the deception.

To add insult to injury, the brouhaha has also trimmed the resale value of the affected cars—by an average of 13%, or about $1,700 per vehicle since mid September, reports Kelley Blue Book. Selling now is not your best move. Here are some other options:

Get the emissions fix. VW will issue a recall to repair the cars and ensure that levels of nitrogen oxide—the byproduct of diesels that contributes to smog—meet the EPA’s limits in real-world driving as well as on the lab treadmill. Details of the fix have yet to be announced, although Horn says it will include a hardware and software change that may take as much as 10 hours of work per car. You may have to wait a year or two before you can get that work done, Horn adds.

Ignore the recall. We’re not really recommending this option, but work done to bring existing vehicles up to snuff will most likely reduce engine power and lower fuel economy, so the most attractive attributes of your diesel will be diminished. If your state requires emissions testing (as 32 states and the District of Columbia do), your state may eventually require proof that you heeded the recall. Note that this won’t be a safety recall: If you don’t get the fix, your car doesn’t pose an immediate safety hazard to you or your passengers, but it will continue to spew up to 40 times the allowed nitrogen oxide levels from its tailpipe.

Trade in your diesel VW for a gasoline VW. The company is offering a $2,000 “owner loyalty bonus” to buyers who trade in an old VW for a new one. Because 2016-model Volkswagen diesels won’t be sold in the U.S. anytime soon, if you want a new 2015 or 2016 model, it will be gas-powered.

Join a class-action lawsuit. Hundreds of class-action lawsuits, such as the one being handled by Seattle firm Hagens Berman, have been filed in courts around the U.S. since the bad news broke. The lawsuits are expected to seek billions of dollars in damages to compensate owners for the diminished value of the vehicles. It’s likely the lawsuits will be consolidated into one case before one federal judge, and a settlement could be years away.

My colleague Jim Patterson has reported on other aspects of the VW scandal and implications for the company in The Kiplinger Letter Energy Alerts. Volkswagen has created a Web site to provide updates to TDI owners.

Cars in general have become more reliable over the years. Yet there are some models that just seem to keep rolling along, whistling past the junkyard. Pinpointing exactly how many miles, on average, any given model has racked up is virtually impossible, but we’ve identified 15 cars with exceptional—sometimes surprising—endurance and value.

We bet you’ve seen one of these still cruising the highway recently. Oh, and if you’re wondering where your beloved Ford F-150 or other truck is, note that we skipped traditional trucks altogether. Trucks are supposed to last forever. Please have a look at our choices:

(Editor’s note: The author has owned a couple of these cars, and he teased a full 15 years out of a VW Passat, a model that, unlike the cars featured here, has a bit of a death wish.)

• Model years: 1976-Present

Here’s a wager: Next time you’re out for a spin, watch for a nondescript, tan or silver four-door. Good chance it’s a Honda Accord.

Combine reliability and best-selling status—a true virtuous cycle—and you get ubiquity. Exactly what it is about Honda that provides such durability is the subject of much debate (and much corporate envy/espionage involving Honda’s design and manufacturing processes). But surely some of it has to do with the fact that Honda Motor Company puts its engines and engineering first. Look up Honda Accord in Consumer Reports’ ratings and you will see a sea of red dots that indicate owners have darn few problems with these cars.

The smaller Honda Civic shares much of the quality but is more likely to be modified by its owners to look flashier and run louder, with maintenance simultaneously neglected. So the Accord gets our nod.

• Model years: 1991–1996

Behold the last of the big American station wagons. This General Motors behemoth offers an appealing combination of reliable, modern(ish) technology and retro looks.

In the later years of its production, the Roadmaster was armed with a honking 5.7-liter V8 closely related to the Chevy Corvette’s to move all that mass. Rear-facing third-row seats, wood paneling on the sides, shifter on the steering column—all the elements of the Great American Wagon are there. You can even squeeze a third passenger up front if the ruckus in back gets too loud. “Cheap to insure,” says Kevin Cullinane of Bethesda, Md., who has owned two of these big boys as well as a lot of other older American iron, and “parts are cheap and plentiful.” With a gentle foot on the gas, Cullinane gets 17 miles per gallon in town, and 23 to 24 mpg on the highway. “Quite a feat for a car this weight and size,” he says.

The wagons seem to have outlasted their mechanically identical sedan brethren, such as the bulbous Chevy Caprice that was a fixture of police and taxi fleets in the 1990s. Lower-stress suburban living may be the reason. Closely related but scarcer: the Chevy Impala Wagon and Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser.

• Model years: 1984-2010

The Geo Prizm is one of a number of vehicles that have at their core one of the most reliable cars ever: the Toyota Corolla. But while the Corolla’s longevity goes unremarked, the Prizm and its stable-mates cause head-scratching as they soldier on into their second or even third decade: What is that thing? How is it still running?

This Corolla clone (marketed as a Chevrolet at one point) also appeared as the Chevy Nova (1984-1988) and the Pontiac Vibe (2002-2010). All of these cars were the product of a Toyota-GM joint venture called NUMMI, a Fremont, Calif. factory that built nearly 8 million vehicles of Toyota’s basic design before it closed down in 2010. These were the first Toyotas assembled in the U.S., and the story of how this location’s jaded United Auto Workers workforce learned the “Toyota Way” and turned out cars just as good as the ones built in Japan is a fascinating one (you can listen to it in an episode of the public radio show “This American Life”).

