Kelley Blue Book 2012 Best Resale Value Awards: Toyota & Lexus the Best Brands
11-16-11, 04:49 PM
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Kelley Blue Book 2012 Best Resale Value Awards: Toyota & Lexus the Best Brands
Good showing from Toyota & Lexus, although it's really Audi that surprises--they sure have come a long way from the days of horrible resales. I'm including only categories with Lexus models below. Check the link for more details.
http://www.kbb.com/new-cars/best-res...ds/best-brand/
Best Brand: Toyota
This is the second time in three years that Toyota has taken home our Best Resale Value Award for Best Brand. Not surprising, considering Toyota is still recognizable shorthand for “famously reliable transportation.” For 2012 Toyota is rolling out a brand new version of the best-selling car in the country, the Camry midsize sedan, which received one of the five individual Best Resale Value Awards claimed by Toyota vehicles this year. Toyota’s isn’t the flashiest or sportiest showroom in the auto mall, but it remains among the busiest, demonstrating the importance of quality when it comes to the second-largest purchase in most buyers’ lifetimes.
Best Luxury Brand: Lexus
Like the Toyota brand from which it spawned, Lexus is taking home its second big Best Resale Value Award in three years, again topping established automakers such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW for Best Luxury Brand honors. Now into its third decade, the Lexus lineup has grown to include a wide range of vehicles bookended by the sub-$30,000 CT 200h hybrid and the six-figure LF-A supercar – every one of them roaming the earth surrounded by a glowing aura of quality that draws new- and used-car buyers alike. Combined with a renowned dealership experience, buying a Lexus is the beginning of what many owners cite as their most pleasant car ownership experience ever.
Best Near-Luxury Car: 2012 Lexus IS
at 36 months: 59.0%
at 60 months: 41.3%
Driving enthusiasts may argue that the best premium sedans come from Germany, but the 2012 Lexus IS begs to differ. Offered in rear- and all-wheel-drive model, with a choice of two six-cylinder powerplants, and wrapped in youthful styling, the Lexus IS sedan sports a reputation for longevity and low maintenance costs few others in this field can equal. For buyers focused on resale value, the Lexus IS is the best near-luxury car out there.
Simple, clean and tasteful, the interior of the 2012 Lexus IS is the epitome of Lexus restraint. Soft touch surfaces abound, and leather seating is standard on all models. Move to the exterior and a slight wedge profile, prominent shoulder ridges and subtly bulging hood work to highlight the athletic nature of Lexus’ entry sedan.
At the heart of the 2012 Lexus IS is a sport suspension that does an admirable job minimizing body roll without also delivering a jarring ride. Steering is positive and linear, and the brakes and electronic stability control system work effortlessly to keep the car in check. While the 306-horsepower IS 350 is the prime mover of this family, even the 2012 Lexus IS 250 feels fairly quick around town, using its 204 horsepower to move from zero to 60 mph in a bit less than eight seconds.
With a base price around $33,500 for the IS 250 and approximately $40,000 for the more powerful IS 350, all models of the IS line also enjoy a significant monetary advantage when compared to competitors like the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4. That advantage includes both initial cost and residual values where the Lexus IS ranks at the top of the chart.
2nd Place Finisher: 2012 Acura TL
at 36 months: 56.0%
at 60 months: 37.0%
A technology-rich and boldly styled midsize luxury sedan, the TL stands as a smart alternative to the more common luxury offerings from Germany.
3rd Place Finisher: 2012 BMW 3 Series
at 36 months: 52.2%
at 60 months: 32.6%
Good looks and world-class driving dynamics have made the BMW 3 Series a standard by which many other automakers judge their own cars.
Best Luxury Car: 2012 Audi A5
at 36 months: 64.7%
at 60 months: 41.0%
Audi’s substantial growth in the U.S. is due in part to cars like the A5. As a refreshingly unique luxury 2-door the 2012 Audi A5 not only constitutes a viable alternative to the 3 Series but, in an era of diminishing resources, perhaps a financially prudent step-down from Bentley's Continental GT. And while we're not sure Windsor Castle would approve, we know it would play well on California's 101. And buyers who consider resale value as well as purchase price might consider the 2012 Audi A5 to be the best luxury car on the market.
In motion the 2012 A5’s all-independent suspension is supple, the steering amazingly direct, and the overall comfort level high. As for power the A5's base 2.0 liter TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder performs well, with adequate horsepower (211) and prodigious levels of torque (258 lb-ft). We should also mention the available Quattro all-wheel drive system, which utilizes a 40-percent front/60-percent rear torque split in most driving situations, imparting the A5 with impeccable balance.
