Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Nissan Leaf resale value expected to take a hit]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/nissan-leaf-resale-value-expected-to-take-a-hit/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/nissan-leaf-resale-value-expected-to-take-a-hit/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/nissan-leaf-resale-value-expected-to-take-a-hit/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2013 Nissan Leaf

Nissan Leaf resale values may take a tumble, according to Kelley Blue Book. The vehicle evaluation resource said the 2013 Nissan Leaf will retain around 35 percent of its MSRP after three years; that's down five percent from what KBB gave the 2012 Leaf at the end of 2011. Automotive News reports KBB adjusted the EV's residual value prediction because the used transaction prices for the 2011 model have stuck around 35 percent for the past few months due to relatively cheap gasoline, not to mention the fact that Nissan trimmed the electric's MSRP from $36,050 to $29,650 before the $7,500 tax credit.

Since used buyers are often motivated by more practical buying concerns than early adopters or those wanting to curb their carbon emissions, they may not be willing to pay more for an EV. Meanwhile, early Leaf models are now coming to auction, abandoned by rental car companies after customers shunned them in favor of traditional internal-combustion vehicles. Many of those at auction have less than 10,000 miles and carry an average transaction price of just $13,700.

Nissan Leaf resale value expected to take a hit originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jun 2013 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 nissan leafkbbkelley blue booknissannissan leafMon, 03 Jun 2013 18:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20597060/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/03/nissan-leaf-resale-value-expected-to-take-a-hit/20597060/article-detail.xml 20597060 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/2013-nissan-leaf-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/2013-nissan-leaf-628.jpg <![CDATA[KBB 2013 Brand Image Awards has some obvious and oddball winners]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/30/kbb-2013-brand-image-awards-has-some-obvious-and-oddball-winners/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/30/kbb-2013-brand-image-awards-has-some-obvious-and-oddball-winners/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/30/kbb-2013-brand-image-awards-has-some-obvious-and-oddball-winners/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

2013 Honda Civic Sedan - front three-quarter view

The sixth edition of the Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards have crowned a wide range of winners - in a couple of cases the recipient of the laurels might say more about KBB users than they do about the actual winner. Compiled from the responses of more than 12,000 shoppers on KBB.com over the past year, there are 13 categories broken into non-luxury, luxury and truck segments "representing the combined wisdom of the American car-buying public."

The award categories have been revamped this year, with some dropping off, some new ones appearing and at least one other given a new term. What isn't surprising is that Honda won Most Trusted Brand for the second year running, Best Value Brand for the third year in a row and took Best Overall Brand, which wasn't on last year's list of awards.

On our own shores, in the non-luxury categories Chrysler got Most Refined Brand and Buick took Best Value Luxury Brand. Neither one of those marques won anything in last year's Brand Image Awards, while Cadillac, which won Best Interior Design Brand and Best Comfort Brand last year - those awards disappeared this year - went home without a single accolade.

Winners that made us go "Hmmm..." are Toyota for Best Overall Truck Brand and Mini for Best Performance Brand in the non-luxury segment. Last year's truck award was for the Most Rugged Truck Brand and was won by Ford; the switch to "overall" takes things in a completely different direction for KBB users, it seems. And Mini dominating non-luxury performance is something we'd like to hold some focus groups to find out more about.

Check out the press release below for all the winners and the details.

Continue reading KBB 2013 Brand Image Awards has some obvious and oddball winners

KBB 2013 Brand Image Awards has some obvious and oddball winners originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 Mar 2013 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardsbmwbrand image awardsbuickchryslerfordhondakelley blue bookkelley blue book brand image awardsmercedesminiporschetoyotaSat, 30 Mar 2013 08:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20518508/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/30/kbb-2013-brand-image-awards-has-some-obvious-and-oddball-winners/20518508/article-detail.xml 20518508 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/kbbimageawards_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/kbbimageawards.jpg <![CDATA[And now for a different sort of Tesla Model S review...]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/24/and-now-for-a-different-sort-of-tesla-model-s-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/24/and-now-for-a-different-sort-of-tesla-model-s-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/24/and-now-for-a-different-sort-of-tesla-model-s-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

KBB Tesla Model S Video

Our friends at Kelley Blue Book have taken an unflinching look at the Tesla Model S in a new video. The crew originally planned to pack up and whip the electric sedan all the way to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, but got sidelined by a flat tire. The ensuing detour to a Tesla service center resulted in a day of hopping from charge point to charge point and a number of close calls on the range front. Confronted with cold temperatures, a desire to make time and some serious topography, the Model S pulled up short on projected range but never left the guys stranded.