These cars get highway mileage in the 35 mpg range, which has made them Old Gold when gas prices are high. A shrewd shopper looking for a used Corolla might consider one of these instead. The seller might not realize what he’s letting go.

• Model years: 1950-1992

The VW van, which creates instant counterculture nostalgia for baby boomers, keeps finding new generations of fans. Just look at the comic strip Zits, whose 16-year-old protagonist drives one.

A combination of sheer devotion from its fans and a deep reserve of used parts (thanks in part to its sharing many components with VW Beetles) keeps the VW Vangoing and going. Many are sun-faded and seem to rely on bumper stickers and duct tape to hold them together, but some VW Vans actually attract serious collector money: The 23-window models of the 1950s can fetch six figures. And the handful of later-model Vans that were equipped with all-wheel-drive (Syncro) have a committed following in the mountain west’s ski towns.

But teenagers (or their parents) looking to grab one of these on the cheap can still do so with a little hunting. “A lot of people kept them around, even when they moved on to something else,” says Everett Barnes, creator of the Web site The Samba, a key resource for owners of older VWs. Very often, a backyard find just needs a fresh battery to start up, Barnes says, and getting it roadworthy may cost a relatively modest $500 to $2,000.

• Model years: Dawn of Man-1996

Volvo’s secret? It basically built one car for decades under a variety of model names. In its staid Swedish way, the carmaker eschewed fashion and focused instead on quality (and safety). About the only thing that will kill off a Volvo is rust, says Mark Bredesen, the owner of Herndon, Va., import-repair-shop Autoscandia, who’s been working on Volvos since 1978—and the later models largely conquered that problem with galvanized steel. After a first round as the family truckster, these cars often devolve to being the kids’ college vehicles—and sleeping quarters at jam-band shows.

Volvo has earned much press for longevity thanks to Irv Gordon, of Patchogue, N.Y., whose 1966 P1800 (a sporty model seen on the introductory page of this slide show) has more than three million miles, putting it in the Guinness Book of World Records as the car with the most mileage.

• Model years: 1979-1993

Let’s just get this out of the way: The Saab 900 may be the Volvo 240’s Swedish cousin, but it doesn’t share its inherent reliability or simplicity of design. Weak transmissions are among the problems with the 900, says import expert Bredesen.

That said, this “other” Scandinavian has its own cult-like following that keeps a good number on the road, particularly in New England and Colorado, where the front-wheel-drive Saabs were popular for their great handling in snow, back before all-wheel-drive became a common feature.

"We do see a lot of them through the shop," says Chris Campbell, a technician at Swedish Solution, in Westbrook, Maine. "Their owners are pretty fanatical about their cars. We have one who drives her 1983 900 Turbo across the country twice each year, and the last time we did service on her car, a routine brake job, her car had over 435,000 miles and was still running like a top." The Wisconsin Automotive Museum near Milwaukee features a 1989 Saab 900 SPG that was driven more than a million miles before being donated.

The irony, of course, is that some of these cars have outlived Saab itself. These 900s were the last models designed by the car manufacturer before it was bought by GM, which in turn unloaded the brand in 2010 as part of its bankruptcy recovery. Saab as we knew it died shortly thereafter.

• Model years: 1990-Present

The toughness of Subarus (with their standard all-wheel-drive) sometimes gets conflated with reliability, but they’re not the same thing: Just ask the many owners who had cylinder-head-gasket failures.

Nonetheless, many keep on trucking, particularly for owners involved in higher education. Have a look in the parking lots of colleges and universities in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest, where they serve as the transportation of both professors and students. The only way to tell whose is whose is by the bumper and window stickers.

While Consumer Reports lists the 2005 Impreza wagon as a best buy for under $10,000, it also notes some model years of the Outback and Legacy as cars to avoid. Caveat emptor.

• Model years: 1975 and beyond

If you wanted a Mercedes in the 1980s that got reasonable mileage—that is, above 20 mpg—you got a diesel. That the company sold as many as it did was largely a fluke of federal regulations; the thrifty diesels allowed Mercedes to meet fleet fuel economy standards. They also were built to run forever, with not a single bit of electronics needed under the hood.

“[These cars] are like a rocking chair made out of hickory,” says Mitch Carr, who’s been working on these models in his Kensington, Md., shop since 1986. “Once you get it started, you could throw out the battery and it would keep running. There’s nothing to go wrong.”

Generally garaged and carefully serviced by their original buyers, many of these are now with their second or third owner. They’re popular among tinkerers, especially those who like to convert them to run on recycled vegetable oil.

Mercedes was one of the few manufacturers that continued selling diesels after this “golden era” of the diesel, though sales were minimal when gas was cheap. The core reliability of a diesel engine remains the same in these later models, but the later Benzes suffered the same software teething problems of their gasoline-powered counterparts in the late 1990s and 2000s.

• Model years: 1992-forward

The 1992 model year marked the point where the Camry really hit its stride and went on to become a sales and endurance leader.

Two reasons: The styling, which evoked Toyota’s then-new Lexus luxury line, and roominess. Camrys that Toyota had imported to the states up until then had hewed to a Japanese market restriction of being no more than 67 inches wide. For 1992, Toyota decided to build a separate model just for the North American and Australian markets that was 70 inches wide. In so doing, it created a competitor to the 71-inch-wide Ford Taurus, which it would go on to dethrone as the most popular sedan in the U.S. in 1997. It’s held that honor for all but one year since.