Audi is known for its brilliant interiors, so it’s unsurprising that the 2012 A5’s interior delights with plush materials and leather-upholstered front buckets providing a rare blend of accessibility and lateral support. Outside, the A5’s striking exterior design is defined by a mono-form grille, sculpted side contours and a crisp character line running the length of the car. Finally, the A5 Cabriolet's use of a cloth roof has the practical benefit of not impeding (significantly) available trunk space when dropped.
The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the A5 Coupe with manual transmission is just under $37,000. In terms of resale values Audi's predicted residual numbers are almost stratospheric, with the A5 Coupe performing significantly better than both BMW's 3-Series Coupe and Mercedes-Benz's E350 Coupe.
2nd Place Finisher: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
at 36 months: 56.0%
at 60 months: 34.0%
With two seats, a retractable hard top, a rich interior and sporty demeanor, the SLK embodies the fun side of luxury.
3rd Place Finisher: 2012 Lexus LS
at 36 months: 51.5%
at 60 months: 33.5%
The Lexus LS is a large luxury sedan and a brand flagship, making it a rolling showcase for Lexus’ hybrid systems and other advanced technologies.
Best High Performance Car: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS
at 36 months: 60.0%
at 60 months: 43.5%
There were some working in the halls of General Motors' rescue partner, the federal government, who felt that a V8-powered coupe like the Chevrolet Camaro was the wrong car at the wrong time. Clearly the American consumer felt differently, and has proven so by voting with their hard-earned dollars. The Camaro is a hit, evoking all the good emotions of an earlier time while winning the hearts of a new generation of car enthusiast. Not that it’s the kind of thing that drives such passion for cars like these, but the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS can now also lay claim to the title of best high-performance car when it comes to resale value.
With a 426-horsepower LS3 V8 paired to a six-speed manual transmission, power and torque are effortless and ever-present, enabling zero-to-60-mph acceleration in a swift 4.4 seconds. Beyond plentiful horsepower the 2012 Camaro SS breaks with tradition by offering a multi-link rear suspension instead of a live axle, making the newest generation Camaro much more at home on twisty or less-than-pristine roads.
From where we sit the Chevy Camaro is a design tour de force. GM designers told us it was difficult to produce some of the Camaro’s more daring body panels using factory stamping techniques, but in the end GM production engineers were able to make it happen. After a couple years on the market the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro still turns heads, looking modern, aggressive and classic, all at the same time.
For fans of fast cars, the strong performance-per-dollar ratio of the 2012 Chevy Camaro SS is hard to ignore. With concept car looks and 426 horsepower underhood, the V8-equipped SS has a base price approaching $32,000.
2nd Place Finisher: 2012 Lexus IS-F
at 36 months: 55.0%
at 60 months: 40.0%
Lexus swung for the fences with the IS-F, delivering the raciest IS yet and showing that the otherwise sensible brand has a sporting side, too.
3rd Place Finisher: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette
at 36 months: 53.8%
at 60 months: 39.5%
A true icon of American performance machinery, the Corvette is wickedly quick yet less expensive than its lap times would suggest.
Best Luxury SUV: 2012 Audi Q7
at 36 months: 63.3%
at 60 months: 44.3%
When the conversation turns to art, you'll be glad you've got a 2012 Audi Q7 in your garage. As it turns out, when the conversation turns to 5-year resale value, the 7-passenger 2012 Q7 more than holds its own – it's the best luxury SUV in that arena.
Lest you think the Audi is just another pretty face in the luxury-SUV crowd, however, consider this bit of evidence: We've interviewed Audi dealers in Alaska – a state that tends not to baby a vehicle -- and the one comment we universally heard was, "We never have enough Q7s. We can't keep 'em on the lot!"
That's a nice problem to have, but we're not all that surprised that the Alaskan Audi dealers were hungry for Q7s. The Quattro all-wheel drive system is a bad-road/slippery-road superstar, and the Q7 TDI's turbodiesel V6 rolls out 406 lb-ft of stump-pulling torque at a low 2,250 rpm, which is an especially sweet scenario since all three of the 2012 Audi Q7 engines (the TDI as well as the two supercharged V6 models) are enhanced with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
It is a universally acknowledged automotive truth that a driver in possession of a good fortune must be in want of an Audi interior. The Q7 cockpit is just such an interior, bathed in leather and gifted with heated, 12-way power front seats. Unfortunately, that bit about the good fortune holds true as well, although Audi has taken great strides in bringing the 2012 Q7 price into line with the best luxury SUVs, which is an art all by itself.
