Electric Car — 2012 Chevrolet Volt
Resale value, 36 months: 42 percent | 60 months: 27 percent
A new category this year with only two entries, the electric-car class is sure to grow in coming years. "We felt that it wasn't fair to lump electric vehicles into an alternative-energy segment because of the tax credit, so we created a new segment just for electric vehicles," Ibara says. That electric-vehicle tax credit of $7,500 hurts the resale values of the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan LEAF. Although the Volt is much more expensive, it holds its value better than the Leaf.
Our take: With its gas engine and electric propulsion, the Chevrolet Volt is an elegant solution to the issue of electric-car range anxiety. If you run out of charge after 35 miles, the gas engine can power the battery to extend the range an additional 300 miles. We'd like to see the Volt succeed, but we doubt that it will until the nearly $40,000 base price comes down to a point at which more Americans can afford it.
Watch Video: 2012 Chevrolet Volt
Compact SUV — 2012 Jeep Wrangler
Resale value, 36 months: 68 percent | 60 months: 55 percent
The 2012 vehicle with the highest overall resale value is the Jeep Wrangler. It is up 9.8 percentage points over last year, which is surprising because the Wrangler wasn't redesigned this year. Ibara cites several reasons for the strong value: the new 3.6-liter V6 engine, a solid performance during the year at auction, low production numbers that keep demand up, and the fact that this old-school off-roader has no direct competition. The Wrangler beat two rivals with resale values that placed in this year's top 10, the Hyundai Tucson and the Honda CR-V.
Our take: Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised by the Wrangler's strong showing. After all, few vehicles, if any, have as rabid an enthusiast base. Driving a Wrangler is a unique, visceral experience. It's a convertible when you want it, a trusted foul-weather friend and a ready-made hobbyist vehicle for off-roading.
View Slideshow: Best AWDs for Winter Sports
Midsize SUV — 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser
2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser
Resale value, 36 months: 67 percent | 60 months: 50 percent
The FJ Cruiser boasts two of the strengths that make the Jeep Wrangler such a strong resale value: It isn't overproduced and it has little direct competition. Toyota builds the vehicle to consumer demand, not to satisfy manufacturing quotas. As a result, Toyota has to offer few incentives to sell it, and that makes for a strong resale value.
Our take: We can with good conscience recommend every vehicle on this list except for the FJ Cruiser. Sure, the retro styling is cool, but what American really remembers the 1960s FJ40 Land Cruisers it recalls? It's also a capable off-roader, but few drivers actually go off-road. As an everyday driver, it has horrible visibility, poor fuel economy and a trucklike ride.
View Slideshow: Special Edition Cars
Full-Size SUV — 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
Resale value, 36 months: 56 percent | 60 months: 41 percent
The Traverse is based on General Motors' Lambda platform, which it shares with the GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave SUVs. The Acadia was last year's winner, but the Traverse surpassed it this year after strong auction sales compelled Kelley Blue Book to raise its five-year resale value by 6.3 percentage points. The Acadia finished second, followed by the new Ford Explorer.
Our take: We like the Chevy Traverse. It's an excellent family hauler, with pleasant road manners and more interior space than any crossover in the class. The Ford Explorer and Dodge Durango are two new competitors that have followed the Traverse's lead by switching to a crossover platform while adding interior refinement.
Read: 5 Family Haulers With Personality
Luxury SUV — 2012 Audi Q7
Resale value, 36 months: 63.3 percent | 60 months: 44.3 percent
While Kelley Blue Book forecasts values, several vehicles this year have benefited from strong auction values this past year. One of those is the Audi Q7, which increased by 8.8 percentage points, one of the highest bumps. The Q7 beat out the Infiniti FX by only 0.3 point and the always-strong Lexus RX by 1.3 points. The luxury SUV class is among the best-performing market segments.
Our take: The Audi Q7 offers a posh interior with lots of space, plenty of the latest technology, good looks and refined road manners. A new, supercharged gasoline V6 engine for 2012 improves fuel economy and performance. It joins an excellent diesel engine that is more efficient but not quite as powerful.
