If you are thinking about buying a new car, you should consider a vehicle with a modest resale value. This is also true if you want to lease a new car. Many people don’t even consider the future value of the car that they want to purchase. The truth is that buying or leasing a vehicle with decent residuals will not only give you lower monthly payments, but it also means that you can sell your old car for more money compared to other vehicles.

How Do they Determine the Residual Value?

The residual value will have something to do with vehicle desirability, build quality, and perceived customer value. A vehicle that is reliable, sturdy, and with less problems will also have a higher perceived value compared to other similar cars.

Honda, Toyota, and Lexus vehicles are one of the most reliable cars that you can buy. The same can be said for famed performance marquees such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

But in the land of the compact car, there are three brands that reign supreme over the rest. Here are the 2012 compact cars with the highest resale value according to KBB.com.

Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is a natural. For many years, car reviewers from all over the world have consistently given the Civic high marks in terms of performance, reliability, and fuel economy. Honda made sure that Civic buyers are never devoid of choice by introducing 5 Civic models for 2012, including the Civic CNG that runs on compressed natural gas. Prices start at $15,755 for the Civic Coupe and $24,000 for the Civic Hybrid.

The Honda Civic continues to provide modest amounts of interior and storage space with a user-friendly cabin. The engine and transmission combination is still best-in-class, even though newer models such as the Chevrolet Cruze and the Ford Focus offer better driving dynamics.

Estimated resale value for the Civic is at 56.5% for 36 months and 41% for 60 months, among the highest in the class.

Mini Cooper

The reincarnated Mini Cooper was designed and engineered by parent company BMW, which also means that the new Mini has more space, better handling, and is even made more practical and fun to drive. The Mini Cooper is also sold in a wide array of body styles including a coupe, convertible, and roadster version.

Prices for the Mini Cooper starts at $20,200. Funky and avant-garde styling also comes standard.

Estimated resale value for the Mini Cooper is at 54.3% for 36 months, and 39% for 60 months.

Scion xB

The Scion xB is hard to ignore, not only because of the low price, but it is also roomy, spacious, durable, and highly customizable. Since the Scion xB is owned by parent company Toyota, you can expect similar levels of durability and build quality in each Scion vehicle that you buy.

The Scion xB starts at around $17,000. Perceived resale value is 58% at 36 months and 39% at 60 months.

Looking for a cheap car lease? Choosing a new Mazda might be right for you. The Mazda brand is known for their quirky yet elegant looks, driving refinement, affordable price, and sporty ride.

If you are looking for a well-made car with distinguished looks and sharp handling, you better take a look at the latest Mazda lease deals for May 2012.

Mazda Mazda 3

Mazda dealers are currently offering low monthly lease rates for the 2012 Mazda3. Lease prices starts at only $185 per month for 36 months with around $2,000 due at lease signing.

You can also lease the new 2013 Mazda3 for as low as $224/month for 36 months with less than $2,000 due at lease signing.

Mazda Mazda6

The Mazda6 is one of the most talented sport sedans in the $20k budget range. Lease deals for the 2012 Mazda6 starts at $209 per month for 36 months.

You can also lease the new 2013 Mazda3 for as little as $249 per month for 36 months with less than $2,000 due at lease signing.

Mazda CX-5

Despite the onslaught of new crossover vehicles, the compact Mazda CX-5 manages to stand out from the rest with sporty styling, sharp steering, and a well composed ride.

Lease deals for the 2013 Mazda CX-5 starts at $239 per month for 36 months with around $3,000 due at lease signing.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

If you want an affordable roadster with rear-wheel drive, the Mazda MX-5 remains a wise choice.

Lease the new Mazda MX-5 starting at $249 per month for 24 months with only around $3,000 due at lease signing for the Miata sport with the manual transmission.

The Mazda MX-5 touring model starts with a lease price of around $339 per month for 24 months.

Mazda CX-9

If you want a 7-seat crossover SUV with that drives like a sporty car then look no further than the Mazda CX-9.

Lease the Mazda CX-9 starting at $309 per month for 36 months with around $3,000 due at lease signing.

New Mazda Incentives

Mazda dealers are now offering 0% APR financing for up to 60 months on the Mazda2, Mazda6, and Mazda CX-9.

You can also check out 0.9% APR offers for up to 36 months on the Mazda3 and Mazda CX-5.

Kelly Blue Book has been publishing their Official Residual Value Guide since 1981, and has helped American consumers find the top new cars with the highest estimated residual value since then.

Remember, you should carefully consider the estimated residual value of a new car, most especially if you are looking for a new car lease.

Leasing a car with a high residual value will give you lower monthly payments. This is because the lease price will be based on the negotiated selling price (or MSRP) along with the residual value. Simply put, a car that depreciates less will provide you with more savings on your new car lease.

Here are the top 10 cars with the highest residual value for 2012:

1. Jeep Wrangler

With a projected residual value of 68% after 36 months, the Jeep Wrangler is also one of the best and cheapest cars to lease, with lease prices starting at only $219/month.

2. Toyota FJ Cruiser

The FJ Cruiser is a robust off-road vehicle that has unique retro-styling cues, harking back to the original FJ40 Land Cruiser of the 1960′s. Resale value is estimated to be 67% after 36 months.

3.Toyota Tacoma

Toyota once again proves that the Tacoma is one of the best choices for a durable and reliable pickup truck. the Tacoma has an estimated residual value of 64% after36 months.

4. Hyundai Tucson

The Tucson is Hyundai’s entry into the compact SUV department. With gorgeous styling and a long warranty, the Tucson has an estimated residual value of 64.3% after 36 months.