Many, if not most, of those millions sold are still around. “You see them going 200,000, 300,000 miles all the time,” says Tom Torbjornsen, author of How to Make Your Car Last Forever. “They’re just very well made.” Note that some of the recent black eyes the Camry (and Toyota generally) received over sticking gas pedal issues have nothing to do with the car’s long-term durability.

A group of Lexus models share the Camry’s roots and durability (but with plusher accomodations): the Lexus ES 300/330/350 and RX 300/330/350. Same story for the Toyota Avalon, essentially a stretched Camry.

• Model years: 1991-2002

Transportation, nothing more. Reasonable reliability. Way cheaper on the used market than a Toyota of the same era.

Virtually nobody gets excited about a Ford Escort, but for people who need a way to get to work for not a lot of dough, this is a prime mover. That’s why it made a crowdsourced list of the 10 Best Cars for Poor People on the car blog Jalopnik, which commented, “Everyone seemed to agree that Ford has turned out some very straightforward a-to-b automobiles that depreciation has made into solid bargain buys.”

The years we’re discussing mark Ford’s second bid at selling a model named Escort in the U.S. It’s not to be mistaken for the first, sold from 1981 to 1990, which is best forgotten. The 1991 Escort represented one of Ford’s more successful collaborations with Mazda, and it owes much of its design to the Mazda Protégé. The shared DNA can also be found in the Mercury Tracer and Ford ZX2.

• Model years: 1982-2002

These cars' refusal to die is not necessarily a function of inherent reliability. It’s the sheer bullheadness of their owners, aging children of the ‘60s and ‘70s, who still want to drive a two-door American sport coupe with a V-8 and rear-wheel-drive and no way is it going be a Mustang (because that would be a Ford.)

They can’t afford a new Camaro (or other new, hot sport-coupe offerings, such as the Dodge Challenger). And they can’t afford pony cars from the actual muscle-car era of the late 1960s and early 1970s, which are now only for well-heeled collectors. So that leaves the F-Body cars, in conditions ranging from impeccably polished to primer gray.

They’re an aspirational ride of sorts, says Bob Merlis, creator of the blog Feral Cars, which tracks old and interesting (but not show-quality) vehicles. “People always preserve them. They’re the ‘I’m going to get around to [fixing] it’ kind of car. They don’t get crushed.”

Another factor in their favor: Used parts are abundant, given how many of these were put into a ditch early in their lives due to youthful indiscretions.

• Model years: 1992-2011

These road tanks have been doing a great job taking Granny and Grandpa to church every Sunday for decades. Even though the civilian versions lack the endurance-building parts installed in police cruisers and taxi fleets, such as oil coolers and stronger suspensions, the core components of the American sedan are all there: V-8 engine, solid rear axle, body-on-frame construction.

The Chevy Caprice held this niche as well until the mid-1990s, when GM decided to turn its production facility over to big SUVs.

A footnote: The Marquis went to the guillotine along with the entire Mercury brand with the 2011 model year, and most Crown Vicotoria sales from 2008 on were to fleets. But the vehicles are plentiful in the used-car marketplace, and as one fan put it on Jalopnik, “replacement parts number in the billions and are bought for beans.” If you’re dead-set on buying a former police car, there are even outfits that recondition them for sale to civilians.

• Model years: 1989-2005

Despite the best efforts of GM marketing departments to persuade car buyers otherwise, most people realized by the 1990s and 2000s that Buicks, Chevrolets, Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles were all very similar under the skin.

And yet, it’s the Buicks that got the love in this era, as reflected in the many, many awards the brand won from quality-rankers J.D. Power and Associates. The LeSabre won “most trouble-free domestic” in 1990, and the brand as a whole was the top among domestics for initial quality. Fifteen years later, the LeSabre won “most dependable full-size car.” There were more honors in between those years, and Buick continues to do well in these surveys.

A reason these cars endure? Experts point to who was buying them: seniors. “It’s a great little-old-man car,” says Feral Cars’ Merlis. “They’re not pushing them hard, and they’re maintaining them well.” This makes the LeSabre a prime car to pick up used, says Ivan Drury, an automotive analyst for Edmunds. “If you need something cheap for [getting from] point A to point B, you can’t go wrong with these.”

Other Buicks (Centurys, Regals and Park Avenues) also do quite well. As with many GM cars from that era that have V6 engines, watch out for leaky or degraded intake manifold gaskets, a potentially pricey fix.

• Model years: 1987-2001*

We’re going to make an exception to our “no-trucks” rule for the Jeep Cherokee. For one thing, it’s not really a truck. As the first small crossover in the U.S., it did not have traditional body-on-frame construction of a traditional SUV.

Despite that, and despite being the last gasp of the dying American Motors Corporation, it did have Jeep toughness in its DNA, excellent off-road abilities and a well-proven, durable, straight-6 engine. Many Cherokees are still roaming America’s secondary roads—and Europe as well, in a turbodiesel variant. There’s a caveat, says Edmunds’ Drury. “It will drive,” he says, “but is everything working? Probably not. A window might not go down, or a speaker might be out.”

For owners willing to put up with those sorts of niggling problems (or fix them themselves), the Jeep Cherokee can be an interesting combination of a vehicle that will go just about anywhere—and keep doing so for a long time.