Hybrid SUV — 2012 Lexus RX 450h
Resale value, 36 months: 64 percent | 60 months: 43 percent
As it did with cars, Kelley Blue Book changed this category from hybrid/alternative-energy utility vehicle to hybrid SUV. As a result, last year's winner, the diesel-powered BMW X5 xDrive35d, now competes in the luxury SUV class. With a five-year resale value of 41 percent, the BMW still would have lost to the very strong Lexus by 2 percentage points. Kelley Blue Book was not surprised the Lexus RX 450h won, as it has always been a strong contender and Lexus is the best-performing luxury brand.
Our take: The RX 450h pairs Lexus' strong 3.5-liter V6 engine with the efficient Lexus Hybrid Drive system to yield a combined 30 mpg overall with front-wheel drive (29 mpg with all-wheel drive) and an impressive 295 horsepower. The handling is a bit mushy, but the ride is glass-smooth and the interior is refined. The $45,235 starting price takes it out of the reach of most buyers, but there is a price to pay for luxury, power and efficiency.
Midsize Pickup — 2012 Toyota Tacoma
2012 Toyota Tacoma
Resale value, 36 months: 64 percent | 60 months: 49 percent
The Tacoma dominated its aging competition, even though it is aging itself. Despite the maturity of the trucks, this class holds the highest resale value in the industry at 45.7 percent after five years. "Even though the demand for full-size trucks is off because of the weak housing market, the demand for midsize pickups is probably not impacted as much," Ibara says. The Tacoma has won this class since 2009. Second place went to the Nissan Frontier, our second-favorite truck in this class.
Our take: The Tacoma is our pick among midsize pickups. It has one of the better engines in the class, and the ride and handling are best in class. With its smaller footprint, the Tacoma is much easier to live with every day than today's full-size trucks. If you need real towing and hauling capability, though, a full-size truck is your best bet.
Read: 10 Great Cars for Less Than $20,000
Full-Size Pickup — 2012 Ford F-Series Super Duty
Resale value, 36 months: 55.1 percent | 60 months: 38.7 percent
Among full-size pickups, the heavy duty three-quarter-ton and 1-ton trucks tend to hold their value better than the more common half-ton trucks. However, the Ford F-Series Super Duty just edged out the smaller Toyota Tundra. In fact, the two tied for five-year resale value, but the Ford's higher three-year value gave it the win. KBB's Ibara says the Power Stroke 6.7-liter turbodiesel engine added for 2011, which cranks out a whopping 800 lb-ft of torque, helped increase the Ford's values.
Our take: The Ford F-Series Super Duty offers the most power in the class, very competitive capability and far more advanced technology features than the competition. The Ford Productivity Screen provides a lot of useful information to those who tow or go off-road, and Ford Work Solutions is a great tool for fleets and businesses.
View Slideshow: Worthy Workhorses
Van — 2012 Honda Odyssey
Resale value at 36 months: 57.6 percent | 60 months: 38.2 percent
The Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna traditionally vie for leadership in the van class. Last year, it was the Sienna's turn. This year it's the Odyssey, which won by just 0.2 point. While the Mazda5 came in third with a three-year resale value of 35.3 percent, many of the other competitors posted much lower numbers, making vans the second-worst class at holding its resale value.
Our take: Though surprisingly large, the Honda Odyssey is one of the best-handling minivans on the market. Pricing is awfully high, though, so some buyers may be better served by the Sienna or Chrysler minivans. For those with small families, we also like the third-place finisher, the Mazda5.
Watch Video: 'Road Raves': SUV vs. Minivan Smackdown
Wagon — 2012 Subaru Outback
Resale value, 36 months: 58.3 percent | 60 months: 38.7 percent
Although the Outback's resale value fell by 2.7 percentage points from last year, it still bested the competition, with the Audi A4 Avant finishing second and BMW 3 Series wagon taking third. The wagon class is slowly growing, but Ibara says the brand and versatility keep the Outback on top: "Subarus hold their value well. The Outback is just an all-around solid vehicle."
Our take: We're glad that more entries are coming into the wagon category, because they drive like cars but have lots of space, making them efficient alternatives to SUVs and crossovers. The Subaru Outback is a pleasant and refined family hauler with a strong 6-cylinder engine and a price that makes it more affordable than the Audi, BMW and Mercedes competition.
View Slideshow: Best Winter Cars for Every US Region
Kirk Bell has served as the associate publisher for Consumer Guide Automotive and editor of Scale Auto Enthusiast magazine. A Midwest native, Bell brings 18 years of automotive journalism experience to MSN, and currently contributes to JDPower.com and Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com.
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