The team eventually makes it to Vegas and discovers the aggravation of trying to charge the car with anything other than the company's supercharger stations. The return trip goes quite a bit better, however, and KBB starts to figure out what makes the Model S so special. We won't ruin the end for you. You can check out the full clip below.

Continue reading And now for a different sort of Tesla Model S review...

And now for a different sort of Tesla Model S review... originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Feb 2013 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 tesla model skbbkelley blue bookmodel steslavideoSun, 24 Feb 2013 18:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20473446/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/24/and-now-for-a-different-sort-of-tesla-model-s-review/20473446/article-detail.xml 20473446 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/kbb-model-s-video-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/kbb-model-s-video-628.jpg <![CDATA[Mazda and Lexus crowned with KBB 5-Year Cost To Own awards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/12/mazda-and-lexus-crowned-with-kbb-5-year-cost-to-own-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/12/mazda-and-lexus-crowned-with-kbb-5-year-cost-to-own-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/12/mazda-and-lexus-crowned-with-kbb-5-year-cost-to-own-awards/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2013 Kelley Blue Book 5-Year Cost to Own Awards logoWe report on a lot of awards, some of which are given out based on more solid criteria than others. This one, the Kelley Blue Book 5-Year Cost to Own awards, seems like one that new car shoppers should pay attention to.

The cost of a car goes far beyond what you pay for the actual metal, leather and rubber at the point of purchase. Fuel, insurance, maintenance and repair costs, and the cost of fees from the state and financing will all weigh on your wallet while you own the car. That's not even taking into account the biggest cost: depreciation, or the amount of money you lose based on what your car is worth years from now versus the day you bought it.

KBB tracks these sorts of things, and they've compiled a list of winners for 2013 models. On the brand level, Mazda and Lexus earn the 5-Year Cost to Own award for having the lowest overall projected five-year totals (though, curiously, we note that Mazda and Lexus each had only one segment winner). There are lots of winners for all the various segments, so we'll just pick out a few surprising ones to share and you can view the rest here.

Many vehicles that aren't generally considered competitive in their segments still do well from a cost-to-own perspective. The Jeep Patriot, for instance, won the Compact SUV/Crossover segment, while the Mitsubishi Outlander scores for the midsize SUV/Crossover group. For hybrids, the Honda Insight costs the least over five years, while the admittedly small segment of pure electric vehicles is lead by the Chevrolet Volt. What's the least expensive 2013 model year sports car to own? The Ford Mustang, while the Mustang GT also nabs honors in the High Performance Car segment. Like we said, you can check out the full list here, and even look any car that you're interested in owning to see how much you can expect to pay after the sale.

Continue reading Mazda and Lexus crowned with KBB 5-Year Cost To Own awards

Mazda and Lexus crowned with KBB 5-Year Cost To Own awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20135-year cost-to-own awardscost to ownkbbkelley blue booklexusmazdaownership costsTue, 12 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20456639/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/12/mazda-and-lexus-crowned-with-kbb-5-year-cost-to-own-awards/20456639/article-detail.xml 20456639 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/logo-original_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/logo-original.jpg <![CDATA[Residual prices of used electric cars lag behind their gas counterparts]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/19/residual-prices-of-used-electric-cars-lag-behind-their-gas-count/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/19/residual-prices-of-used-electric-cars-lag-behind-their-gas-count/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/19/residual-prices-of-used-electric-cars-lag-behind-their-gas-count/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2011 Nissan Leaf

The Detroit Free Press reports electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt aren't maintaining the same residual values as their internal combustion counterparts.

Kelly Blue Book says the 2012 Nissan Leaf will hold around 20 percent of its value after five years while the Nissan Sentra will retain around 30 percent of its value. KBB predicts the Volt, meanwhile, will be worth 30 percent of its MSRP after the same amount of time, which is a full eight percent less than the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. On average, a used car is expected to hold 36.6 percent of its value after five years, according to ALG.

Of course, those figures shift a bit when the $7,500 federal tax credit on EVs is taken into account. Since the cash lowers the new-car price for the Leaf and the Volt, the credit can actually make the vehicles worth less as a used car on a percentage of original value basis.