*The Cherokee, known in-house as the XJ, was produced beginning in 1984, but we’re starting with 1987, the first year the straight-6 engine was offered.

• Model years: 1995-1997

Jaguar? Really? This pick caused a lot of brow-furrowing among experts we spoke to. “If you want to make friends, you don’t want to recommend that,” cautioned Bob Merlis of Feral Cars.

Here’s our thinking: During the 1970s, Jaguar reliability was horrid. A common solution to the car’s troubles was to rip out the Jaguar motor and replace it with a good old Chevrolet V8. But in the 1980s, under the leadership of an industrial turnaround specialist, Sir John Egan, the marque started to improve. Then Ford bought the company, infusing money and development know-how. By the late 1990s, the company was scoring well on J.D. Power vehicle dependability and initial quality rankings. So that’s why the last iteration of the classic Jaguar inline-6 sedan is still motoring on, often in the hands of a second owner who’s always hankered for a Jag but couldn’t afford one new.

“With these cars almost 20 years old now, it’s death by a thousand cuts rather than catastrophic failure,” says Mark Stephenson, a site administrator for Jag-Lovers.com. “But mechanically, the 1995-97 Jaguar XJ6s are the most reliable cars Jaguar has ever produced. When it comes to the basic function of getting you down the road, they refuse to die.”

For aspiring owners, the usual cautions still apply: Find a Jaguar specialist, and check out Jag-Lovers buyer’s resource to be a better problem spotter.

As part of Kiplinger's annual Best Car Values feature, these new vehicles have the highest projected three-year resale values in their respective categories. A vehicle’s future worth is an important measure of its overall value and appeal. The figures here are the estimated prices a dealer would pay if you traded in the vehicles both three and five years down the road, expressed as a percentage of their original sticker prices.

To win the Best Resale Award, a model must first be selected as one of the top 25 vehicles in its category. Kiplinger ranks sedans within price categories. Crossovers, minivans, wagons and trucks are sorted by segment and size and then ranked. A vehicle is not eligible for the award if another trim level of the same model has won Best Resale in a lower price category.

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 appealing a car's brand is, and supply (including fleet sales and leases) versus demand.

SOURCES: Kelley Blue Book (new vehicle data & ownership costs); Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (Top Safety Pick)

KELLEY BLUE BOOK FAIR PURCHASE PRICE: The Kelley Blue Book® Fair Purchase Price for new cars is generally the midpoint of the Fair Market Range. It is Kelley Blue Book's estimate of what a consumer could reasonably expect to pay in during the period between December 19, 2014 through January 15, 2015 for a new vehicle with standard options, excluding taxes, title and fees. It's based on actual new-car transactions, plus data from other reliable third-party sources as well as market conditions.

MSRP: The MSRP, or Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price, is the price set by the manufacturer and does not necessarily reflect the price actually paid by consumers in your area. The MSRP shown here includes destination and freight charges but excludes services and handling fees and state and local tax, title and license fees.

INVOICE PRICE: Dealer invoice represents the dealer’s cost for the vehicle only and doesn’t include any of the dealer’s costs for advertising, selling, preparing, displaying or financing the vehicle.

• Resale value: 3-year: 67%; 5-year: 49%

• Sticker price: $17,270 (LX)
• Invoice price: $16,836
• MPG: City: 33; Hwy: 41

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $16,800

Our pick for Best New Car in this category also tops its class in resale value. The 2015 Fit offers more interior space than the previous version (despite shaving nearly 2 inches off its length) and a more powerful engine. Plus, there’s no need to pay more for safety: Every trim comes with a standard rearview camera, and the Fit receives a Top Safety Pick accolade from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

• Resale value: 3-year: 64%; 5-year: 50%

• Sticker price: $22,815 (S 4dr, manual)
• Invoice price: $21,935
• MPG: City: 30; Hwy: 45

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $21,781

Forty years after its U.S. debut, the Golf still offers European driving dynamics at a value price -- especially when it comes to the fuel-thrifty diesel TDI model, which gets a $3,000 price drop for 2015 and wins our Best New Car Award. The cargo area is enlarged to an impressive 23 cubic feet, and an array of safety features (including adaptive headlights and forward-collision warning) are available when you upgrade to higher trims.

• Resale value: 3-year: 67%; 5-year: 51%

• Sticker price: $27,090 (base, manual)
• Invoice price: $25,612
• MPG: City: 21; Hwy: 28

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $26,049

The redesigned 2015 WRX gives you more bang for your buck, with a slew of new features (including a rearview camera, a driver’s knee airbag and Bluetooth) baked into every model and a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that spits out 268 horses. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and the automatic-transmission option in higher trims lets you fine-tune the throttle response to “Intelligent,” “Sport,” or “Sport Sharp.”

• Resale value: 3-year: 64%; 5-year: 45%

• Sticker price: $30,390 (3.6R Limited)
• Invoice price: $28,534
• MPG: City: 20; Hwy: 29

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $28,253

Standard all-wheel drive and high-tech features run throughout the Legacy lineup, and the 2.5i Limited version takes our Best New Car Award in the $25,000 - $30,000 category. But the top-of-the-line 3.6R has higher resale values. The 3.6R has a robust 256-horsepower engine and a reassuring menu of standard safety equipment, including a rear vehicle-detection system that monitors blind spots and alerts the driver to cross traffic behind the car. The keyless-access system works with a PIN, so you can leave your keys in the glove box while you go for a run or a swim, then reenter the car by punching in a code.

