2011 best new car resale values

Scion xB
Sticker price: $16,720 (manual)
Invoice price: $15,920
Fair purchase price: $16,971
Five-year service cost: $3,420
One-year insurance cost: $1,014
Resale value after 3 years: 57 percent; 5 years: 37 percent
MPG: 22 city, 28 highway

Scion xB keeps its rep as an edgy, hip vehicle that also offers scads of utility — and, as a bonus, a three-year resale value of 57 percent (head and shoulders above the rest of the category). Also in the xB toolbox: decent fuel economy, a capacious 22 cubic feet of cargo space and low insurance costs.

MINI Cooper Clubman
Sticker price: $21,800 (manual)
Invoice price: $19,690
Fair purchase price: $21,800
Five-year service cost: $5,446
One-year insurance cost: $1,129
Resale value after 3 years: 64 percent; 5 years: 42 percent
MPG: 27 city, 35 highway

MINIs are noted for high resale values, and Clubman adds versatility by adding eight inches of length to the Cooper. That translates into more rear legroom and 50 percent more cargo space but doesn't compromise the MINI's greatest strength: maneuverability.

Subaru Impreza WRX
Sticker price: $26,220 (base)
Invoice price: $24,804
Fair purchase price: $25,696
Five-year service cost: $4,862
One-year insurance cost: $1,507
Resale value after 3 years: 55 percent; 5 years: 36 percent
MPG: 19 city, 25 highway

The turbocharged version of the Impreza boosts the three-year resale value from the base model's 51 percent to 55 percent — and bumps up horsepower by 95, to 265 horses. That's a feat few in this category can achieve with only four cylinders. The drag-race-worthy WRX STI trim tops 300 horsepower and matches the WRX's resale values.

Audi A5 2.0T Quattro
Sticker price: $37,375 (Premium)
Invoice price: $34,821
Fair purchase price: $37,001
Five-year service cost: $5,967
One-year insurance cost: $1,753
Resale value after 3 years: 67 percent; 5 years: 42 percent
MPG: 21 city, 31 highway

The A5 offers the fuel-thrifty, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine of the A4 in a sleeker coupe or drop-top body. The A5's three-year resale value bests other models in this category by at least nine percentage points. It also ties the Lexus GX 460 SUV for the highest three-year resale of all our winners.

Audi S5 Quattro
Sticker price: $55,175 (Premium Plus)
Invoice price: $51,374
Fair purchase price: $54,072
Five-year service cost: $7,383
One-year insurance cost: $2,140
Resale value after 3 years: 56 percent; 5 years: 34 percent
MPG: 16 city, 24 highway

A5's sportier (and pricier) sibling, the S5, also takes top resale plaudits in the luxury segment. It's powered by a 4.2-liter V8 and puts out 354 horses. Although it's a coupe, the 16-cubic-foot trunk can handle luggage for the weekend or golf bags (or both).

BMW M3
Sticker price: $57,575 (sedan)
Invoice price: $53,145
Fair purchase price: $57,575
Five-year service cost: $6,670
One-year insurance cost: $1,932
Resale value after 3 years: 64 percent; 5 years: 41 percent
MPG: 14 city, 20 highway

BMW's venerable 3-Series on steroids is in such high demand that it beats its closest competition on resale value by a significant margin. After three years, it's worth a whopping 64 percent of the original sticker price.

Honda CR-V
Sticker price: $23,725 (LX)
Invoice price: $22,134
Fair purchase price: $23,250
Five-year service cost: $3,165
One-year insurance cost: $935
Resale value after 3 years: 62 percent; 5 years: 43 percent
MPG: 21 city , 28 highway

On the resale front, Honda's small crossover benefits from the brand's reputation for quality and reliability. Named a 2011 Worth a Look, the CR-V boasts the lowest insurance costs in the category, ample legroom and cargo space, and good power (for a four-cylinder, which means it won't break the bank on fuel). It was also a top-ten best-seller for 2010.

BMW X5 xDrive35d
Sticker price: $52,175
Invoice price: $48,070
Fair purchase price: $50,923
Five-year service cost: $4,729
One-year insurance cost: $1,446
Resale value after 3 years: 64 percent; 5 years: 46 percent
MPG: 19 city, highway 26

The diesel X5 wins Best Resale honors again this year with stellar three-year numbers and the highest five-year resale value of all our winners. It beats the three-year resale value of the gas-engine 35i by three percentage points, while improving city and highway mileage by nearly 20 percent. The torque-heavy turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel engine takes the 35d from zero to 60 in seven seconds.

Lexus GX 460
Sticker price: $53,220 (base)
Invoice price: $47,460
Fair purchase price: $53,220
Five-year service cost: $4,223
One-year insurance cost: $2,134
Resale value after 3 years: 67 percent; 5 years: 45 percent
MPG: 15 city, 20 highway

Lexus's GX 460 carries seven passengers in comfort and style and also carries the Lexus reputation for reliability — which helps it tie the Audi A5 for highest three-year resale value of all our winners. The reclining second row slides four inches fore or aft to boost legroom or cargo space and has a 60/40 split for walk-in access to the third row.

Honda Odyssey
Sticker price: $28,580 (LX)
Invoice price: $25,976
Fair purchase price: $28,580
Five-year service cost: $3,995
One-year insurance cost: $960
Resale value after 3 years: 54 percent; 5 years: 34 percent
MPG: 18 city, 27 highway

Honda reliability helps boost the redesigned Odyssey's long-term value. The LX sweeps the minivan awards this year, taking Best in Class and Best New and Most Fuel-Efficient minivan. It claims a resale value of 54 percent after three years and über-low insurance costs.

Subaru Outback
Sticker price: $29,220 (2.5i Limited)
Invoice price: $27,455
Fair purchase price: $29,220
Five-year service cost: $4,752
One-year insurance cost: $1,076
Resale value after 3 years: 60 percent; 5 years: 38 percent
MPG: 22 city, 29 highway

Also the Best in Class winner, Subaru's Outback takes top resale value honors in the wagon category. The rugged, almost-big-enough-to-be-a-crossover wagon has scads of storage room, plenty of room for five, top scores for safety and Subaru's standard all-wheel drive.

Content provided by Kiplinger's Personal Finance