2nd Place Finisher: 2012 Infiniti FX
at 36 months: 58.0%
at 60 months: 44.0%
Infiniti's sporty-minded – especially the V8-powered version -- crossover is getting a facelift for 2012 which includes an all-new grille treatment.
3rd Place Finisher: 2012 Lexus RX
at 36 months: 64.0%
at 60 months: 43.0%
The best-selling Lexus continues to be the essence of refinement and the luxury SUV that the competitors all want a piece of.
Best Hybrid SUV: 2012 Lexus RX450h
at 36 months: 64.0%
at 60 months: 43.0%
It should come as no surprise that the 2012 Lexus RX 450h earns our award as the best hybrid SUV for long-term resale value. The Lexus RX models have always had the goods to make them valuable – clean styling, legit luxury, notable interior comfort and, available in front-drive and all-wheel drive (AWD), excellent poise on the road. This is not an off-road contender, but who cares? Nobody in their right mind would wear a wedding gown to go mud wrestling.
The heart of the 2012 Lexus RX 450h matter is its hybrid drivetrain. That substantial matter consists of a 3.5-liter V6 working in tandem with an electric motor. The combination produces the equivalent of 295 horsepower which is sent to the driven wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). According to the EPA, the LX 450h's hybrid/CVT drivetrain hits some pretty good city/highway fuel economy numbers: 32/28 for the front-drive models, and 30/28 for the AWD version. It'll hold its own getting up to speed at a stoplight or on an on-ramp too.
Thanks to a dearth of direct competitors for the 2012 Lexus RX 450h, it's hard to assess the initial value of the hybrid SUV's $46,110 price tag. A much easier assessment is the notion of how much of that 46 large you can expect to get back after five years of ownership. By our calculations you’ll be able to recapture 43% of that amount, which is good for a luxury vehicle, and very, very good for a hybrid.
2nd Place Finisher: 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
at 36 months: 53.0%
at 60 months: 39.5%
Significantly refreshed last year, the Toyota Highlander's hybrid system delivers the equivalent of 280 hp, which is plenty of hybrid horsepower.
3rd Place Finisher: 2012 Ford Escape Hybrid
at 36 months: 47.5%
at 60 months: 31.5%
If you like your hybrid SUV shaped with boxy space efficiency, buy the Escape hybrid now because a rounder Escape replacement is due next year.
http://www.kbb.com/new-cars/best-res...ds/best-brand/
Best Brand: Toyota
This is the second time in three years that Toyota has taken home our Best Resale Value Award for Best Brand. Not surprising, considering Toyota is still recognizable shorthand for “famously reliable transportation.” For 2012 Toyota is rolling out a brand new version of the best-selling car in the country, the Camry midsize sedan, which received one of the five individual Best Resale Value Awards claimed by Toyota vehicles this year. Toyota’s isn’t the flashiest or sportiest showroom in the auto mall, but it remains among the busiest, demonstrating the importance of quality when it comes to the second-largest purchase in most buyers’ lifetimes.
Best Luxury Brand: Lexus
Like the Toyota brand from which it spawned, Lexus is taking home its second big Best Resale Value Award in three years, again topping established automakers such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW for Best Luxury Brand honors. Now into its third decade, the Lexus lineup has grown to include a wide range of vehicles bookended by the sub-$30,000 CT 200h hybrid and the six-figure LF-A supercar – every one of them roaming the earth surrounded by a glowing aura of quality that draws new- and used-car buyers alike. Combined with a renowned dealership experience, buying a Lexus is the beginning of what many owners cite as their most pleasant car ownership experience ever.
Best Near-Luxury Car: 2012 Lexus IS
at 36 months: 59.0%
at 60 months: 41.3%
Driving enthusiasts may argue that the best premium sedans come from Germany, but the 2012 Lexus IS begs to differ. Offered in rear- and all-wheel-drive model, with a choice of two six-cylinder powerplants, and wrapped in youthful styling, the Lexus IS sedan sports a reputation for longevity and low maintenance costs few others in this field can equal. For buyers focused on resale value, the Lexus IS is the best near-luxury car out there.
Simple, clean and tasteful, the interior of the 2012 Lexus IS is the epitome of Lexus restraint. Soft touch surfaces abound, and leather seating is standard on all models. Move to the exterior and a slight wedge profile, prominent shoulder ridges and subtly bulging hood work to highlight the athletic nature of Lexus’ entry sedan.
At the heart of the 2012 Lexus IS is a sport suspension that does an admirable job minimizing body roll without also delivering a jarring ride. Steering is positive and linear, and the brakes and electronic stability control system work effortlessly to keep the car in check. While the 306-horsepower IS 350 is the prime mover of this family, even the 2012 Lexus IS 250 feels fairly quick around town, using its 204 horsepower to move from zero to 60 mph in a bit less than eight seconds.