Residual prices of used electric cars lag behind their gas counterparts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevroletelectric carsev valuekelley blue bookleafnissanresidualresidual valueused electric carvoltWed, 19 Dec 2012 08:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20404942/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/19/residual-prices-of-used-electric-cars-lag-behind-their-gas-count/20404942/article-detail.xml 20404942 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/nissan-leaf-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/nissan-leaf-628.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota tops Kelley Blue Book's Resale Value Awards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/27/toyota-tops-kelley-blue-books-resale-value-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/27/toyota-tops-kelley-blue-books-resale-value-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/27/toyota-tops-kelley-blue-books-resale-value-awards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,



Kelley Blue Book announced its annual Best Resale Value Award winners, and we weren't too surprised to see the list dominated by Japanese automakers - mainly Toyota and Honda. KBB hands out the awards based on the projected residual value of mostly all 2013 model year vehicles, and Toyota skated home with a number of awards including 10 of the 22 overall categories and having five of its products in the top 10 for models with best resale value. KBB's Best Resale Value Awards were announced in the same week as the ALG Residual Value Awards, and there were many similarities between both lists, especially when it came to Toyota.

To come up with its winners, KBB measures depreciation over the first five years of ownership, and looks for the cars it expects to hold its value the best after this time; on average, the report says the 2013 model year vehicles will lose 61.8 percent of its value in five years. Of the 22 categories, 15 slots were filled by Toyota, Honda and Nissan products, while the Camaro and Porsche (Cayenne and Panamera) each took home a pair of awards. If Toyota has anything to be upset about in this list of cars, it's that categories for Hybrid/Alternative Energy Car and Electric Vehicle went to the Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Volt, respectively.

The overall top 10 models for the best resale value in 2013 are, in alphabetical order:
Scroll down to see KBB's press release that includes a breakdown of all individual category winners.

Continue reading Toyota tops Kelley Blue Book's Resale Value Awards

Toyota tops Kelley Blue Book's Resale Value Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevroletfordhondainfinitijeepkbbkbb resale value awardskelley blue booklexusporscheresale valuesciontoyotaTue, 27 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20388726/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/27/toyota-tops-kelley-blue-books-resale-value-awards/20388726/article-detail.xml 20388726 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/toyota-logo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/toyota-logo.jpg <![CDATA[September sales forecasted to increase 11 percent]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/28/september-sales-forecasted-to-increase-11-percent/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/28/september-sales-forecasted-to-increase-11-percent/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/28/september-sales-forecasted-to-increase-11-percent/#commentsFiled under: ,

Toyota dealership with balloon

Despite a spike in gasoline prices, car sales are on track to continue their stable growth, and this September could end up being the best September since 2007.

Gas prices usually put a complete damper on car sales, especially bigger trucks and SUVs. The uptick in sales this month could mean the economy is getting stronger, says industry tracker TrueCar.com, which issued the sales estimate earlier this week. But, like most economic forecast figures these days, the numbers don't paint a perfectly clear picture of what's going on.

TrueCar is forecasting a 10.5-percent increase in sales for September to 1,163,000 units, which translates to a Seasonally Adjusted Annualized Rate (SAAR) of 14.6 million new car sales for the year, up from 13.1 million last September and 14.5 million in August 2012. Nevertheless, TrueCar forecasts that September sales will still be down about 9.5 percent compared with August.

Kelley Blue Book, which also tracks industry sales, says that the dip from August to September doesn't mean the economy is getting weaker - it's just a natural fluctuation in monthly car sales. Consumer demand is slowly picking up, it said. So don't expect sales figures to skyrocket any time soon.

"Even though the lack of big movements in car sales makes for less attractive headlines, the stable growth in sales is a positive for the industry," said Jesse Toprak, Vice President of Market Intelligence for TrueCar.

September sales forecasted to increase 11 percent originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto salescar salesjesse toprakkelley blue booksaarseptember 2012truecartruecar.comFri, 28 Sep 2012 08:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20335005/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/28/september-sales-forecasted-to-increase-11-percent/20335005/article-detail.xml 20335005 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/144071503-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/144071503-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Ford honored most by 2012 KBB Brand Image Awards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/05/ford-honored-most-by-2012-kbb-brand-image-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/05/ford-honored-most-by-2012-kbb-brand-image-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/05/ford-honored-most-by-2012-kbb-brand-image-awards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ford badge

Kelley Blue Book has issued its 2012 Brand Image Awards and Ford took home four of the 12 honors.

The Blue Oval was recognized as the Most Family-Friendly Brand, Best interior Design Brand, Non-Luxury, Best Exterior Design Brand, Non-Luxury, and Most Rugged Truck Brand. Cadillac was the only other U.S. marque to win awards. It took the Best Interior Design Brand, Luxury and Best Comfort Brand.

The usually dominant Japanese brands were scarce, with Honda the only representative. Honda took the Most Trusted Brand and Best Value Brand.

