Santa Barbara, California - Automotive Lease Guide, a provider of data and consulting services to the US and Canadian automotive industry, has announced its 11th annual Residual Value Awards, honoring the vehicles in each segment that are predicted to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a conventional three-year period.

This year’s awards are based on 2010 model year vehicles. For the eighth year, ALG has also included awards for the brands with the highest overall predicted resale values among all mainstream and all luxury vehicles. The awards are derived after careful study of segment competition, historical vehicle performance and industry trends. The list of winners can be found on www.alg.com.

Subaru of America has won the Mainstream Brand Residual Value Award for the first time, jumping over perennially strong Honda. Subaru also received individual segment awards for the Forester in the Compact Utility Vehicle category and the Outback in the Midsize Utility Vehicle category.

“Subaru combines distinct product attributes, such as standard all-wheel drive and the wide use of turbo charged boxer engines, with a rugged but practical brand positioning to generate fierce loyalty among its buyers,” said James Clark, General Manager of ALG. “Subaru also has been restrained with incentives over the past year, and its three core models have all been recently redesigned, helping it to move from second place to first this year.”

Acura, a division of American Honda Motor Company, has won the Luxury Brand Residual Value Award for the second consecutive year.

Mr. Clark commented, “Acura has taken a different tack than most luxury brands, and its decision to stick with front-wheel drive platforms and smaller engines has served it well in the current uncertain times. Acura’s outstanding reliability, simple packaging schemes and value pricing with low incentive levels were major factors in its repeat finish at the top of the luxury market this year.”

Honda, the runner-up for the Mainstream Brand Residual Value Award, received three segment Residual Value Awards, for the Fit (Entry Compact Car); the Accord (Midsize Car); and the Odyssey (Minivan).

Toyota Motor Sales, USA also won three segment awards, for the Sequoia (Large Utility Vehicle); the Tacoma (Compact/Midsize Pickup); and the Prius (Hybrid/Alternative Powertrain). In addition, Toyota’s Lexus division – the runner-up for the Luxury Brand Residual Value Award – received two segment awards, for the Lexus LS (Luxury Car) and the Lexus RX (Near Luxury Utility Vehicle).

BMW was the only other winner of more than one segment award, for the Mini Cooper (Sporty Car) and the BMW 1 Series (Near Luxury Car).

Among domestic manufacturers, the only winner was Ford, for the F-150 (Fullsize Pickup).

Other segment winners included the Nissan Maxima (Fullsize Car); the Audi S5 (Luxury Sports Car); the Mazda 3 (Mid-Compact Car); and the Range Rover Sport (Luxury Utility Vehicle).

Mr. Clark concluded, “We continue to believe that residual value is the best metric for evaluating the overall strength of an automotive brand, and we congratulate all of the 2010 winners for their successful products and marketing strategies.”