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, supplied by Kelley Blue Book, are the estimated price a dealer would pay if you traded in the vehicle, expressed as a percentage of the original sticker price.
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 previous category. Check out our top picks by clicking the navigation bar to your right:
Data comes from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com (new vehicle data from 12/28/10, resale values from January/February 2011 Kelley Blue Book® Residual Value Guide); Vincentric (service and insurance costs); and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (Top Safety Picks). Fair Purchase Price, also supplied by Kelley Blue book, is based on actual new vehicle transactions across the country.
Best Resale Value: Under $20,000
Scion xB
Sticker price: $16,720 (manual)
Invoice price: $15,920
Fair Purchase Price: $16,971
Five-year service cost: $3,420
One-year insurance cost: $1,014
Resale value after 3 years: 57%; 5 years: 37%
MPG city: 22; highway: 28
Scion xB keeps its rep as an edgy, hip vehicle that also offers scads of utility -- and, as a bonus, a three-year resale value of 57% (head and shoulders above the rest of the category). Also in the xB toolbox: decent fuel economy, a capacious 22 cubic feet of cargo space and low insurance costs.
Sponsored Content
Best Resale Value: $20,000-$25,000
Mini Cooper Clubman
Sticker price: $21,800 (manual)
Invoice price: $19,690
Fair Purchase Price: $21,800
Five-year service cost: $5,446
One-year insurance cost: $1,129
Resale value after 3 years: 64%; 5 years: 42%
MPG city: 27; highway: 35
Minis are noted for high resale values, and Clubman adds versatility by adding eight inches of length to the Cooper. That translates into more rear legroom and 50% more cargo space but doesn’t compromise the Mini’s greatest strength: maneuverability.
Sponsored Content
Best Resale Value: $25,000-$30,000
Subaru Impreza WRX
- Sticker price: $26,220 (base)
- Invoice price: $24,80
- Fair Purchase Price: $25,696
- Five-year service cost: $4,862
- One-year insurance cost: $1,507
- Resale value after 3 years: 55%; 5 years: 36%
- MPG city: 19; highway: 25
The turbocharged version of the Impreza boosts the three-year resale value from the base model’s 51% to 55% -- and bumps up horsepower by 95, to 265 horses. That’s a feat few in this category can achieve with only four cylinders. The drag-race-worthy WRX STI trim tops 300 horsepower and matches the WRX’s resale values.
Sponsored Content
Best Resale Value: $30,000-$45,000
Audi A5 2.0T Quattro
- Sticker price: $37,375 (Premium)
- Invoice price: $34,821
- Five-year service cost: $5,967
- One-year insurance cost: $1,753
- Resale value after 3 years: 67%; 5 years: 42%
- MPG city: 21; highway: 31
The A5 offers the fuel-thrifty, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine of the A4 in a sleeker coupe or drop-top body. The A5’s three-year resale value bests other models in this category by at least nine percentage points. It also ties the Lexus GX 460 SUV for the highest three-year resale of all our winners. Fair Purchase Price: $37,001
Sponsored Content
Best Resale Value: Over $45,000
Audi S5 Quattro
- Sticker price: $55,175 (Premium Plus)
- Invoice price: $51,374
- Fair Purchase Price: $54,072
- Five-year service cost: $7,383
- One-year insurance cost: $2,140
- Resale value after 3 years: 56%; 5 years: 34%
- MPG city: 16; highway: 24
A5’s sportier (and pricier) sibling, the S5, also takes top resale plaudits in the luxury segment. It’s powered by a 4.2-liter V8 and puts out 354 horses. Although it’s a coupe, the 16-cubic-foot trunk can handle luggage for the weekend or golf bags (or both).
Sponsored Content
Best Resale Value: Sports
BMW M3
- Sticker price: $57,575 (sedan)
- Invoice price: $53,145
- Fair Purchase Price: $57,575
- Five-year service cost: $6,670
- One-year insurance cost: $1,932
- Resale value after 3 years: 64%; 5 years: 41%
- MPG city: 14; highway: 20
BMW’s venerable 3-series on steroids is in such high demand that it beats its closest competition on resale value by a significant margin. After three years, it’s worth a whopping 64% of the original sticker price.
Sponsored Content
Best Resale Value: Small Crossovers
Honda CR-V
- Sticker price: $23,725 (LX)
- Invoice price: $22,134
- Fair Purchase Price: $23,250
- Five-year service cost: $3,165
- One-year insurance cost: $935
- Resale value after 3 years: 62%; 5 years: 43%
- MPG city: 21; highway: 28
On the resale front, Honda’s small crossover benefits from the brand’s reputation for quality and reliability. Named a 2011 Worth a Look, CR-V boasts the lowest insurance costs in the category, ample legroom and cargo space, and good power (for a four-cylinder, which means it won’t break the bank on fuel). It was also a top-ten best-seller for 2010.
