Best Resale Value: $25,000-$30,000

2010 Toyota Prius IV
Sticker price: $26,950
Dealer cost: $25,140
New Car Blue Book Value: $26,950
Five-year service cost: $3,142
One-year insurance cost: $1,139
Resale value after three years: 61% -- five years: 44%
City: 51 mpg -- Highway: 48 mpg

Move up the trim levels of the third-generation Prius (which takes top honors in the $20,000 to $25,000 category as Best New Car) to the Prius IV and you get a premium audio system, Bluetooth phone connection and heated leather seats. Resale value after three years is 61%.

Best Resale Value: $30,000-$45,000

2010 Audi A5 2.0T Quattro AWD Premium
Sticker price: $36,825 (manual)
Dealer cost: $34,305
New Car Blue Book Value: $36,825
Five-year service cost: $5,415
One-year insurance cost: $1,638
Resale value after three years: 63% -- five years: 43%
City: 22 mpg -- Highway: 30 mpg

This full-size coupe shares the fuel-thrifty, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine of the A4 and bests all the entry-luxury competitors on resale value by a couple of percentage points. Resale value is a stellar 63% after three years and 43% after five. A convertible version was added to the A5 lineup for 2010.

Best Resale Value: Over $45,000

2010 Lexus LS 460
Sticker price: $65,555
Dealer cost: $58,438
New Car Blue Book Value: $65,555
Five-year service cost: $5,156
One-year insurance cost: $2,102
Resale value after three years: 59% -- five years: 39%
City: 16 mpg -- Highway: 24 mpg

A perennial favorite, the LS 460 is also Best in Class. High resale values are part of what gets it there; no other car in this class even comes close to the LS 460’s resale value of 59% after three years

Best Resale Value: Large and Midsize Crossovers

Tie: 2010 BMW X5 35d AWD
Sticker price: $52,025
Dealer cost: $47,930
New Car Blue Book Value: $52,025
Five-year service cost: $4,099
One-year insurance cost: $2,050
Resale value after three years: 64% -- five years: 42%
City: 19 mpg -- Highway: 26 mpg

The ultimate suburban status symbol got a clean diesel engine last year, making it all the more desirable. The X5 is on our top-ten list of fast-selling vehicles, and resale value on the diesel version is 64% after three years. It ties with BMW’s X6 35i.

Best Resale Value: Large and Midsize Crossovers

Tie: 2010 BMW X6 35i AWD
Sticker price: $57,125
Dealer cost: $52,620
New Car Blue Book Value: $57,125
Five-year service cost: $3,605
One-year insurance cost: $2,069
Resale value after three years: 64% -- five years: 42%
City: 15 mpg -- Highway: 21 mpg

A new intro for BMW last year, the X6 is part SUV, part wagon, and all fun to drive. This unique four-seater ties sibling X5 35d for Best Resale, posting values of 64% after three years and 42% after five.

Best Resale Value: Wagons

2010 Toyota Matrix S
Sticker price: $20,400 (manual)
Dealer cost: $18,729
New Car Blue Book Value: $20,400
Five-year service cost: $3,098
One-year insurance cost: $1,127
Resale value after three years: 62% -- five years: 44%
City: 21 mpg -- Highway: 29 mpg

Redesigned last year, Toyota’s wagon boasts an impressive mix of economy, utility and safety. Low annual fuel costs and an ergonomic instrument panel accompany a resale value of 62% after three years.

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