• Resale value: 3-year: 63%; 5-year: 45%

• Sticker price: $40,990
• Invoice price: $38,186
• MPG: City: 19; Hwy: 28

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $38,879

The IS 350 nabs the Best Resale Award for the second year in a row, after a 2014 redesign delivered more legroom and cargo space, improved suspension, and 10 standard airbags. Available tech includes forward-collision warning, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert.

• Resale value: 3-year: 63%; 5-year: 45%

• Sticker price: $43,715 (base)
• Invoice price: $40,721
• MPG: City: 19; Hwy: 28

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $43,321

Melding the best of the Lexus GS luxury sedan and the IS sports car, the RC 350 coupe delivers crisp handling and an eight-speed transmission, as well as a V6 engine that puts out 306 horsepower. Lexus calls the RC 350 a luxury sport coupe, and the stylish interior is accented with real wood trim. It doesn’t skimp on safety, either: Front knee airbags are standard, and the model gets a Top Safety Pick + rating from IIHS when outfitted with optional forward-collision warning.

• Resale value: 3-year: 56%; 5-year: 40%

• Sticker price: $73,445 (base)
• Invoice price: $67,642
• MPG: City: 16; Hwy: 24

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $72,710

Lexus’s flagship sedan also locked in last year’s award for Best Resale. It combines a powerful but efficient 386-horsepower V8 engine with an elegant interior. New for 2015 is a spiffed-up multimedia system with smart navigation features, including predictive traffic information and an ETA calculator. The new Enform Remote mobile app lets you unlock the car or start the engine remotely.

• Resale value: 3-year: 67%; 5-year: 45%

• Sticker price: $33,845 (3.6R Limited)
• Invoice price: $31,710
• MPG: City: 20; Hwy: 27

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $31,617

The base version of the Outback won our Best New vehicle award, but the 3.6R Limited has higher resale values. The six-cylinder engine puts out 256 horsepower, compared with the 175 horsepower from the four-cylinder engine that powers the rest of the lineup. Plus, the Limited trim builds in convenience features such as keyless access with a PIN code and heated seats front and back. When equipped with EyeSight, which integrates adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking and lane-departure warning, the Outback gets a Top Safety Pick + rating.

• Resale value: 3-year: 56%; 5-year: 40%

• Sticker price: $42,910 (Touring)
• Invoice price: $39,291
• MPG: City: 19; Hwy: 28

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $40,013

A perennial Kiplinger pick for Best in Class minivan -- and one of Kiplinger’s greatest cars of the 21st century -- the road-trip-ready Odyssey offers agile handling, a miniature fridge and plenty of entertainment options for all eight passengers. Fuel economy is reasonable, too: The Odyssey gets 28 miles per gallon on the highway. A rearview camera comes standard, but you can also add forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems with the Touring model.

• Resale value: 3-year: 67%; 5-year: 44%

• Sticker price: $50,895 (S)
• Invoice price: $47,332 (estimated)
• MPG: City: 17; Hwy: 23

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $49,291

Porsche’s first small crossover is as much sports car as it is crossover. The S trim, powered by a 3.0-liter, turbocharged V6 engine, produces 340 horsepower and zooms from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than six seconds. An automatic start-stop function conserves fuel by shutting off the engine as the vehicle comes to a stop, and you can switch the car to off-road mode with the push of a button.

• Resale value: 3-year: 64%; 5-year: 40%

• Sticker price: $69,420 (HSE)
• Invoice price: $64,561 (estimated)
• MPG: City: 17; Hwy: 23

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $69,420

Thanks to an aluminum structure, the second-generation Range Rover Sport is lighter and more nimble than its predecessor. But it can rough it, plowing over mud, rocks, sand and snow using a terrain-response system that automatically adapts to surface conditions. Inside, there’s a more intuitive control panel and cushy, armchair-like seats.

• Resale value: 3-year: 69%; 5-year: 50%

• Sticker price: $64,525 (BlueTec)
• Invoice price: $60,008 (estimated)
• MPG: City: 19; Hwy: 26

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $62,202

The diesel-powered GL350 BlueTec boasts the highest resale values of any crossover in our rankings. Options include Active Parking Assist, which steers you into a parking spot, and Active Lane Keeping Assist, which corrects your course if you stray from your lane. If you’re hauling cargo, you can expand storage space from 16 cubic feet to almost 50 by stowing third-row seats with the push of a button. The GL350 BlueTec can tow up to 7,500 pounds, too.

• Resale value: 3-year: 67%; 5-year: 51%

• Sticker price: $38,190 (Launch Edition, manual)
• Invoice price: $36,127
• MPG: City: 17; Hwy: 23

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $37,135

Sleeker, faster and more aggressive than its more-sedate sibling, the WRX STI boasts quick steering response and sporty handling. The all-wheel-drive system offers three driving modes, and the turbocharged engine tops 300 horsepower, meaning the new whiplash-reducing front seats might come in handy. The Launch Edition run is limited to 1,000 vehicles, but the base STI ($35,290) offers a 63% resale value after three years.