Sponsored Content
Best Resale Value: Large and Midsize Crossovers
BMW X5 xDrive35d
- Sticker price: $52,175
- Invoice price: $48,070
- Fair Purchase Price: $50,923
- Five-year service cost: $4,729
- One-year insurance cost: $1,446
- Resale value after 3 years: 64%; 5 years: 46%
- MPG city: 19; highway: 26
The diesel X5 wins Best Resale honors again this year with stellar three-year numbers and the highest five-year resale value of all our winners. It beats the three-year resale value of the gas-engine 35i by three percentage points, while improving city and highway mileage by nearly 20%. The torque-heavy turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel engine takes the 35d from zero to 60 in seven seconds.
Sponsored Content
Best Resale Value: Truck-based SUVs
Lexus GX 460
- Sticker price: $53,220 (base)
- Invoice price: $47,460
- Fair Purchase Price: $53,220
- Five-year service cost: $4,223
- One-year insurance cost: $2,134
- Resale value after 3 years: 67%; 5 years: 45%
- MPG city: 15; highway: 20
Lexus’s GX 460 carries seven passengers in comfort and style and also carries the Lexus reputation for reliability -- which helps it tie the Audi A5 for highest three-year resale value of all our winners. The reclining second row slides four inches fore or aft to boost legroom or cargo space and has a 60/40 split for walk-in access to the third row.
Sponsored Content
Best Resale Value: Minivans
Honda Odyssey
- Sticker price: $28,580 (LX)
- Invoice price: $25,976
- Fair Purchase Price: $28,580
- Five-year service cost: $3,995
- One-year insurance cost: $960
- Resale value after 3 years: 54%; 5 years: 34%
- MPG city: 18; highway: 27
Honda reliability helps boost the redesigned Odyssey's long-term value. The LX sweeps the minivan awards this year, taking Best in Class and Best New and Most Fuel-Efficient minivan. It claims a resale value of 54% after three years and über-low insurance costs.
Sponsored Content
Best Resale Value: Wagons
Subaru Outback
- Sticker price: $29,220 (2.5i Limited)
- Invoice price: $27,455
- Fair Purchase Price: $29,220
- Five-year service cost: $4,752
- One-year insurance cost: $1,076
- Resale value after 3 years: 60%; 5 years: 38%
- MPG city: 22; highway: 29
Also the Best in Class winner, Subaru’s Outback takes top resale value honors in the wagon category. The rugged, almost-big-enough-to-be-a-crossover wagon has scads of storage room, plenty of room for five, top scores for safety and Subaru’s standard all-wheel drive.
Sponsored Content
More From Kiplinger
Best New Car Values 2011: New Models
Best New Car Values 2011: Best In Class
Best New Car Values 2011: Most Fuel-Efficient
Best New Car Values 2011: 10 Cheapest Cars to Own
TOOL: Compare Data on Hundreds of 2011 New Cars
QUIZ: 10 Ways to Save on Car Maintenance
QUIZ: How to Get the Best Deal on a New Car
10 Cars that Refuse to Die
10 Best Cars of the Past Decade
Sponsored Content
-
Is 100 the New 70?Eating well, exercising, getting plenty of sleep and managing chronic stress can help make you a SuperAger. Funding that long life requires longevity literacy.
-
Nine Lessons to Be Learned From the Hilton Family Trust ContestDisclaimers, good communication, post-marital agreements and more could help avoid conflict in a family after the owners of a wealthy estate pass away.
-
7 Things Medicare Doesn’t CoverHealthy Living on a Budget Medicare Part A and Part B leave some pretty significant gaps in your health-care coverage. But Medicare Advantage has problems, too.
-
The 10 Cheapest Countries to VisitDespite inflation, there are some areas where the strong dollar will definitely work in your favor.
-
15 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Winterhome Now that fall is officially here, it's time to prepare your home for cold weather.
-
Six Steps to Get Lower Car Insurance Ratesinsurance Shopping around for auto insurance may not be your idea of fun, but comparing prices for a new policy every few years — or even more often — can pay off big.
-
10 Things You Need to Know About Retiring to FloridaMaking Your Money Last If Florida is part of your retirement plan, we offer up a few tips to help you find your way.
-
6 Ways to Boost Your Credit Score — FastTips for boosting your credit score quickly, starting with paying down your credit card debt.
-
Gas-Saving Tips That Actually WorkBuying & Leasing a Car When fuel prices rise, all kinds of gas-saving schemes get floated. We separate the serious from the silly for you.
-
Hurricane Insurance Claims: 10 Things You Should KnowBecoming a Homeowner Hurricane damage? Know what’s covered, what isn’t, and how to make the most of your policy if you need to file a claim.
