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Cars With The Best Resale Value - Subaru Wins 4 New Segment Awards

Do Subaru vehicles have the best resale value? Subaru loses the KBB resale value brand title to Toyota but still picks up four individual segment awards. See which Subaru models score highest.

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As soon as you drive your new car off a dealer's lot, it drops in value. But some automakers' vehicles like Subaru will not depreciate as much and keep their value best. According to Kelly Blue Book's (KBB) 2021 Best Resale Value Awards, Subaru earned four individual segment honors.

Subaru's four segment awards in 2021 are the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek that scores best Subcompact SUV, 2021 Subaru Forester wins Compact SUV, 2021 Subaru Outback takes home the best Midsize SUV 2-row, and Impreza is the Best Compact Car.

2021 Subaru Forester, 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, 2021 Subaru Outback

Subaru has won the Best Brand award four times before in 2011, 2015, 2016, and 2020. Subaru loses the title in 2021 to Toyota, which won the honor in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

What does it mean for new car shoppers?

KBB's Best Resale Value Awards recognize 2021 model-year vehicles for their projected retained value through the initial five-year ownership period. These latest KBB accolades for Subaru let consumers know that they retain their value better than other models. This can make the biggest difference when you trade in your vehicle after 3-5 years. You'll get more for your trade-in than other carmaker's vehicles.

2021 Subaru Forester, 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, 2021 Subaru Outback
photo credit: Subaru West Palm Beach

If you plan on keeping your new car for 3-5 years, depreciation (loss of value) is typically your primary expense during ownership. It shows shoppers which vehicle will be the best in resale value.

A good example is the value of a two-or-three-year-old Subaru Crosstrek today is just a few thousand dollars less than a new one. If you've tried to purchase a previously owned Crosstrek, you know this is true. This is especially true if you live in the Northeast, Rocky Mountains, or Pacific Northwest, where the brand is most popular.

KBB isn't the only one giving Subaru value awards. In 2020, ALG gave Subaru an award for having the best resale value of any brand. The award was based on ALG's residual value forecast for the 2021 model year.

What is the price of the 2021 Subaru Forester?

The 2021 Forester comes in five trim levels, and the base trim has an MSRP of $25,845, Premium ($28,845), Sport ($30,445), Limited ($32,445), and Touring ($35,945). Pricing includes $1,050 destination. iSeeCars says the average transaction price for the 2021 Forester is $31,673.

What is the price of the 2021 Subaru Outback?

The 2021 Outback comes in seven trim levels, base $27,845, Premium ($30,095), Limited ($34,645), Onyx Edition XT ($36,195), Limited XT ($38,545), Touring ($39,045), and Touring XT ($40,995). Pricing includes $1,050 destination. iSeeCars says the average transaction price for the 2021 Outback is $35,662.

What is the price of the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?

The 2021 Crosstrek comes in five trim levels. The base trim is priced from $23,295, Premium ($24,345), all-new Sport ($27,545), and Limited, also with the 2.5-liter engine ($29,045). Prices include destination and delivery fee ($1,050.)

For the 2021 model year, Subaru loses the title to Toyota. Still, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek scores best Subcompact SUV, 2021 Subaru Forester wins Compact SUV, 2021 Subaru Outback takes home the best Midsize 2-Row SUV, and Impreza Best Compact Car.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: Subaru

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