Luxury has it rewards, and with Audi that means both now and in the future. Both the 2012 Audi A5 and 2012 Audi Q7 were awarded best in class honors for resale value by Kelley Blue Book.

The 2012 Audi A5 received the award for Best Luxury Car. The sleek sports car impresses with a uniquely refreshing exterior and brilliantly luxurious interior. The A5’s base 2.0 liter turbocharged engine performs well with 211-horsepower and 25 lb-ft of torque, while still providing excellent gas mileage: 21 city/31 highway MPG. The 2012 Audi A5 received a 9.1 out of 10 customer rating and an 8.5 out of 10 expert rating. The projected resale value for the 2012 A5 is 64.7% at 36 months and 41.0% at 60 months.

 

Not to be outdone by its sibling, the 2012 Audi Q7 took the honors of Best Resale Value for a Luxury SUV. The 7 passenger 2012 Q7 boasts a new base 3.0T gasoline engine, bringing a total of 280-horsepower to aesthetically pleasing SUV. Expert ratings give this vehicle 8.4 out of 10 while consumer ratings bestowed upon it 8.7 out of 10. The resale value of the 2012 Audi Q7 is 63.3% at 36 months and 44.3% at 60 months. Both 2012 Audi A5 and Q7 models are available in showrooms now.

 

A recent article by Forbes points out that while buying new has its advantages, buying used ultimately will get you the better deal – even though used car prices have jumped more than 4% in the last year.

The biggest reason you’ll get a better deal buying a used car compared to a new car is the depreciation.  A new car can lose up to 50% of its resale value within just three years of ownership.  This means that a three year old car could cost at least half the cost of an average new one. With a used car the depreciation rate is much, much slower.

When buying a used car make sure to have a trusted mechanic check the vehicle out before signing any papers. You may also want to run its VIN through a title-search service, like Auto Check to make sure the vehicle hasn’t been previously wrecked or flood-damaged.

This top 10 list (in no particular order) of used cars is currently the industry’s best used cars, based mostly on results from the latest J.D. Power and Associates U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study of three-year-old models.

- Honda Fit – performs well, gets great fuel economy and is reliable

- Scion xB – delivers athletic handling abilities, powered by a 158-hp 2.4-Liter four-cylinder engine

- Ford Fusion – agreeable performance, comfort, and utility

- Ford Edge – five-passenger crossover offers a quiet and comfortable interior, V6 engine

- Honda CR-V – great fuel economy for its class, 2.4-Liter engine with 166-hp, and impressive safety features

- Lexus RX350 – best-seller in Lexus’ lineup and most popular luxury SUV in the industry

- Toyota Sienna – 3.5-Liter, 266-hp engine, offers all-wheel drive, and available seven- or eight-passenger seating

- Mazda MX-5 Miata – peppy, nimble, best sports car value among new or used vehicles

- Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class – performs well, comfortable interior, contemporary look

- Chevrolet Tahoe – top pick for a large and powerful vehicle for hauling and towing

With the exception of the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class these vehicles are all available brand new, but for each of them there have been no major changes since the 2008 model from three years ago.

Subaru wants owners to feel confident in their new car purchase and in their ability to trade-in their used Subaru when the time is right. That’s why the automaker has introduced the “Subaru Guaranteed Trade-In Program” (GTP) that guarantees the minimum trade-in amount owners will receive for their qualified Subaru vehicle when they buy a new Subaru.

2004 Subaru models and newer will have an assigned GTP value that is updated monthly. That trade-in value is what owners can expect to receive from a participating Subaru dealership for a trade-in vehicle, as long as it has standard equipment and is in good condition.

For full program details and to find your Subaru vehicle’s GTP Value, visit the Subaru website.