The remaining four categories all went to Germany. BMW took Best Exterior Design Brand (somewhere Chris Bangle is smiling), Porsche took Coolest Brand and Best Performance Brand. Mercedes-Benz, for the fifth year in a row, was named the Most Prestigious Brand.

Ford honored most by 2012 KBB Brand Image Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brand awardsfordkbbkbb best brands awardskelley blue bookThu, 05 Apr 2012 07:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20208497/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/05/ford-honored-most-by-2012-kbb-brand-image-awards/20208497/article-detail.xml 20208497 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/ford-badge_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/ford-badge.jpg <![CDATA[KBB hands out inaugural Total Cost of Ownership awards to Kia, Audi]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/09/kbb-hands-out-inaugural-total-cost-of-ownership-awards-to-kia-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/09/kbb-hands-out-inaugural-total-cost-of-ownership-awards-to-kia-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/09/kbb-hands-out-inaugural-total-cost-of-ownership-awards-to-kia-a/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Kia has taken home the first ever Kelley Blue Book award for Total Cost of Ownership among consumer brands. As you might expect, the award goes to brands and vehicles with the lowest projected ownership costs. KBB examines depreciation, fuel costs, fees associated with finance and insurance, maintenance costs and state fees. Both the Optima sedan and Sportage CUV helped Kia cinch the win this award's inaugural year.

Kelley Blue Book also examined the cost of ownership among luxury brands, and Audi took the top nod in this category. KBB specifically pointed to the German automaker's low depreciation and good average fuel economy as reasons for the brand's win. The A3, A4 and Q5 all helped the automaker in the total cost of ownership evaluation.

The award is also broken up by individual vehicle categories, and there were some surprises among the winners. The Honda Insight took the Hybrid Car award while the Chevrolet Volt nabbed the Electric Car win. We would have expected to see the Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf take those categories, respectively. Follow the jump for the full press release that reveals individual winners in each model category.

Continue reading KBB hands out inaugural Total Cost of Ownership awards to Kia, Audi

KBB hands out inaugural Total Cost of Ownership awards to Kia, Audi originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a3a4audikbbkelley blue bookkelley blue book total cost of ownership awardkiaoptimaq5sportagetotal cost of ownership awardThu, 09 Feb 2012 11:35:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20167973/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/09/kbb-hands-out-inaugural-total-cost-of-ownership-awards-to-kia-a/20167973/article-detail.xml 20167973 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/00-2012-kia-optima-sx-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/00-2012-kia-optima-sx-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Infographic: KBB looks at 2011 in the rearview mirror]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/21/infographic-kbb-looks-at-2011-in-the-rearview-mirror/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/21/infographic-kbb-looks-at-2011-in-the-rearview-mirror/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/21/infographic-kbb-looks-at-2011-in-the-rearview-mirror/#commentsFiled under:



Boy, that 2011 was a doozy, no? Earthquakes, tsunamis and floods; Arab Spring uprisings; Occupy protests, or as the highly respected yet entirely fictional Dr. Peter Venkman once said, "Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!"

This year has indeed been one to remember for the world at large, and the auto industry was anything but immune to what was happening to the world's populace.

Kelley Blue Book has put together a nifty color-coded infographic to take us back through 2011. It quickly reminds us how much of an upswing the industry as a whole was in for before the devastating earthquakes and tsunamis hit Japan in February. After that, the entire playing field shifted, largely in favor of the already surging U.S. domestic automakers, the Korean brands and Nissan, which had the good fortune of not having nearly as much of its production interrupted as Toyota and Honda.

As 2011 closes, it would seem that the auto industry is once again approaching equilibrium, where all manufacturers are competing on just the merit of their wares, though as this past year has taught us, nature can change that in an instant.

Follow the jump to scan the entire infographic for yourself and let us know what automotive moments of the past year you'll remember most by leaving a comment.

Continue reading Infographic: KBB looks at 2011 in the rearview mirror

Infographic: KBB looks at 2011 in the rearview mirror originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011car salesearthquakeinfographickbbkelley blue bookthe year that wastsunamiWed, 21 Dec 2011 15:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20132147/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/21/infographic-kbb-looks-at-2011-in-the-rearview-mirror/20132147/article-detail.xml 20132147 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/2011-timeline-graphic-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/2011-timeline-graphic-opt.jpg <![CDATA[KBB 2012 Best Resale Value awards dominated by Toyota]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/16/kbb-2012-best-resale-value-awards-dominated-by-toyota/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/16/kbb-2012-best-resale-value-awards-dominated-by-toyota/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/16/kbb-2012-best-resale-value-awards-dominated-by-toyota/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

2012 Toyota Camry

Kelley Blue Book has announced the company's 2012 Best Resale Value Awards. The honors are handed out based on projections crafted by the KBB staff of automotive analysts for cars and trucks expected to retain the largest percentage of their original list price after five years.