With a base price around $33,500 for the IS 250 and approximately $40,000 for the more powerful IS 350, all models of the IS line also enjoy a significant monetary advantage when compared to competitors like the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4. That advantage includes both initial cost and residual values where the Lexus IS ranks at the top of the chart.
2nd Place Finisher: 2012 Acura TL
at 36 months: 56.0%
at 60 months: 37.0%
A technology-rich and boldly styled midsize luxury sedan, the TL stands as a smart alternative to the more common luxury offerings from Germany.
3rd Place Finisher: 2012 BMW 3 Series
at 36 months: 52.2%
at 60 months: 32.6%
Good looks and world-class driving dynamics have made the BMW 3 Series a standard by which many other automakers judge their own cars.
Best Luxury Car: 2012 Audi A5
at 36 months: 64.7%
at 60 months: 41.0%
Audi’s substantial growth in the U.S. is due in part to cars like the A5. As a refreshingly unique luxury 2-door the 2012 Audi A5 not only constitutes a viable alternative to the 3 Series but, in an era of diminishing resources, perhaps a financially prudent step-down from Bentley's Continental GT. And while we're not sure Windsor Castle would approve, we know it would play well on California's 101. And buyers who consider resale value as well as purchase price might consider the 2012 Audi A5 to be the best luxury car on the market.
In motion the 2012 A5’s all-independent suspension is supple, the steering amazingly direct, and the overall comfort level high. As for power the A5's base 2.0 liter TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder performs well, with adequate horsepower (211) and prodigious levels of torque (258 lb-ft). We should also mention the available Quattro all-wheel drive system, which utilizes a 40-percent front/60-percent rear torque split in most driving situations, imparting the A5 with impeccable balance.
Audi is known for its brilliant interiors, so it’s unsurprising that the 2012 A5’s interior delights with plush materials and leather-upholstered front buckets providing a rare blend of accessibility and lateral support. Outside, the A5’s striking exterior design is defined by a mono-form grille, sculpted side contours and a crisp character line running the length of the car. Finally, the A5 Cabriolet's use of a cloth roof has the practical benefit of not impeding (significantly) available trunk space when dropped.
The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the A5 Coupe with manual transmission is just under $37,000. In terms of resale values Audi's predicted residual numbers are almost stratospheric, with the A5 Coupe performing significantly better than both BMW's 3-Series Coupe and Mercedes-Benz's E350 Coupe.
2nd Place Finisher: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
at 36 months: 56.0%
at 60 months: 34.0%
With two seats, a retractable hard top, a rich interior and sporty demeanor, the SLK embodies the fun side of luxury.
3rd Place Finisher: 2012 Lexus LS
at 36 months: 51.5%
at 60 months: 33.5%
The Lexus LS is a large luxury sedan and a brand flagship, making it a rolling showcase for Lexus’ hybrid systems and other advanced technologies.
Best High Performance Car: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS
at 36 months: 60.0%
at 60 months: 43.5%
There were some working in the halls of General Motors' rescue partner, the federal government, who felt that a V8-powered coupe like the Chevrolet Camaro was the wrong car at the wrong time. Clearly the American consumer felt differently, and has proven so by voting with their hard-earned dollars. The Camaro is a hit, evoking all the good emotions of an earlier time while winning the hearts of a new generation of car enthusiast. Not that it’s the kind of thing that drives such passion for cars like these, but the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS can now also lay claim to the title of best high-performance car when it comes to resale value.
With a 426-horsepower LS3 V8 paired to a six-speed manual transmission, power and torque are effortless and ever-present, enabling zero-to-60-mph acceleration in a swift 4.4 seconds. Beyond plentiful horsepower the 2012 Camaro SS breaks with tradition by offering a multi-link rear suspension instead of a live axle, making the newest generation Camaro much more at home on twisty or less-than-pristine roads.
From where we sit the Chevy Camaro is a design tour de force. GM designers told us it was difficult to produce some of the Camaro’s more daring body panels using factory stamping techniques, but in the end GM production engineers were able to make it happen. After a couple years on the market the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro still turns heads, looking modern, aggressive and classic, all at the same time.
For fans of fast cars, the strong performance-per-dollar ratio of the 2012 Chevy Camaro SS is hard to ignore. With concept car looks and 426 horsepower underhood, the V8-equipped SS has a base price approaching $32,000.
