IRVINE, CA – Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com) has announced the 2007-model year vehicles expected to retain the greatest proportion of their original retail prices after five years of ownership.

Kelley Blue Book's residual values are a reflection of current vehicle data, market conditions for each vehicle, competition in each segment, expectations of the future economy, and the combined experience of Kelley Blue Book's team of market and pricing analysts.

The following 2007 model-year vehicles are expected to retain the greatest percentage of their original price over a five-year ownership period.

2007 BEST RESALE VALUE BRAND: Honda and Acura (tie)

2007 BEST RESALE VALUE BY VEHICLE CATEGORY

SEDAN: Acura TSX

LUXURY: BMW 5 Series

COUPE: Honda Civic

PICKUP: Toyota Tacoma

CONVERTIBLE: MINI Cooper

SPORT UTILITY: Acura MDX

WAGON: Volkswagen Passat

VAN/MINIVAN: Honda Odyssey

HATCHBACK: MINI Cooper

HYBRID: Toyota Prius

2007 BEST RESALE VALUE: TOP 10 MODELS (in alphabetical order)

• Acura TSX
  

  
  

• BMW 5 Series
  

  
  

• Honda Civic
  

  
  

• Lexus IS
  

  
  

• MINI Cooper
  

  
  

• Pontiac Solstice
  

  
  

• Scion tC
  

  
  

• Toyota Prius
  

  
  

• Volkswagen GTI
  

  
  

• Volkswagen Eos

  
  

  All values are based on the November/December 2006 Kelley Blue Book Residual Value Guide.

  
  

  Among vehicle brands, Honda and Acura tied for 2007 Best Brand Award for resale value. The average resale value for the vehicles across each of these makes hits an industry high just shy of 56 percent of their original prices after five years of ownership.

  
  

  Following Honda and Acura in resale value by make are, in order, Volkswagen, BMW, and Land Rover. Throughout the last half-decade, Volkswagen has continued to make its way up in the rankings with the majority of its vehicles holding a make average of 55 percent.

  
  

  One reason for Volkswagen’s success in resale value is its desirability among young and enthusiast drivers. Like BMW and Land Rover vehicles, Volkswagens are immediately identifiable by "family resemblance," another factor that enhances resale value. Volkswagen's jump up in the rankings this year can be attributed to its lineup of fuel-efficient compact vehicles, including its diesel models offered for the 2007-model year.

  
  

  When it comes to determining the vehicles, brands, and segments that will best retain their value over a consumer's ownership period, much is related to production levels, consumer perception of the brand, and fun-to-drive characteristics. Since Kelley Blue Book began its Best Resale Value Awards, only two domestic vehicles have received the honor – the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette and, this year, the all-new 2007 Pontiac Solstice.

  
  

  Domestic brands are faring better than they have in the past. Three General Motors brands are tops among domestics for 2007: Saturn, Cadillac, and Pontiac.

  
  

  Kelley Blue Book's Best Resale Value Awards exclude expensive, high-performance, low-volume vehicles, because of the program's emphasis on serving the typical consumer. Had these limitations not been placed on the list, the following vehicles would have received awards: Mercedes-Benz military-styled G-Class SUV, BMW's 6 Series and its high-performance counterpart M6, and the Supercharged Land RoverRange Rover V-8. The No. 1 vehicle would have been the 2007 Corvette ZO6, holding the greatest percentage of its original value after a five-year ownership period. Other high-performance vehicles expected to retain a substantial amount of their original value include the Subaru Impreza WRX STi and the Audi S4 Quattro.

  
  

  Many vehicles with the lowest residual values populate the fleet market and have long lifecycles and high production levels. A number of this year's vehicles with the lowest retained value include a host of minivans.