For 2012, KBB has named Toyota as the best resale brand with Lexus taking the top honor in the luxury brand category. There aren't any surprises there, and the list of individual winners isn't likely to shake anyone's tree either. Toyota brands earned five category awards, while Honda alone took four categories, including sub-compact car, compact car, hybrid and van.

The Ford F-150, meanwhile, took home the full-size pickup nod and the only award for the Blue Ovals brands, while the Chevrolet Camaro V6 and SS snagged the sports car and high-performance car categories, respectively. There were a few surprises in the mix, however. The Jeep Wrangler brought home the only win in the compact SUV category and the only nod for Chrysler this year. The Audi A5 snagged the gold in the luxury car category and the Chevy Volt beat out the Nissan Leaf in the electric car category.

Kelly Blue Book says that residual value should be at the top of car buyers concerns when it comes time to bringing home a new model as depreciation represents the largest potential new-car expense. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading KBB 2012 Best Resale Value awards dominated by Toyota

KBB 2012 Best Resale Value awards dominated by Toyota originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audichevroletfordhondajeepkbbkbb resale value awardskelley blue bookresale valueresale value awardstoyotaWed, 16 Nov 2011 19:13:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20107634/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/16/kbb-2012-best-resale-value-awards-dominated-by-toyota/20107634/article-detail.xml 20107634 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/toyota-camry-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/toyota-camry-628.jpg <![CDATA[Top 10 Back-to-School Cars list by KBB has some curious picks]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/10/top-10-back-to-school-cars-list-by-kbb-has-some-curious-picks/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/10/top-10-back-to-school-cars-list-by-kbb-has-some-curious-picks/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/10/top-10-back-to-school-cars-list-by-kbb-has-some-curious-picks/#commentsFiled under:

hyundai accent

Having a car in high school can immediately vault you several rungs on the cool-kid class meter. However, choose the wrong car and you can actually lose points, sending your popularity down faster than the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Kelley Blue Book has put together a list of vehicles that it believes will appeal to the kids out there with driver's licenses, and we're not entirely sold on all of the choices.

Here is a quick breakdown of KBB's choices for both new and used vehicles:

New:
5. 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
4. 2011 Fiat 500
3. 2012 Ford Focus
2. 2011 Honda Fit
1. 2012 Hyundai Accent

Used:
5. 2007 Nissan Sentra
4. 2007 Ford F-150
3. 2007 Kia Sedona
2. 2008 Chevrolet HHR
1. 2007 Suzuki SX4

The new choices all make sense, since the vehicles are affordable, efficient and attractive enough not to make our inner teens cringe in shame. Something tells us the little Fiat might really score much higher on the desirability list.

The used car choices, however, have at least one eyebrow raiser in their midst. While we've grown to fully appreciate the utility of a minivan, there isn't a teenager in the entire country that wants to be seen driving one. Sure, they'd be able to pack all their friends inside, but teens aren't known for making sensible decisions.

We're also a bit curious about the F-150. Yes, it's best-selling vehicle in America and arguably the leader of its class, but it's hardly fuel efficient. Not quite an obvious choice in our minds.

Still, it's hard to say no to any car at that age, which explains why our first cars are far from our dream rides. We're curious: What was your first car? Feel free to sound off in the comments.

Top 10 Back-to-School Cars list by KBB has some curious picks originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>back to schoolback to school carsbest first carcars for teenagerscars for teensfirst carskbbkelley blue bookWed, 10 Aug 2011 09:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20013222/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/10/top-10-back-to-school-cars-list-by-kbb-has-some-curious-picks/20013222/article-detail.xml 20013222 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/2012-hyundai-accent-5-door-fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/2012-hyundai-accent-5-door-fd.jpg <![CDATA[Hyundai bumps Toyota, Honda from top of owner loyalty charts]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/19/hyundai-bumps-toyota-honda-from-top-of-owner-loyalty-charts/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/19/hyundai-bumps-toyota-honda-from-top-of-owner-loyalty-charts/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/19/hyundai-bumps-toyota-honda-from-top-of-owner-loyalty-charts/#commentsFiled under: ,

Hyundai Emblem

Hyundai is continuing its climb to the top. Kelley Blue Book has declared that the Korean manufacturer has beat out Honda, Toyota, Ford and Subaru in customer loyalty. According to data gathered from online sales at its KBB.com website, a total of 52.3 percent of Hyundai owners researched another Hyundai vehicle as they shopped during the first quarter of this year. Honda, meanwhile, saw 49.7 percent of its owners do the same, and 47.7 percent of Toyota buyers shopped for another of the company's vehicles during the same period. The KBB.com study indicated that 45.4 percent of Ford buyers researched another vehicle in that stable while 44.8 Subaru owners clicked through information on the Japanese automaker's other hardware.