2nd Place Finisher: 2012 Lexus IS-F
at 36 months: 55.0%
at 60 months: 40.0%
Lexus swung for the fences with the IS-F, delivering the raciest IS yet and showing that the otherwise sensible brand has a sporting side, too.
3rd Place Finisher: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette
at 36 months: 53.8%
at 60 months: 39.5%
A true icon of American performance machinery, the Corvette is wickedly quick yet less expensive than its lap times would suggest.
Best Luxury SUV: 2012 Audi Q7
at 36 months: 63.3%
at 60 months: 44.3%
When the conversation turns to art, you'll be glad you've got a 2012 Audi Q7 in your garage. As it turns out, when the conversation turns to 5-year resale value, the 7-passenger 2012 Q7 more than holds its own – it's the best luxury SUV in that arena.
Lest you think the Audi is just another pretty face in the luxury-SUV crowd, however, consider this bit of evidence: We've interviewed Audi dealers in Alaska – a state that tends not to baby a vehicle -- and the one comment we universally heard was, "We never have enough Q7s. We can't keep 'em on the lot!"
That's a nice problem to have, but we're not all that surprised that the Alaskan Audi dealers were hungry for Q7s. The Quattro all-wheel drive system is a bad-road/slippery-road superstar, and the Q7 TDI's turbodiesel V6 rolls out 406 lb-ft of stump-pulling torque at a low 2,250 rpm, which is an especially sweet scenario since all three of the 2012 Audi Q7 engines (the TDI as well as the two supercharged V6 models) are enhanced with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
It is a universally acknowledged automotive truth that a driver in possession of a good fortune must be in want of an Audi interior. The Q7 cockpit is just such an interior, bathed in leather and gifted with heated, 12-way power front seats. Unfortunately, that bit about the good fortune holds true as well, although Audi has taken great strides in bringing the 2012 Q7 price into line with the best luxury SUVs, which is an art all by itself.
2nd Place Finisher: 2012 Infiniti FX
at 36 months: 58.0%
at 60 months: 44.0%
Infiniti's sporty-minded – especially the V8-powered version -- crossover is getting a facelift for 2012 which includes an all-new grille treatment.
3rd Place Finisher: 2012 Lexus RX
at 36 months: 64.0%
at 60 months: 43.0%
The best-selling Lexus continues to be the essence of refinement and the luxury SUV that the competitors all want a piece of.
Best Hybrid SUV: 2012 Lexus RX450h
at 36 months: 64.0%
at 60 months: 43.0%
It should come as no surprise that the 2012 Lexus RX 450h earns our award as the best hybrid SUV for long-term resale value. The Lexus RX models have always had the goods to make them valuable – clean styling, legit luxury, notable interior comfort and, available in front-drive and all-wheel drive (AWD), excellent poise on the road. This is not an off-road contender, but who cares? Nobody in their right mind would wear a wedding gown to go mud wrestling.
The heart of the 2012 Lexus RX 450h matter is its hybrid drivetrain. That substantial matter consists of a 3.5-liter V6 working in tandem with an electric motor. The combination produces the equivalent of 295 horsepower which is sent to the driven wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). According to the EPA, the LX 450h's hybrid/CVT drivetrain hits some pretty good city/highway fuel economy numbers: 32/28 for the front-drive models, and 30/28 for the AWD version. It'll hold its own getting up to speed at a stoplight or on an on-ramp too.
Thanks to a dearth of direct competitors for the 2012 Lexus RX 450h, it's hard to assess the initial value of the hybrid SUV's $46,110 price tag. A much easier assessment is the notion of how much of that 46 large you can expect to get back after five years of ownership. By our calculations you’ll be able to recapture 43% of that amount, which is good for a luxury vehicle, and very, very good for a hybrid.
2nd Place Finisher: 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
at 36 months: 53.0%
at 60 months: 39.5%
Significantly refreshed last year, the Toyota Highlander's hybrid system delivers the equivalent of 280 hp, which is plenty of hybrid horsepower.
3rd Place Finisher: 2012 Ford Escape Hybrid
at 36 months: 47.5%
at 60 months: 31.5%
If you like your hybrid SUV shaped with boxy space efficiency, buy the Escape hybrid now because a rounder Escape replacement is due next year.
11-17-11, 08:06 AM
#3
I can confirm the resale value of Toyota. Recently, I've been looking for a used, late model SUV for my parents to roam around in during the winter months. Used 4Runner/Highlander/Sequoia prices are out of this world! Forget about the LC. I looked up my FJ Cruiser in KBB just for kicks and its value was actually more than what I paid for it! (granted FJ prices have creeped up and I bought just as the economy crapped out and gas was through the roof... and got a great deal).
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