Archive for the ‘Awards’ Category

Best Cars in Category

Best Mid-Size Pickup: Toyota Tacoma

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.

Best Mid-size Utility Vehicle: Toyota Highlander

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.

Best Van: Toyota Sienna

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.

Best/ALT. Fuel Car: Toyota Prius

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.

Best Luxury Utility Vehicle: Lexus RX350

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.

Best Near-Luxury Car: Lexus IS

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.

Overall Top Autos

Toyota RAV4

With available seating for seven and a powerful V6 engine, the Toyota RAV4 can be equipped like a mini-mid-size crossover, while offering even more car-like ride and handling plus better fuel economy. Add Toyota’s reputation for quality into the mix, and it’s easy to see why the RAV4 remains one of the most popular compact crossovers out there and a resale value champion.

Toyota Prius

Not only is the Prius the country’s most fuel-efficient mass-produced vehicle and its best-selling hybrid, it’s also a roomy five-seater that offers a multitude of features to appeal to both the across-town commuter and the on-the-go modern family. It’s no surprise then that the Prius continues to shine year after year when it comes to residuals.

Toyota Tacoma

As compact pickups have grown into mid-size pickups, the Toyota Tacoma has remained a resale champion. You can find greater towing and payload capacity elsewhere in the category, but the Tacoma is the only entry with the added value of a Toyota badge.

Best Brand: Toyota

This may be the first time Toyota has won our Best Resale Value Award for best brand, but you can be sure they’ve been a contender every year. Quality, dependability and reliability are key reasons the Toyota Camry is the best-selling car in the country – and why the Toyota Corolla is the best-selling car in the history of the world – and a proven formula for strong resale values. As the country reprioritizes financially, it’s not surprising to see continued success for a brand that’s built a strong reputation as a smart buy. For those careful with their hard-earned dollars, Toyota makes some of the most appealing vehicles – new and used – on the road.

Best Luxury Brand: Lexus

That Lexus would take home Kelley Blue Book’s first Best Resale Value Award for top luxury brand should come as a shock to no one. In the 20 years since Lexus sold its first car, Toyota’s luxury division has built a reputation for quality that’s positively unmatched in the industry. And it’s not just the cars; Lexus owners frequently cite the dealership experience as a key component to their satisfaction and one of the reasons their next car will sport the same circle-L badge. Recently, Lexus has begun to build upon its foundation of quality by infusing its lineup with more style and performance. Lexus also offers more hybrid models than any other automaker.

Motor Trend - Many factors go into a person’s decision to buy a specific car and one of the most common is resale value, as a recent study reiterated. With that in mind, Kelly Blue Book has released the winners of its Best Resale Value Awards, with Toyota sweeping this year’s top brand honors.

For 2010, Toyota Motor Company has taken home both top awards with its Toyota brand getting the nod for best resale value and its Lexus luxury brand taking home the trophy for best resale value for a luxury brand. In addition to those two awards, Toyota and Lexus models dominated the awards by category, taking home six of the eighteen awards. Honda came up second with three nods and Ford was third with two. Three Toyota brand vehicles also made KBB’s top ten list for best resale value by model. Chevrolet and Mini tied for second with two picks each.

KBB takes into account vehicle data, sale, market trends, competition and future predictions in determining resale values on new vehicles. Resale value is an especially important factor in car buying for people who don’t plan on keeping their vehicle more than a few years as they’ll want to get as much money back as possible when they sell it. Low-volume vehicles and those with an MSRP over $60,000 are excluded from the awards, though an exception is made for luxury and high-performance vehicles.

“Especially in today’s difficult economy, when every penny counts for the typical American shopper, consumers should take a good look at the projected resale value of a car when choosing their next new-vehicle purchase,” said James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. “Taking the time to research and choose vehicle makes, models and options wisely now can help new-car shoppers keep additional money in their pocket down the road when they go to sell or trade-in the vehicle.”

Best Resale Value – Brand: Toyota
Best Resale Value – Luxury Brand: Lexus

Best Resale Value by Category:

Compact Car: Mini Cooper Clubman
Mid-Size Car: Honda Accord
Full-Size Car: Ford Taurus
Near-Luxury Car: Lexus IS
Luxury Car: Audi A5
Sports Car: Nissan 370Z
High-Performance Car: Chevrolet Camaro SS
Hybrid/Alternative Fuel Car: Toyota Prius
Mid-Size Pickup: Toyota Tacoma
Full-Size Pickup: Ford F-Series Super Duty
Compact Utility Vehicle: Honda CR-V
Mid-Size Utility Vehicle: Toyota Highlander
Full-Size Utility Vehicle: Honda Pilot
Luxury Utility Vehicle: Lexus RX350
Hybrid/Alternative Fuel Utility Vehicle: BMW X5 Diesel
Van: Toyota Sienna

Best Resale by Model (not ranked, listed alphabetically)

Audi A5
BMW M3
Chevrolet Camaro SS
Chevrolet Corvette
Honda CR-V
Mini Cooper
Mini Cooper Clubman
Toyota Prius
Toyota Rav4
Toyota Tacoma