Clearly, vehicle research doesn't exactly translate to owner loyalty, but the fact that so many current Hyundai owners are even willing to take a look at the rest of the company's arsenal is a good bellwether as to whether or not consumers will return to the brand in the future. Hit the jump for the full report.

Continue reading Hyundai bumps Toyota, Honda from top of owner loyalty charts

Hyundai bumps Toyota, Honda from top of owner loyalty charts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brand loyaltycar shoppinghyundaihyundai brand loyaltykbbkbb.comkelley blue bookowner loyaltyTue, 19 Jul 2011 13:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19994672/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/19/hyundai-bumps-toyota-honda-from-top-of-owner-loyalty-charts/19994672/article-detail.xml 19994672 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/hyundai-emblem-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/hyundai-emblem-630.jpg <![CDATA[Kelley Blue Book has a new look]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/26/kelley-blue-book-has-a-new-look/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/26/kelley-blue-book-has-a-new-look/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/26/kelley-blue-book-has-a-new-look/#commentsFiled under:

kelley blue book new homepage
Kelley Blue Book's new look - Click above for high-res image gallery

A Kleenex, a Band-Aid, a Thermos. Sometimes, one product in a segment becomes so ubiquitous that it becomes a brand-name ambassador for the entire genre. Say "pass me a Kleenex" and you will receive a tissue, regardless of what the side of the box it's plucked from reads. If you need a Band-Aid, someone will find you an adhesive dressing. Thermos? Same deal.

Kelley Blue Book is one such brand name.

In 1926, Les Kelley published his first Blue Book. Originally a packet of pages filled with his valuations for used cars, the Blue Book expanded to include new cars in 1966. As our world became increasingly digital, Kelley Blue Book extended its footprint to the Internet in 1993, and the Kelley Blue Book soon began to enter the lexicon of the car buying consumer in a new way.

Now, in 2011, KBB stands as the largest automotive valuation company. That's 85 years in business and 18 years on the web, and now, like the Orange County neighbors that surround KBB HQ, the brand is ready for a facelift.

Continue reading Kelley Blue Book has a new look

Kelley Blue Book has a new look originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 May 2011 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blue bookkbbkelley blue bookkelly blue booklelley blue booknew car shoppingused car valuesvehicle pricingThu, 26 May 2011 18:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19947681/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/26/kelley-blue-book-has-a-new-look/19947681/article-detail.xml 19947681 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/kbb-homepage-top_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/kbb-homepage-top.jpg <![CDATA[Chevy Volt may be worth only $17,000 after 36 months]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/chevy-volt-may-be-worth-only-17-000-after-36-months/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/chevy-volt-may-be-worth-only-17-000-after-36-months/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/chevy-volt-may-be-worth-only-17-000-after-36-months/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2011 Chevrolet Volt
2011 Chevrolet Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt will have a resale value of a tick over $17,000 after 36 months, the length of an average lease, according to Kelley Blue Book. That's only 42 percent of the plug-in hybrid's $41,000 MSRP. KBB's projection assumes that the going rate for a gallon of gas will hold steady at $4/gallon 36 months from now.

Eric Ibara, director of residual value consulting at Kelley, told Automotive News that the Volt's projected residual value may seem to be on the low side. But, as Ibara points out, the first 200,000 Volts sold qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit, effectively slashing its sticker price down to $33,500 (well, maybe not).

Using that $33,500 number, KBB's projection means the Volt will hold onto 51 percent of its value. That compares to 46 percent for the 2011 Toyota Prius and 37.5 percent for the 2011 Ford Focus. As we see it, factoring in the $7,500 tax credit is crazy, but we'll let you guys and gals debate that.

KBB expects to set residuals for the $25,280 $32,780 Nissan Leaf, which also qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit, later this year. Hat tip to Frank!