• Resale value: 3-year: 83%; 5-year: 69%

• Sticker price: $27,390 (Sport, manual)
• Invoice price: $26,683
• MPG: City: 16; Hwy: 21

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $25,979

The Wrangler Unlimited stays ahead of the pack on resale value, keeping a stunning 83% after three years -- more than any other vehicle on our list. A 3.6-liter V6 engine delivers 21 miles per gallon on the highway and 285 horses. The Wrangler is highly coveted for its off-road prowess, but front and rear seats are engineered for comfort on long trips on the highway. For 2015, Jeep incorporates an eight-speaker audio system and a toolkit for removing the roof and doors.

• Resale value: 3-year: 81%; 5-year: 66%

• Sticker price: $29,420 (double cab, long bed, 4WD)
• Invoice price: $27,320
• MPG: City: 16; Hwy: 21

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $29,393

This in-demand midsize pickup keeps its value for the long haul. It’s propelled by either a four- or six-cylinder engine and comes in two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive versions. Entune Audio with hands-free Bluetooth calling and music streaming is included across the lineup, and a rearview camera is optional. Looking for a touch of luxury? The Limited package bundles in chrome wheels, fog lamps and softer interior materials. Or upgrade to the TRD Off-Road package to prep for more-rugged terrain.

• Resale value: 3-year: 75%; 5-year: 64%

• Sticker price: $36,530 (4.6L, 4WD)
• Invoice price: $33,873
• MPG: City: 14; Hwy: 18

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $35,974

A number of trims of the Tundra CrewMax pickup tied for Best Resale, so you can’t go wrong whether you pick the 4.6-liter or 5.7-liter engine (both are V8s). Standard across the Tundra CrewMax line-up are a 5.5-foot bed, a power vertical sliding rear window, towing capability that exceeds 9,000 pounds, and a backup camera. Energy-absorbent glass filters out the worst of the sun’s heat during summer drives.

To win Kiplinger's Best Value Award among new and redesigned models, a vehicle must be newly introduced or fully redesigned—not just updated. We pick a Best New (as well as a Best in Class) model in 15 categories. There's something here for every buyer and every budget.

As automakers battle for market share, consumers are the winners. You have more choices in every segment -- and better ones, at that. Luxury nameplates are luring buyers with new, lower-priced models, and mainstream brands are loading their vehicles with new features that used to be found only on luxury models.

But with a large selection of vehicles and fierce competition for your attention, buying a new car can be overwhelming. And while you won’t find deals across the board, there are plenty to be had -- you just need to know where to look. Kiplinger’s picks can help you narrow the field.

Winners are selected based on value factors (such as fuel economy and resale values), performance and safety, as well as driving impressions from our own road tests. Take a look.

EDITOR'S NOTE: There is no new Best Large Crossover car model for 2015.

KELLEY BLUE BOOK FAIR PURCHASE PRICE: The Kelley Blue Book® Fair Purchase Price for new cars is generally the midpoint of the Fair Market Range. It is Kelley Blue Book's estimate of what a consumer could reasonably expect to pay in during the period between December 19, 2014 through January 15, 2015 for a new vehicle with standard options, excluding taxes, title and fees. It's based on actual new-car transactions, plus data from other reliable third-party sources as well as market conditions.

MSRP: The MSRP, or Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price, is the price set by the manufacturer and does not necessarily reflect the price actually paid by consumers in your area. The MSRP shown here includes destination and freight charges but excludes services and handling fees and state and local tax, title and license fees.

INVOICE PRICE: Dealer invoice represents the dealer’s cost for the vehicle only and doesn’t include any of the dealer’s costs for advertising, selling, preparing, displaying or financing the vehicle.

• Sticker price: $17,270 (LX, automatic)
• Invoice price: $16,836
• Resale value: 3-year: 67%; 5-year: 49%
• MPG: City: 33; Hwy: 41

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $16,800

In addition to loads of cargo space and versatile seat configurations, the redesigned Fit now has more interior room and more power, with even better fuel economy. In a nod to safety, every trim level gets a standard rearview camera. Plus, resale values are off the charts.

• Sticker price: $22,815 (S 4dr, manual)
• Invoice price: $21,935
• Resale value: 3-year: 64%; 5-year: 50%
• MPG: City: 30; Hwy: 45

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $21,781

Forty years after its U.S. debut, the Golf still offers European driving dynamics at a value price. The fuel-thrifty diesel TDI model sports the highest resale values in its category and gets a price drop for 2015. The Golf is also available in electric- and gasoline-powered models.

• Sticker price: $27,290 (2.5i Limited)
• Invoice price: $25,689
• Resale value: 3-year: 61%; 5-year: 44%
• MPG: City: 26; Hwy: 36

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $25,437

Subaru combines sophistication with standard all-wheel drive in its midsize sedan. Subtly sculpted outside and refined inside, it’s equipped with high-tech features such as lights that come on when you approach the car and an optional forward-collision warning system.

• Sticker price: $32,195 (XLE V6)
• Invoice price: $29,371
• Resale value: 3-year: 62%; 5-year: 50%
• MPG: City: 21; Hwy: 31

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $29,973

America’s best-selling sedan gets a ground-up redesign for 2015, complete with an edgier look and a retuned suspension that ensures a smoother ride and more agile handling. Ten airbags and a suite of optional safety equipment round out the package.

