Toyota and Honda are the big winners of the Canadian Black Book's second annual Best Overall Retained Value awards for passenger cars and light trucks, respectively.
The awards assess resale prices of four-year-old vehicles (in this case 2003s).
They compare current value to original manufacturer's suggested retail price, on a sales-weighted basis by model.
Recognition goes to makers with a broad portfolio of vehicles that are desirable in the pre-owned market, resulting in strong retained values.
"It is very telling of a brand's success when it becomes the premier sought-after used vehicle," a Black Book official said.
The top-five car brands for retained value:
Toyota (57.5 per cent)
Honda (52.6 per cent)
Mazda (45.3 per cent)
Acura and Audi (tied at 44.4 per cent)
The industry average was 37.7 per cent.
The top-five light-truck brands for retained value:
Honda (49.9 per cent)
Acura (49.7 per cent)
Lexus (48.2 per cent)
Toyota (47.9 per cent)
Nissan (47 per cent)
Industry average: 37.4 per cent.
Saturn cars and Nissan trucks led brands posting year-over-year gains, despite an overall industry decline in retained value.
Audi and Saturn were the only non-Japanese brands to show improvements over last year. Other gainers: Lexus, Mazda, Toyota, Subaru and Suzuki.
Founded in 1960, Canadian Black Book publishes the Black Book vehicle value guides. It calls itself the sole Canadian-based provider of new- and used-vehicle residual values.