Chevy Volt may be worth only $17,000 after 36 months originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet volt2011 chevy voltchevroletchevykelley blue bookresidual valuevoltTue, 17 May 2011 11:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19942559/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/17/chevy-volt-may-be-worth-only-17-000-after-36-months/19942559/article-detail.xml 19942559 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/03-2011-chevrolet-volt-review-1302065048_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/03-2011-chevrolet-volt-review-1302065048.jpg <![CDATA[Cadillac cleans up with three KBB Brand Image Awards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/25/cadillac-cleans-up-with-three-kbb-brand-image-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/25/cadillac-cleans-up-with-three-kbb-brand-image-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/25/cadillac-cleans-up-with-three-kbb-brand-image-awards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

2011 cadillac cts-v
2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery

Kelley Blue Book has announced the winners of its 2011 Brand Image awards, which are given out based on KBB data culled from a survey taken by over 12,000 in-market shoppers. Cadillac's image must be rather strong with said shoppers, because it took home KBB hardware in three out of the 10 award categories.

Constantly citing the CTS family of vehicles, KBB handed Cadillac the awards for Best Exterior Design, Best Comfort and Best Interior Design. Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Honda, Toyota and BMW snagged the rest of the 2011 Brand Image trophies. BMW and Ford received two nods apiece, but Caddy is still king of this particular hill for 2011. Click past the jump to read the full list of categories and winners.


Gallery: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe: Review

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]

Continue reading Cadillac cleans up with three KBB Brand Image Awards

Cadillac cleans up with three KBB Brand Image Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 brand image awardsbmwbrand image awardscadillacfordhondakbbkelley blue bookmercedes-benztoyotaMon, 25 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19920338/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/25/cadillac-cleans-up-with-three-kbb-brand-image-awards/19920338/article-detail.xml 19920338 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/03cadillaccts-vcoupe2011review-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/03cadillaccts-vcoupe2011review-opt.jpg <![CDATA[KBB looks back at a year in the life of Toyota]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/20/kbb-dissects-a-year-in-the-life-of-toyota/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/20/kbb-dissects-a-year-in-the-life-of-toyota/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/20/kbb-dissects-a-year-in-the-life-of-toyota/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Toyota North American HQ

Toyota had a very interesting 2010. It was seemingly filled with an endless series of negative articles and shifting consumer perceptions. But has the automotive-buying public really been swayed? Kelley Blue Book decided to take a look back at Toyota's tough 2010 in a special report titled Toyota: One Year Later.

The answer to the question regarding consumer perception is a tricky one and can be answered with both a yes and a no. New car sales were flat compared to the rest of the automotive industry, which saw sales improve in the aftermath of the economic meltdown of 2008 and 2009. However, the values on used Toyota vehicles has held strong.

New car shoppers are reportedly very aware of Toyota's recent recall woes and feel the brand has been tarnished as a result. Yet 40 percent of those polled also believe the automaker has responded properly and fixed its various issues.

KBB has broken down Toyota's trying 2010 with valuable data garnered from its in-market shopping site and used car valuation analysis. Consumers have also been surveyed and all the information has been packaged into a report that's definitely worth a read, especially if you're considering buying a Toyota.

Click here (Warning: PDF link) to read it yourself.

[Source: KBB]

Continue reading KBB looks back at a year in the life of Toyota

KBB looks back at a year in the life of Toyota originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kbbkelley blue booktoyotatoyota 2010toyota one year latertoyota recallsThu, 20 Jan 2011 10:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19807404/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/01/20/kbb-dissects-a-year-in-the-life-of-toyota/19807404/article-detail.xml 19807404 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/20050652010hqbuilding07_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/20050652010hqbuilding07.jpg <![CDATA[KBB reveals 20 most researched cars of 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/26/kbb-reveals-20-most-researched-cars-of-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/26/kbb-reveals-20-most-researched-cars-of-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/26/kbb-reveals-20-most-researched-cars-of-2010/#commentsFiled under: ,

Honda Accord
KBB.com names its 20 Most-Researched vehicles for 2010 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Kelly Blue Book has compiled a list of the most researched new vehicles for 2010, as well as brands that hold the greatest market share of interest. The Honda Accord, Civic and Toyota Camry claim the top three spots -- not a surprise if you've been reading this list the last few years. Since 2004, the same three vehicles have garnered the most attention at KBB.com.

While it's not a surprise to see those three, it's a nice change of pace for a few newcomers to the list. The Hyundai Sonata was 29th overall last year, but has risen 24 spots to claim the title of fifth most-researched vehicle for 2010. Not everyone rose this year, of course. Two notable vehicles, the Toyota Prius and Corolla, dropped a few spots compared to 2009.

It's not all bad news for Toyota, however, because KBB.com also takes a look at each brand's market share of interest among new car buyers. Toyota leads the way at 13.4 percent, with Honda, Ford, Chevrolet and Nissan rounding out the top five in that order.

