Wrangler top U.S. vehicle in resale value
Toledo-built Jeep deemed 3rd overall by Blue Book
11/25/2013
Jeep Wranglers are lined up at Chrysler's Toledo North Assembly plant.
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Jeep Wranglers are lined up at Chrysler's Toledo North Assembly plant.
The 2014 Jeep Wrangler is projected by Kelley Blue Book to retain 70 percent of its value after three years, the best among vehicles from a U.S. automaker.
Kelley Blue Book’s list of the 2014 vehicles that will retain the highest percentage of their sales price after five years.
1. Toyota FJ Cruiser — 70%
2. Toyota Tacoma — 61.9%
3. Jeep Wrangler — 59.1%
4. Toyota 4Runner — 56.2%
5. Chevrolet Corvette — 53.5%
6. Toyota Tundra — 52.3%
7. Chevrolet Camaro — 51.9%
8. Honda CR-V — 50.7%
9. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 — 50.6%
10. Dodge Challenger — 50.5%
The auto valuation company ranked the Wrangler third overall, behind a pair of Toyotas — the FJ Cruiser sport-utility vehicle, and the Tacoma compact pickup. The Toyota 4Runner and Chevrolet Corvette rounded out the top five.
It’s the second year in a row the Toledo-made Wrangler has held the third spot, and the second year in a row the Wrangler’s projected resale value has risen.
Kelley Blue Book expects the 2014 Wrangler to hold 70 percent of its value after three years and 59 percent after five years. In 2012, the firm predicted the 2013 Wrangler to hold 68 percent of its value after three years and 55 percent after five years.
The top three spots were unchanged from last year.
With four of the top 10 vehicles overall, and six category leaders, Toyota captured the best resale value award. The company's Lexus division was named best resale value in the luxury segment.
"While both Toyota and Lexus continue to deliver incredible resale value, we also are impressed with the strides made by Chevrolet, which tops domestic automakers with five combined awards, and Subaru with its Impreza making its way back to the top spot in its segment," said Eric Ibara, director of residual value consulting for Kelley Blue Book.
The domestic automakers had a much better showing this year than last. Joining the Wrangler and Corvette in the top 10 were the Chevrolet Camaro V-6, at No. 7, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 at No. 9, and the Dodge Challenger at No. 10. Last year the Wrangler was the only domestic vehicle in the top 10.
The FJ Cruiser's projections are especially impressive. Kelley Blue Book says the FJ Cruiser should retain 81 percent of its value after three years and 70 percent after five years.
The average new car in 2014 is expected to hold about 40 percent of its original value after five years. With the average new car costing approximately $31,000 today, that means a buyer could expect to get back $12,400 after five years.
The base price of 2014 Wranglers ranges from $22,395 for a Sport model to about $31,000 for a Rubicon.
Kelley Blue Book bases its five-year values on the assumption of the car being in average condition with 75,000 miles.
The Kelley Blue Book rankings differed somewhat from the ALG Inc. rankings, which were also announced this month. ALG put Honda at No. 1, followed by Toyota at No. 2.
The Wrangler was third in ALG's new off-road utility segment, trailing the FJ Curiser and 4Runner. The Wrangler, previously included in the compact utility segment, wasn't ranked by ALG last year.
Contact Tyrel Linkhorn at tlinkhorn@theblade.com or 419-724-6134.