While most car buyers today consider sticker price the most significant number when choosing a new vehicle, our editors recommend taking a closer look at a number Kelley Blue Book is expert in calculating: its resale value. Depreciation often is the greatest expense incurred by drivers during the first five years of vehicle ownership, so choosing a vehicle that retains its value better than others is important in keeping your total ownership cost low.
The Kelley Blue Book Best Resale Value Awards recognize automakers’ outstanding achievements in producing vehicles that best retain their value. In addition to the mainstream and luxury brands with the best projected resale values across their entire vehicle lines, awards are presented to top vehicles within 16 vehicle categories.
2010 Toyota Tacoma , Best Resale Value: Mid-Size Pickup
The Toyota Tacoma not only dominates other mid-size trucks in total sales, it also remains the resale champion of this competitive segment. No other truck can match the Tacoma’s reputation for rugged reliability. The Toyota Tacoma has been our mid-size truck resale value leader for two years running, and we expect we haven’t seen the last of it.
2010 Ford F-Series Super Duty , Best Resale Value: Full-Size Pickup
The last three decades have seen big changes in the full-size pickup truck category. What hasn’t changed is Ford‘s sales leadership. A focus on continual improvement has helped the Ford F-Series Super Duty evolve from a humble workhorse into the comfortable, innovative and increasingly capable vehicle it is today.
2010 Honda CR-V , Best Resale Value: Compact Utility Vehicle
Offering the utility and raised seating position of an SUV in a compact and fuel-efficient package, the Honda CR-V has yet again earned a spot on our list of residual standouts. As practical as a backpack, this benchmark crossover is a smart choice for new and used buyers alike.
2010 Toyota Highlander , Best Resale Value: Mid-Size Utility Vehicle
The Toyota Highlander is a pure representation of what buyers currently want from a crossover sport utility vehicle . Modern muscular styling, seating for seven, solid value, and a commanding view of the road make the mid-size Highlander a perennial favorite.
2010 Honda Pilot , Best Resale Value: Full-Size Utility Vehicle
With seating for eight, four-wheel drive and a brand name synonymous with outstanding reliability and strong resale value, the Pilot stands out among other competitors in its class.
2010 Lexus RX 350 , Best Resale Value: Luxury Utility Vehicle
Attractive styling, a well-appointed, comfortable interior and advanced in-car technology have all made the RX 350 a favorite among luxury utility vehicle buyers. Add in the Lexus reputation for quality and reliability, and you get a total package that will remain a mighty attractive vehicle for years to come.
2010 BMW X5 Turbo Diesel , Best Resale Value: Hybrid /Alt Fuel Utility Vehicle
Powered by an in-line six-cylinder twin-turbo engine that puts out 265 horsepower and 425 lb.-ft. of torque, the diesel-fueled X5 xDrive 35d is a formidable green machine at an EPA-estimated 19/26 city/highway miles per gallon. Add into that mix an authentic BMW driving experience and available seven-passenger seating, and you’ve got a vehicle that is not only a practical, fuel-efficient, and fun mode of transport, but something that will hold its value in the future.
2010 Toyota Sienna , Best Resale Value: Van
Not just a resale value leader, the Toyota Sienna is also the most powerful minivan on the market. The Sienna’s 3.5-liter V6 is capable of 266 horsepower and 245 pound-feet of torque, and it’s the only minivan that offers all-wheel drive. Add to that a myriad of options, a comprehensive STAR Safety System and Toyota’s reputation for reliability, and it’s easy to see why the Sienna is an important contributor to Toyota’s victory in the Best Brand category.
2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS , Best Resale Value: High-Performance Car
Long respected by enthusiasts — even during its seven-year absence — the Chevrolet Camaro bests others in it class with its familiar but futuristic look and powerful V8 engine.
2010 Toyota Prius , Best Resale Value: Hybrid/Alt Fuel Car
For buyers seeking to make a statement about their commitment to saving the world, no car says it louder than the Toyota Prius. Combining EPA-estimated combined fuel economy of 50 miles per gallon with outstanding resale value, the Prius delivers value throughout the ownership cycle.
2010 Honda Accord , Best Resale Value: Mid-Size Car
The unofficial flagship car of the family sedan segment, the Honda Accord deftly balances size and sportiness, power and efficiency, in the category’s most well-rounded entry. All the while it maintains the strongest residual values in the segment.
2010 Ford Taurus , Best Resale Value: Full-Size Car
The once-mighty Taurus name has returned from rental-car infamy in a big way. And we’re not surprised, as Ford’s product lineup has been getting stronger and stronger with every new vehicle it’s introduced in the past couple years. And while we’re big fans of the way the Taurus looks, feels and drives, it’s Ford’s increasingly recognized quality that’s at the heart of the model’s first Best Resale Value Award.
2010 Lexus IS , Best Resale Value: Near-Luxury Car
As the most affordable Lexus on the lot and the most value-resilient car in the category, the Lexus IS is a winner on two fronts. Starting sticker prices that can be thousands lower than its competitors’ make it attractive as a new car, while the brand’s well-earned reputation for reliability makes the IS especially attractive as a used car. Sticker price and quality advantages? That’s a recipe for resale glory.
2010 Audi A5 , Best Resale Value: Luxury Car
Last year we predicted that the Audi A5 would continue to lead the luxury segment in terms of high resale value, and this year it takes the top spot yet again. Beautifully styled with driving dynamics that could please both everyday drivers and track-monkeys alike, the A5 exudes luxury inside and out.
2010 Nissan 370Z , Best Resale Value: Sports Car
Regularly compared to performance coupes and convertibles that would cost you an additional five figures, the Nissan 370Z can be considered a bargain to begin with, which can be an important part of the resale value equation. Redesigned for 2009, Nissan‘s latest Z is the most powerful, most fun, most desirable iteration yet. Whether for a coastal cruise or a day at the track, we’d be happy to take one – new or used.
2010 MINI Cooper Clubman , Best Resale Value: Compact Car
MINI is known for its strong resale values, so it’s no wonder that the new Clubman would continue that trend. Compact on size but large on utility, the Clubman builds on the smaller MINI Cooper‘s great looks by adding unique rear doors and more interior space while maintaining MINI’s famous dynamic driving experience.