5. Audi Q7

The Q7 is Audi’s first SUV, and it is a good one at that. It is sporty, stylish, and comes with Audi-levels of interior quality and refinement. The Q7 has an estimated residual value of 63.3% after 36 months.

6. Infiniti FX

If you happen to be searching for a sporty midsize SUV that drives like a true sports sedan, the Infiniti FX combines good looks with sure-footed handling. The Infiniti FX has an estimated residual value of 58% after 36 months.

7. Honda CR-V

It comes as no surprise that the CR-V is once again included in the list of cars with the highest residual value, which is estimated to be around 60.3% after 36 months.

8. Lexus RX

Whether buying new or used, the Lexus RX remains a solid choice. It is a highly desirable compact SUV, with a residual value that is estimated to be around 64% after 36 months.

9. Nissan Frontier

The Frontier utilizes a fully-boxed frame to deliver reliable performance. It also happens to be one of the cars with highest residual value, which is estimated to be 56.2% after 36 months.

10. Chevrolet Camaro

The Camaro is a desirable sports car because it has the looks of a muscle car with the performance and refinement of a modern vehicle. Residual value is estimated to be 57% after 36 months.

Here are some helpful tips that will help you obtain a cheap car lease.

If you want to drive the best new cars without spending all your monthly earnings, then you should find an affordable car lease. Since you are basically paying for the depreciation (or the ‘use’ of the car), leasing will give you more affordable monthly payments compared to buying or financing a new car.

You can also lease a better car, and even lease an SUV for the same monthly payments as financing a smaller car.

Cheap Car Leasing Tips

Tip 1: Select a car that you can actually afford. As stated above, you can choose to lease a more expensive car and pay less compared to a new car financing loan. However, you should still lease a car that is within your budget range. Remember that the lease price will also depend on the MSRP or dealer invoice of the car. Leasing a more expensive automobile will give you higher monthly payments, negating any savings that you’d expect from a new car lease.

Tip 2: Select a vehicle with a higher perceived value at lease end. In short, you should focus your efforts on a vehicle with a higher resale value. Your monthly lease payments will also be dependent on how much the car will be worth when the lease term expires. Import brands such as Toyota and Honda cars generally have a higher resale value compared to other brands. Luxury vehicles such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi vehicles also have high resale values.

Tip 3: Majority of new car lease deals require a down payment. This is to somehow reduce the monthly lease payments that you are going to make. You can pay a higher down payment and get lower monthly payments, but be careful not to pay too much down payment. If the car gets stolen or totaled in an accident, you will never get your down payment back.

Tip 4: Maintain a good, or at least average credit score. The lease deals that you see being advertised on TV and on the radio are reserved for buyers with a good or average credit score. Keep in mind that the money factor rate /interest rate on your car lease will be based on your average credit score. If you have good or average credit, then you can expect to qualify for the best new car lease deals in the market.

There are no secrets to new car leasing. Consider the tips mentioned above and you are on your way in finding a cheap car lease with low monthly payments and low interest rates.

The high cost of fuel is forcing car makers to think outside the box. Honda introduced the Civic Natural Gas and it was immediately crowned as the car with the cleanest internal-combustion engine on Earth.

General Motors has announced that they will begin selling a dual-fuel version of the Silverado and Sierra pickup truck. Chevrolet and GMC dealers will begin taking orders for a CNG and gasoline fueled version of the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado. This move is in response to the needs of business owners who want a more fuel efficient commercial vehicle.

Benefits of CNG or Compressed Natural Gas

Based on studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy, natural gas vehicles produce less harmful pollutants compared to a conventional gasoline or diesel engine.

Tests were performed on heavy-duty vehicles that utilized CNG for fuel. The results were staggering, as CNG fueled vehicles reduced nitrogen oxide emissions by 49%, and an impressive 84% fewer particulate emissions compared to a diesel engine.

Add to that the fact that natural gas costs 1/3 less than gasoline, and the benefits are now easier to understand. Vehicles that burn CNG are not only cleaner, but they cost less to operate as well.

Disadvantages of CNG

Most of the problems associated with CNG vehicles will have something to do with the installation and the quality of the parts used during the conversion process.

But the major disadvantages of CNG vehicles is the loss of trunk space and increase in weight. Since you will need to have a separate fuel tank to store the CNG fuel, small vehicles will have to contend with a smaller trunk and loss of storage space when equipped with a bi-fuel system.

There are no such problems with the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado. The CNG tank will be positioned in the bed of the truck, and will have the capacity to store 17 gallons (or 64 liters) of compressed natural gas. Along with the conventional 36-gallon gasoline tank, the bi-fuel pickup trucks will have a maximum driving range of around 650 miles, or 1,000 kilometers.

Depending on your driving habits, the CNG-powered Sierra and Silverado pickup trucks are expected to save around $4,000 to $10,000 in fuel costs over a span of three years. This is good news for business owners or private individuals who are looking for a powerful, economical, and long range full size pick up truck.

The Cost

Fleet and retail customers can start placing their orders for the 2013 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD bi-fuel pickup truck beginning April 19, 2012. The Chevy and GMC bi-fuel extended cab pickup trucks are expected to cost $11,000 more than the standard gasoline-only version.

Would you like to lease a CNG bi-fuel GM truck? Will the potential fuel savings be enough to justify the higher cost? Auto insiders were asking the same kind of questions when hybrid vehicles were introduced in the beginning of 2000.

Hybrid cars are still here. Let us hope that CNG and bi-fueled vehicles have a bright future as well.