Top 10 New Cars with Highest Resell Value

Depreciation is the highest cost associated with a new car. For that reason alone, the resell value of the car should be one of the most important considerations when you buy a new car. If you’re leasing a car, it is the most important factor in determining your lease payment. The following is the list of cars that are expected to retain more of their value in the next three years. In reality, a car is only worth how much someone is willing to pay for it.

The top cars were determined by comparing the historical prices for a new model with the selling price of comparables sold on the market. While actual depreciation varries by city, these 10 cars are almost always found near the top.

2009 Honda Civic

When you say Honda, the next word that likely comes to mind is Civic. After more than 30 years on the market, the Honda Civic continues to impress with its blend of high fuel economy, legendary reliability and class-leading resale values.

A total redesign in 2006 helped name the Civic Kelley Blue Books Best Redesigned Vehicle of 2006 as well as address one of the Civics weaker attributes, its bland styling. With a sleek, angular new body and a high-tech interior, the Civic Sedan visually distinguishes itself from the competition. A combination of value and good looks, the Honda Civic Sedan continues to be the standard by which compact cars are measured.

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2009 Honda Fit

If you’re thinking a full-on Fit redesign seems a little premature, you’re half right. Although the current Honda Fit only just went on sale in the U.S. in 2006, it’s been selling in Japan since 2001. In addition to all-new sheetmetal, the next Fit sports a two-inch longer wheelbase that helps increase interior space. Larger 15-inch wheels are standard, and Honda says the revised 1.5-liter engine is more powerful than the last. Interior upgrades include an available navigation system, USB audio port and a more easily configurable rear seat. The new Fit should continue to start around $15,000 when it arrives Fall 2008.

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2009 MINI Cooper

At the halfway point in our scheduled year with the MINI, we’ve clocked nearly 6,500 miles on the sporty red hatchback, including three roundtrips from Southern California to Las Vegas. Our MINI has yet to get up close and personal with a service bay of any sort, and other than a mysterious dash light that appeared suddenly at 4,500 miles and vanished almost as quickly, we’ve had nothing to trouble our minds. In fact, the only wear and tear to mention is a loose battery cover on the key fob. As long as we can continue to unlock and start it, we’re looking forward to another six months of happy MINI motoring.

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2009 Scion xB

When Scion set out to redesign the nearly three-year-old xB, it asked current owners and fans of the brand what they would like to see on the next generation. Their feedback revealed that people wanted the box-like styling to stay, but also wanted the car to be larger, with a more powerful engine and more standard features, such as cruise control. The result is a vehicle that should appeal to both Scion enthusiasts and other potential buyers, all at a reasonable price. Scion’s straight-forward “mono spec” basic equipment level continues, encouraging customization and making the car-buying process more personal.

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2009 Scion xD

You may not know it but this is a golden era for entry-level car buyers. Think about it — at one time a small budget meant buying a small car with limited equipment and even more limited style. Things are different now. Not only do inexpensive cars come decently equipped but some are even considered cool.

The Scion brand has done a masterful job of building their vehicles as blank palettes, designed to satisfy the custom-car dreams of twenty-something year-old hipsters. Look beyond the marketing hype however, and the Scion xD emerges as a logical choice for anyone who needs a sensible car at a fair price.

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2009 Scion tC

The Scion tC means to make mincemeat of the Honda Civic that is so popular with Gen Y drivers by offering a single, very well equipped model at a nearly unbeatable low price and a menu of options that will allow owners to build cars unique to their tastes. This is perhaps the best small Japanese coupe we have ever driven, at a price that is ridiculously low.

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2009 Toyota Corolla

High gas prices are here to stay, and more and more Americans are turning to subcompact cars to save on fuel costs. Few cars are as poised to take advantage of this market change as the Toyota Corolla. The Corolla is a perennial top-ten seller in the U.S. and the second-best selling subcompact behind only the Honda Civic.

The Corolla arrived in the United States in the late 1960s. Toyotas subcompact has grown over time, both in size and in features, with each generation better than the last. Now in its 10th generation, the Corolla maintains its core values of long-term reliability, great fuel economy, and excellent resale value.

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2009 Toyota Prius

Whether youre concerned about the environment or just want to save a couple bucks at the gas pump, the Toyota Prius is the hybrid du jour. The Prius avant-garde design will remind you daily that it is different from other cars, and its class-leading fuel economy will keep you on the road for hundreds of miles between fill-ups.

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2009 Toyota Yaris

Recently, erratic gas prices have increased demand for small, fuel-efficient vehicles. Toyota is meeting this demand with the Yaris, replacing the Echo as its smallest and most economical offering.

The all-new Yaris is longer and wider than its predecessor, with a more sophisticated Euro look. The Yaris comes in two very distinct styles, the Liftback and Sedan. The shorter Liftback has combines avant garde styling with a practical rear hatch and versatile seating arrangement. The longer Sedan offers a more conventional design with plenty of interior space. It is also offered in a sportier S configuration.

Both Yaris models deliver Toyotas reputation for quality in a small, fuel-efficient package.

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2009 Volkswagen Rabbit

After a two-decade absence, the Rabbit has returned to Volkswagens lineup. As both a replacement for the popular Golf and spiritual successor to the popular Rabbit of the 80s, the new Rabbit carries on VWs tradition of selling fun, practical hatchbacks.

More than just a Golf with a bunny badge on the back, Volkswagens newly resurrected Rabbit offers an array of upscale safety and convenience features, sporty road manners, a high-quality interior and attractive styling. In spite of its high level of content, the Rabbit manages an impressively low sticker price.