When considering a new car, the initial purchase price often takes center stage. However, savvy car buyers understand that the true cost of ownership extends far beyond the sticker price. Experts at Kelley Blue Book (KBB) emphasize the significance of a number often overlooked: resale value. Understanding the Kbb Value Car concept is crucial for making informed decisions, and Kelley Blue Book’s Best Resale Value Awards are designed to guide consumers in this very area. Announcing the 2019 model-year brand and category winners, KBB helps you identify vehicles projected to retain their value over the initial five years of ownership.
2019 Kelley Blue Book Best Resale Value Awards – KBB Value Car Recognition
Eric Ibara, director of residual values for Kelley Blue Book, highlights the importance of these awards: “Shoppers can be confident a vehicle will retain its value well if you pick from our list of Best Resale Value Winners.” He further noted the continued dominance of Toyota and Porsche as top brands for resale value. Toyota secured its fourth win for best brand, and Porsche claimed its third consecutive win as best luxury brand, reflecting their consistently high projected resale values across their model lineups. Interestingly, trucks demonstrated strong resale value, occupying several spots in the Top 10 vehicles. Ibara explained, “Despite the higher incentives available on trucks today, used-car buyers are willing to pay more for trucks, relative to the initial MSRP, than they are for sedans. Without the prospect of higher gas prices, this trend doesn’t appear to be slowing.”
Top Brands for Resale Value: KBB Awards
For 2019, Kelley Blue Book recognized leading brands for their overall projected resale value. These awards highlight manufacturers that consistently produce vehicles that hold their value over time, a key consideration when evaluating the long-term cost of car ownership.
| 2019 Best Resale Value: Brand |
|---|
| Toyota |
| 2019 Best Resale Value: Luxury Brand |
| Porsche |
2019 Best Resale Value by Vehicle Category
Beyond overall brand rankings, KBB also identifies top performers within specific vehicle categories. These category awards provide more granular guidance for consumers looking for vehicles with strong resale value in their preferred segment. From compact cars to full-size trucks and luxury SUVs, KBB’s awards cover a wide spectrum of the automotive market.
| 2019 Best Resale Value: By Vehicle Category |
|---|
| Compact Car: Honda Civic |
| Midsize Car: Subaru Legacy |
| Full-Size Car: Dodge Charger |
| Entry-Level Luxury Car: Lexus RC |
| Luxury Car: Audi A7 |
| High-End Luxury Car: Porsche Panamera |
| Sports Car: Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 |
| Hybrid Car: Honda Insight |
| Electric Vehicle: Tesla Model 3 |
| Subcompact SUV/Crossover: Honda HR-V |
| Compact SUV/Crossover: Subaru Crosstrek |
| Midsize SUV/Crossover – 2 Row: Subaru Outback |
Top 10 Cars for Retained Value: KBB’s Best of the Best
The coveted “Top 10 Cars for Best Resale Value” list from Kelley Blue Book represents the vehicles projected to hold the highest percentage of their original MSRP after five years. These vehicles exemplify exceptional value retention and are highly sought-after in the used car market. Notably, the list includes a strong showing from trucks and SUVs, reflecting current market trends and consumer demand.
| 2019 Best Resale Value: Top 10 Cars |
|---|
| Chevrolet Colorado |
| Chevrolet Silverado |
| Ford F-Series |
| GMC Sierra |
| Honda Ridgeline |
(Residual values used for award calculations are based on the 2019 model-year vehicles that appear in the January/February 2019 Kelley Blue Book® Residual Value Guide. Top 10 models appear in alphabetical order.)
Why KBB Value Car Matters: Understanding Depreciation
Depreciation is a significant factor in the total cost of car ownership. In fact, it’s often the largest expense in the first five years. The average 2019 model-year vehicle is expected to retain only about 39% of its original value after five years. This means a new car purchased for $35,000 could depreciate to approximately $13,650 in just five years.
In contrast, vehicles recognized in Kelley Blue Book’s Top 10 for Best Resale Value are projected to retain over 50% of their MSRP. The leader, the Toyota Tacoma, is expected to retain an impressive 62% of its original value after five years. While vehicles with average or below-average resale values are readily available, choosing a vehicle with strong resale value, as highlighted by KBB, can save you significant money in the long run. These vehicles often experience less discounting when new and maintain strong consumer interest, contributing to their higher retained value.
Kelley Blue Book’s Methodology for Determining Car Value
Kelley Blue Book has been a trusted source for vehicle valuation for over 90 years. The Best Resale Value Awards are based on projections from the Kelley Blue Book® Official Residual Value Guide. Experienced automotive analysts utilize statistical models, incorporating millions of transactions, to establish these residual values. The awards are given to vehicles with the highest projected five-year residual values, expressed as a percentage of their original MSRP. To ensure broad market relevance, low-volume vehicles are generally excluded, except in specific categories like electric, luxury, and sports cars.
These residual values reflect projected auction values for vehicles in average condition with 75,000 miles after five years of ownership or lease. Kelley Blue Book’s values are widely used throughout the automotive industry by manufacturers, financial institutions, and leasing companies. For comprehensive information about Kelley Blue Book’s Best Resale Value Awards and to research kbb value car for your next purchase, visit https://www.kbb.com/new-cars/best-resale-value-awards/.
About Kelley Blue Book (KBB.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the leading vehicle valuation and automotive information source, relied upon by consumers and the industry alike. KBB.com provides market-reflective values, including the renowned Blue Book® Trade-In Values and the Kelley Blue Book® Price Advisor tool. Kelley Blue Book is a Cox Automotive brand, dedicated to making car buying, selling, and ownership easier.
About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. and its family of brands, including Autotrader®, Kelley Blue Book®, and Manheim®, are committed to transforming the automotive experience for consumers, dealers, and the entire industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned company with a long-standing commitment to the automotive sector.
