Toyota, Acura top brands in Edmunds retained value awards

(June 19, 2015) SANTA MONICA, Calif. —Toyota and Acura took home the top prizes in the fifth annual Edmunds.com Best Retained Value Awards, which recognize the brands and 2015 models that have the highest projected residual values after five years based on their average "cash" True Market Value (TMV) price during their first five months in the market, or for vehicles introduced in November or December of 2014, through March 2015.

Toyota won in the non-luxury division with a projected 52.4 percent residual value after five years, and Acura won the luxury crown with a projected five-year residual value of 46.9 percent.

In addition to these brand-level awards, Edmunds.com issued model-level awards in 24 separate segments. Toyota had four winners, the most of any brand.

"Smart car shoppers who are likely to sell their car within five years should always stop and consider projected residual values before making a new car purchase," said Edmunds.com Consumer Advice Editor Carroll Lachnit. "Whether you are leasing or buying, the retained value of a car can make a big difference in your wallet."

Each brand with both more than 100,000 unit sales in 2014, and models offered within at least four vehicle-type categories, was eligible for this year's brand-level Best Retained Value Awards. Each model year 2015 vehicle that both was launched by the end of 2014, and had unit sales in February 2015 that were at least 25 percent of the average unit sales for the models in its segment was eligible for this year's model-level Best Retained Value Awards.

Edmunds determined each model's category for the 2015 awards based on its body type segment; for certain categories, the size of the model within its body type segment; and for certain categories, the model's price and/or its competitive segment.