• Sticker price: $43,420 (3.5 w/Advance package)
• Invoice price: $40,736
• Resale value: 3-year: 51%; 5-year: 36%
• MPG: City: 21; Hwy: 34

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $41,531

Acura’s all-new TLX midsize sedan combines the best of the previous-gen TSX and TL models, wrapped in a new, elegant exterior. The TLX has a fuel-thrifty but potent powertrain, optional all-wheel drive and a host of high-tech features. It earns a Top Safety Pick from IIHS.

• Sticker price: $52,450 (5.0)
• Invoice price: $48,615
• Resale value: 3-year: 50%; 5-year: 32%
• MPG: City: 15; Hwy: 23

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $48,715

How did a Hyundai earn top honors? From its Lotus-tuned suspension to its peppy engine choices and artfully flowing lines, the top-of-the-line Genesis has everything you’d expect in a luxury sedan without the usual luxury price tag. It’s also rated a Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS.

• Sticker price: $25,745 (2.5i)
• Invoice price: $24,257
• Resale value: 3-year: 64%; 5-year: 44%
• MPG: City: 25; Hwy: 33

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $24,303

The all-new, all-wheel-drive Outback can conquer your commute or navigate muddy backroads better than ever thanks to X-Mode, which helps maintain control on slippery surfaces or steep inclines. Fuel economy is up, and there’s more space inside the cabin.

• Sticker price: $26,795 (L)
• Invoice price: $26,001
• Resale value: 3-year: 51%; 5-year: 34%
• MPG: City: 18; Hwy: 24

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $25,658

The all-new Sedona has a more powerful engine and improved legroom in all rows. Available “first-class lounge” seats in the second row feature leg rests and cushioned headrests. Tech options include geo-fencing (to alert you when a kid borrowing your ride strays from your preset safe zone), Siri Eyes Free for iPhone users, forward-collision warning and rear cross-traffic alert.

• Sticker price: $33,995
• Invoice price: $32,340
• Resale value: 3-year: 52%; 5-year: 36%
• MPG: City: 20; Hwy: 29

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $32,118

Lincoln joins the compact crossover crowd with the eye-catching, nimble MKC. It comes with a hands-free liftgate, and an app for your mobile device remotely locks the doors, starts the engine and more. Optional park assist steers you both into and out of tight parallel spots.

• Sticker price: $30,445 (S)
• Invoice price: $28,427
• Resale value: 3-year: NA; 5-year: NA
• MPG: City: 21; Hwy: 28

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: NA

The Murano offers the best fuel economy among its midsize-crossover peers in a bold new package. Creature comforts include ergonomically designed seats, an easy-to-use rear-seat release for loading cargo, and an available infotainment touch screen.

• Sticker price: $25,995 (EcoBoost, manual)
• Invoice price: $24,297
• Resale value: 3-year: 60%; 5-year: 45%
• MPG: City: 22; Hwy: 31

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $25,280

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the redesigned Ford Mustang is as appealing to your head as it is to your heart. High resale values and top-notch fuel economy are joined by agile handling, selectable drive modes and 300 horses or more, no matter your choice of powertrains (V6, V8 or the new four-cylinder EcoBoost). A built-in app tracks performance metrics such as g-forces and acceleration and braking times.

• Sticker price: $45,595 (LS)
• Invoice price: $42,473
• Resale value: 3-year: 54%; 5-year: 40%
• MPG: City: 16; Hwy: 23

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $42,585

The new Tahoe comes with a more powerful and more fuel-efficient engine that helps it get 10% better highway fuel economy than the previous generation. The Tahoe seats up to nine , and fold-flat second and third rows make hauling gear easier. Six USB ports and six power outlets mean every passenger’s devices can stay charged. The Tahoe also wins Best in Class.

• Sticker price: $29,505 (Crew Cab LT Long Box)
• Invoice price: $28,073
• Resale value: 3-year: 68%; 5-year: 58%
• MPG: City: 18; Hwy: 26

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: $29,416

Reviving the midsize pickup category for 2015, the Colorado leads the segment in power and fuel economy, whether you choose the four- or six-cylinder model. The new Colorado tows up to 7,000 pounds, too. A rearview camera comes standard, and forward-collision warning and lane-departure warning are options. The Colorado also wins Best in Class.

• Sticker price: $26,615 (Regular Cab XL 6.5 Foot Box)
• Invoice price: $24,773
• Resale value: 3-year: 48%; 5-year: 35%
• MPG: City: 18; Hwy: 25

Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price: NA

America’s best-selling pickup gets a cutting-edge redesign for 2015, including a military-grade aluminum body for better fuel economy. Nearly 700 pounds lighter than last year’s model, the F-150 wins Most Fuel-Efficient in its class when equipped with the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 (a 3.5-liter EcoBoost and normally aspirated V6 and V8 engines are also available). New options include a bird’s-eye-view camera, which displays a 360-degree view around truck from a vantage point above the vehicle, and “trailer hitch assist” for easier towing.

If you're like most people, you love getting a new car but hate haggling with the dealer. One way to put some fun into car buying is to take advantage of a European delivery program. Each of the major European brands except Volkswagen has one. You'll get a discount on the car as well as travel perks, and you'll be able to use your new wheels to tour the Continent.

Here's how it works: Order your car at the dealer three or four months before you'd like to pick it up. Then plan your vacation -- you can fly into the city where you pick up the vehicle, or you can choose another destination and get to your pickup point on your own. When you arrive, you'll be taken from the airport to a hotel, where you'll be treated to a complimentary night's stay. The next day, you'll visit the delivery center to get your car and take a tour of the factory and the automaker's museum.

