LAS VEGAS — Although sales are skidding, the new crop of vehicles on the market offer consumers high performance and quality, while maintaining good residual values, said Aaron Gold, editor of About.com’s Guide to Cars, during a presentation at the Auto Finance Summit.
Gold presented an in-depth preview of the 10 most significant new cars of 2009. Here are three of his top picks.
CADILLAC CTS-V
The CTS-V, Cadillac’s souped-up CTS, is “fast, agile and utterly brilliant,” Gold said. Available in both automatic and manual transmissions and retailing for $60,000 to $67,000, the luxury CTS-V has an estimated residual value in the low-50% range on a 36-month lease.
CHEVROLET TRAVERSE
With car buyers focused so much on gas prices, the Chevy Traverse cross-over SUV is a great choice for those looking for a larger vehicle. The Traverse, which shares the same platform as the GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, and Saturn Outlook, offers seating for seven or eight, good power, and fuel economy. The Traverse’s residual value is also among the top for an SUV, as the vehicle is predicted to retain 45% to 48% of its original price at the end of a three-year lease.
HONDA FIT
One of Gold’s personal favorites, the Honda Fit offers a new shape with a versatile and deceivingly more spacious interior. Four passengers with luggage can ride comfortably in the Fit, Gold said, and a trick rear seat folds down to allow even more room for cargo. This fuel-friendly compact car had the highest 36-month residual value of the bunch: 58% to 62%.
—Victoria Fierson
