The truth is somewhere in the middle. The lack of high-priced models certainly favor Acura in light of this brand ranking method. However, if this is the only factor, then Kia, Suzuki, and Hyundai would have definitely been ranked higher, as they have the lowest avg. priced models.

"Although Acura does not have any segment winners, all of its vehicles’ residual values are relatively strong, with the new TL and TSX ranking among the highest in their segments."

Although they didn't break down the rankings by segment, this clearly shows that the TSX and TL have great residual values compared to competitors in their class. And whether you dislike Acura's styling and/or their lack of RWD/performance models, there is no denying that they (Like Honda) have exceptional build quality, reliability, and safety, all big factors in determining residual value.

 

I remember the ad campaign back in 1986/1987 (some of y'all were just born) in which Honda professed having better resale values than Mercedes Benz. I guess the same holds true today..

 

Acura has the highest expected resale value of any luxury brand
As the winner of the 2009 Automotive Leasing Guide (ALG) Residual Value Award for Overall Luxury Brand*, Acura vehicles have earned the distinction of having the highest expected resale value of any luxury brand. With such meticulous engineering, craftsmanship and forward-looking technology, it's little wonder that Acura vehicles are built to last—and that Acura was awarded the top prize.

The only brand to receive top safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA across all models
Acura is the first car company ever to receive Top Safety Pick designations from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for every one of its vehicles. All five 2009 Acura models, both passenger cars and SUVs, earned "good"—the highest score possible—on frontal, side and rear crash tests. In addition, Acura is the only luxury brand to receive five-star crash test safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)** for all of its models, as a result of the government's front and side impact tests.

But impact tests are only part of Acura's safety success story. Our myriad of advanced technologies help prevent collisions from ever happening, thanks to state-of-the-art features like Active Front Lighting System (AFS), Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Distribution, Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), and Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™).

 

You like your TL we get it...

Let's look at this objectively. The S class, 7 series, and LS start at 90k, 80k, and 65k respectively (rough estimates taken off Edmunds so they're about as base as can be). The most expensive Acura is the RL which starts at 46k and tops out ~55k (per Acura's website). It's going to be a lot easier for the S/7/LS to drop say 20k in residuals than it would for the RL. That is going to skew the resale values of the brands as a whole. Add in the fact that all three brands offer several cars that are more expensive than the RL and it's no wonder why Acura won.

You seemed to leave this little tidbit out as well

 

Maybe its the shield that gives Acura the high residual value. It seems to me Lexus is worth more than most other cars when it comes time for trade in. I would never buy one of those new Acura with the shields on it, new or used.

 

Glad you're happy with your purchase. We are all happy for you. It's a fine car. You seem to keep trying to defend your purchase, why?

 

Well the problem is that Acura might have the highest residual values of any Luxury brand, but the fact is Acura isn't really a Luxury brand.

 

^^ AllenK is right, and we pointed that out in a previous thread about this same topic.
I am sure that Acura models hold their value well, I've owned two in the past too, but according to that ALG guide, none of the Acura models has class leading resale value, so it means that nomatter which Acura model one has, it won't have the best residual value in it's class, that's pretty empty I would say

 

Residual values always lie because they're not based on what a real person would pay for the vehicle, they're based on an accountant's view of the value of money over time relative to the car's price. Resale values never lie because they're based on what a real person writing a check will pay for a vehicle.

I seriously wouldn't put much stock in this analysis. Besides, who's going to buy one of everything they make so your average value is higher than everyone else's? Since they are not the winners in any single category, it's the only way you could directly benefit from Acura's position. Personally, I rather buy the winner in MY category if this were a valuable measure to me.

 

Acura is o.k.

 

Acura's residual values might matter if they had a single vehicle that I would consider buying. They don't have anything to compete with BMW/Benz/Lexus/Audi.

 

The FWD/AWD A4 has a discontinued 260hp V6 with a CVT trans, Acura just can't compete with that.

 

You have to give them credit for such brilliant spin tactics with this one. The reality is, Acura has only just recently recieved high safety ratings, their historical record is not as rosy, and they have innovated nothing in terms of passive or active safety systems ever. In fact, where you can get rear side airbags on numerous VW/Audi/MB models, Acura doesn't offer them. The AFS system is available only on the top spec RL, and wasn't even available until this year. Behind the Germans by a good eight years. It sounds like desperation when they mention EBD and ESP as some sort of groundbreaking technologies - they have been around for a long time now and Honda/Acura have just recently made them standard, again behind the curve. Collision Mitigation Braking System - I wonder where they got that. Again, only available on one of their models, sad.

Acura's PR people do a great job - they are able to effectively position the brand as a trendsetting outlet that constantly brings the latest and greatest tech toys to the market. This notion is debunked as soon as you start auditing their true "innovation" history of technology. Acura loves to tout things like Acura Weather Link, Acura Traffic Link, and their ELS sound systems as if they are all that make up "technology" in an automobile. In reality, Acura doesn't offer Lane departure warning, Direct injection, 6 speed + automatics, Active chassis management systems, and the list goes on. They innovate nothing, rarely bring anything first to market, and the technologies they do tout are already on competing automobiles. SH-AWD has proven to be a failure in snow put up against Quattro, their engines are all long in the tooth, and the transmissions are outdated. Not to mention, every new Acura vehicle has come out with cheaper and cheaper interiors, and the exterior build quality, especially the paint, is all Honda, meaning cheap put up against a Lexus designed Lexus or German car. The quality just isn't there, sorry.

 

the previous A6 was rated "Acceptable" in IIHS frontal crash tests (identical to the previous RL), and given a 3-star rating in EuroNCAP tests. The previous A4 was given a 4-star EuroNCAP rating and the one before it 3-stars.
Exactly what safety features has VW/Audi ever innovated anyways.

RL has always had adaptive headlamps, also how are they behind the Germans by 8 years considering Toyota was first to introduce them in 2003?

Acura made stability control standard for well over 5 years now.

They introduced it in 2003 the same year as Toyota's Pre-Collision System. It took Mercedes 2 or 3 years offer a similar system on the current S-class. And to the best of my knowledge BMW and Audi still haven't gotten there yet.

that's probably cause the Acura RL was first to offer XM weather and NavTraffic.

Honda has offered LKAS for some time now, back in 2005 before the Germans on the Legend and it isn't merely a warning system like German systems including the one on the latest E-class but can apply steering inputs to ensure the vehicle maintains its lane.

 

It sort of sad to see Acura going down this road. My 1st car was a Honda out of high school and have been a Honda / Acura guy for 10 before switching camp to Toyota / Lexus. Acura had such a good start with the Legend, they were on the top of their game when they introduce the NSX. It has been all down hill from there. I blame Acura's managment for 1 bad move after another, no V8, no direct injection, ugly shield on the grill and no flagship vehicle.