ANAHEIM, Calif. - Kelley Blue
Book's kbb.com, the trusted resource for new- and used-vehicle
information, today announced the 2006 model year winners of its annual
Best Resale Value Awards at the California International Auto Show at the
Anaheim Convention Center. These awards, presented as a new model year
begins, recognize automakers' outstanding achievements in designing,
engineering and producing vehicles that best retain their value. Since
depreciation (or loss of value) is typically consumers' biggest expense
during the first five years of car ownership, these awards, like all of
kbb.com's information services, are designed to help consumers make better
car-buying decisions.
Based on
well-informed projections by Kelley Blue Book's expert staff of market
analysts that are encapsulated in the Kelley Blue Book Residual Value
Guide, the awards honor vehicles that are expected to have the best resale
value after five years of ownership. The awards are presented to the
vehicle with the highest projected resale value in each of Kelley Blue
Book's nine vehicle categories. In addition, awards are presented to the
Overall Top 10 leaders in projected resale value regardless of segment,
and Kelley Blue Book also honors the brand with the best projected resale
value across its line of vehicles. Low-volume vehicles and vehicles with a
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of more than $60,000 are excluded
from awards consideration.
"Today marks another
milestone in Kelley Blue Book's history as we recognize these superior
2006 model year vehicles by presenting awards at a major auto show,"
said Paul Johnson, president and CEO for Kelley Blue Book. "The
honored manufacturers deserve special recognition for producing vehicles
with exceptional and sustained value." The 2006 model year winners of
Kelley Blue Book's Best Resale Value Awards are:
2006 BEST RESALE VALUE:
BRAND
BMW and MINI (Tie)
2006 BEST RESALE VALUE:
CATEGORY
SEDAN: Honda Accord
Hybrid
LUXURY: Infiniti M45
COUPE: Infiniti G35 Coupe
PICKUP: Toyota Tacoma
PreRunner
CONVERTIBLE: Chevrolet
Corvette
SPORT UTILITY: Porsche
Cayenne
WAGON: Subaru Outback
VAN / MINIVAN: Honda
Odyssey
HATCHBACK: MINI Cooper /
Toyota Prius (Tie)
2006 BEST RESALE VALUE:
TOP 10 (in alphabetical order)
BMW 5 Series Lexus GX 470
Chevrolet Corvette MINI
Cooper
Honda Accord Hybrid
Porsche Cayenne
Infiniti G35 Coupe Toyota
Prius
Infiniti M45 Volvo XC90
(All values
based on the September/October 2005 Kelley Blue Bookâ Residual Value
Guide).
While the company's Residual
Value Guide has been published since 1981, Kelley Blue Book established
its annual Best Resale Value Awards in 2003. Kelley Blue Book's residual
values are projections based on current vehicle data, market conditions
for each vehicle, competition in segment, expectations of the future
economy and the combined experience of Kelley Blue Book's team of market
and pricing analysts. Values reflect projected future wholesale pricing
for clean, reconditioned vehicles at the end of a five-year lease period.
Kelley Blue Book's residual values are used by banks, financial
institutions, governmental agencies and the automotive leasing industry.