Here's how the Top 20 Most-Researched Vehicles for 2010 breaks down:

1. Honda Accord
2. Honda Civic
3. Toyota Camry
4. Honda CR-V
5. Hyundai Sonata
6. Nissan Altima
7. Honda Pilot
8. Ford Mustang
9. Toyota Highlander
10. Toyota RAV4
11. Toyota Sienna
12. Honda Odyssey
13. Chevrolet Equinox
14. Toyota Corolla
15. Ford Fusion
16. Ford Escape
17. Toyota Prius
18. BMW 3 Series
19. Chevrolet Camaro
20. Volkswagen Jetta

Be sure to click past the jump to read the full release from Kelley Blue Book.


Gallery: Kelley Blue Book's Top 20 Most-Researched Vehicles for 2010



[Source: KBB.com]

Continue reading KBB reveals 20 most researched cars of 2010

KBB reveals 20 most researched cars of 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmw 3 serieschevrolet camarochevrolet equinoxford escapeford fusionford mustanghonda accordhonda civichonda cr-vhonda odysseyhonda pilothyundai sonatakbbkbb.comkelley blue booknissan altimatoyota camrytoyota corollatoyota highlandertoyota priustoyota rav4toyota siennavolkswagen jettaSun, 26 Dec 2010 17:07:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19773711/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/12/26/kbb-reveals-20-most-researched-cars-of-2010/19773711/article-detail.xml 19773711 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/03accordcoupereview2010-1293037263_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/03accordcoupereview2010-1293037263.jpg <![CDATA[Study: More new car shoppers avoiding Toyota, but brand still near top of consideration lists]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/20/study-more-new-car-shoppers-avoiding-toyota-but-brand-still-ne/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/20/study-more-new-car-shoppers-avoiding-toyota-but-brand-still-ne/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/20/study-more-new-car-shoppers-avoiding-toyota-but-brand-still-ne/#commentsFiled under: ,

ToyotaAccording to Automotive News, new car shoppers are beginning to shy away from Toyota thanks to the company's less-than spotless quality and safety reputation as of late. A new study by J.D. Power and Associates has revealed that around 19 percent of new car buyers surveyed said that they had steered clear of Toyota because of the company's sullied reputation. Last year, that number was a mere 3 percent. Even worse for the Japanese manufacturer, around 15 percent of those in the study said that they'd personally had a bad experience with the automaker and another 15 percent said that they were concerned about the future of Toyota. Those numbers mark a 12 and an 11 percent increase over last year's figures, respectively.

Even so, according to the J.D. Power and Associates study, Toyota is still the third most considered automaker out there, falling just behind BMW and Honda. In a separate study, Kelley Blue Book found that Toyota is still the number-one most considered automaker, even in spite of the company's rash of recalls and safety woes.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Study: More new car shoppers avoiding Toyota, but brand still near top of consideration lists originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jd powerkelley blue booknew car buyingtoyotaMon, 20 Dec 2010 15:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19769911/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/12/20/study-more-new-car-shoppers-avoiding-toyota-but-brand-still-ne/19769911/article-detail.xml 19769911 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/toyota-250-1292853820_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/toyota-250-1292853820.jpg <![CDATA[AutoTrader buys <i>Kelley Blue Book</i> for undisclosed sum]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/27/autotrader-buys-kelley-blue-book-for-undisclosed-sum/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/27/autotrader-buys-kelley-blue-book-for-undisclosed-sum/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/27/autotrader-buys-kelley-blue-book-for-undisclosed-sum/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Consumer car search website AutoTrader.com is now the owner of a brand new (to them) Kelley Blue Book and KBB's CDM Data and CDM Dealer Services. The amount of the transaction hasn't been divulged, but at least on the face of it, it makes perfect sense: once integrated, Kelley's valuation tools will practically be stuck to the pixelated windows of all those used cars of suspect value. KBB will continue as a subsidiary of Auto Trader and remain based in Irvine, California.

Those interested in all the nitty-gritty details can click past the break for the complete press release.

[Source: AutoTrader.com via Ward's Auto]

Continue reading AutoTrader buys Kelley Blue Book for undisclosed sum

AutoTrader buys Kelley Blue Book for undisclosed sum originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionauto traderautotraderautotrader.comkbbkbb.comkelley blue bookWed, 27 Oct 2010 09:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19689886/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/10/27/autotrader-buys-kelley-blue-book-for-undisclosed-sum/19689886/article-detail.xml 19689886 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/autotraderkbb_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/autotraderkbb.jpg -1 2