2011 Best New Car Values: Best Resale Value

published 25 January 2011

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.