After you grab your car, hit the road for your vacation -- you'll be provided with two weeks of car insurance (but you can pay extra for longer stays) and a tourist registration. When you're done, drop off the car at one of several designated locations and it'll be shipped back to the U.S. It takes about two months to ship the car Stateside. For more about each program, read on.

Models available: All models

Price: 5% off MSRP for most models (3% off for A3; no discount for R8). Final price negotiated with the dealer. U.S. destination charges apply.

Travel perks: Transportation from Munich airport to one of three hotels, accommodations for one night (one room), transportation to delivery center and meals on delivery day.

Pickup and drop-off: Pick up at Audi Forum Ingolstadt and drop off at any of 14 locations in Europe.

Extending your stay: You may insure your vehicle for up to 90 days (30 days costs $280; 60 days, $490; 90 days, $910). If the vehicle remains in Europe for more than 90 days, you will not be refunded the German Value Added Tax of 19% of MSRP, which is collected upfront by the dealer.

Winter travel notes: The laws in Europe require vehicles to be equipped with tires designed to handle inclement weather in the winter. All vehicles to be delivered between November and March must be ordered with factory-installed all-season tires (S-line vehicles and vehicles with performance tires will not be delivered in these months).

Visit Audi's Web site for more information on their European delivery program.

Models available: 1 series, 3 series, 5 series, 6 series, 7 series, Z4 (crossovers are not included)

Price: 7% off MSRP. Final price negotiated with the dealer. U.S. destination charges apply.

Travel perks: Refreshments at the delivery center and a 10 euro gift card for the accessory center. Discounts of 5% to 15% on Lufthansa flights, along with discounts on Munich hotels and preplanned packages.

Pickup and drop-off: Pick up at BMW Welt, in Munich, and drop off at any of 12 locations in Europe. Non-German drop-off points delay shipping back to the U.S. If you request more than two months' insurance, you must drop off at a German location.

Extending your stay: You may insure your vehicle for up to five months (one month costs $274; two months, $788; three months, $1,301; four months, $1,815; five months, $2,329). If the vehicle remains in Europe for more than five months, you will owe the German value added tax of 19% of MSRP.

Winter travel notes: All-season tires, either factory-installed or rentals (www.edwintertires.com), are required between October 15 and April 15.

Visit BMW's Web site for more information on their European delivery program.

Models available: All models except M-Class, R-Class, GL-Class, G-Class

Pricing: 7% off MSRP for most models (no discount for S600, E63 sedan and wagon, and CLS63). U.S. destination charges are waived.

Travel perks: One night of hotel accommodations (your choice of 14 hotels), breakfast or lunch at the delivery center, and two taxi vouchers for use in Stuttgart are included. Two-for-one economy flights on Lufthansa and travel packages are offered.

Pickup and drop-off: Pick up at Sindelfingen Delivery Center, near Stuttgart, and drop off at any of 11 locations in Europe. Non-German drop-off points extend shipping time to the U.S.

Extending your stay: You may insure your vehicle for up to 12 months (consult dealership for rates). If the vehicle remains in Europe past one year, you'll owe the German value added tax of 19% of MSRP. Note: Leased vehicles may remain in Europe for only one month.

Winter travel notes: All-season tires are required between November and April. MBUSA does not offer a winter tire exchange program.

Visit the Mercedes-Benz Web site for more information on their European delivery program.

Models available: All models

Price: Negotiable with dealers as a regular purchase. U.S. destination charges apply.

Travel perks: Transportation to and from the airport, one night of hotel accommodations, and lunch at the delivery center. Pickups at Leipzig include driving time on the track or on an off-road course. Discounts of 5% to 15% on Lufthansa flights, plus discounts to Steigenberger hotels throughout Germany.

Pickup and drop-off: Pick up at Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen or Leipzig and drop off at any of 18 locations in Europe. If you drop-off at a point other than one of the factories you'll incur additional charges.

Extending your stay: You may insure your vehicle for up to six months (consult dealership for rates). If the vehicle remains in Europe past six months, you'll owe the German value added tax of 19% of MSRP. This charge may be collected upfront by your dealer and refunded if the vehicle is returned on time.

Winter travel notes: All-season tires are required during the winter months. If your vehicle is not equipped with them, Porsche will provide them for two weeks at no cost. Rentals can be arranged for up to six months.

Visit Porsche's Web site for more information on their European delivery program.

Models available: All models

Price: Up to 8% off MSRP (varies by model). Prices are fixed. U.S. destination charges are waived.

Travel perks: Roundtrip airfare for two on Scandinavian Airlines, pickup at the airport, one night of hotel accommodations and lunch at the factory if you pick up in Gothenburg. Travel discounts and preplanned packages are offered.

Pickup and drop-off: Pick up at Gothenburg Factory Delivery Center or 13 other locations and drop off at any of 20 locations in Europe. Pickups and drop-offs at points other than the factory incur additional charges.

Extending your stay: You may insure your vehicle for up to six months (see dealership for rates). If the vehicle remains in Scandinavia more than six months, you will owe the Swedish value added tax of 19% of MSRP. Note: Vehicles may remain in mainland Europe for only two months.

Winter travel notes: Winter tires (not all-season) are required between December 15 and March 31. You may rent winter tires or purchase them.

Visit Volvo's Web site for more information on their European delivery program.

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