In three years time, the new E-Class will be the car with the highest resale value in the entire luxury segment. According to calculations by the market research institute Bà¤hr & Fess Forecast in Saarbrücken, the new E 250 CDI will then realise up to 62.5 percent of its current new price, and it has therefore received the accolade of “2009 value retention champion” awarded every year by the motoring magazine Auto-Bild.

Mercedes passenger cars occupy the peak positions in eight of the market segments analysed, and are therefore generally regarded as the cars with the highest value retention in Germany.

With the CLS 320 CDI Mercedes-Benz also occupies the second position in the luxury segment, as the specialists calculated a residual value of 61 percent for the four-door Coupe.

In both the medium and luxury class, Mercedes-Benz takes first place with the C 220 CDI Estate and the S 320 CDIrespectively. The specialists estimate that in three years time, these Mercedes models will achieve residual values of 64 and 57 percent.

As a newcomer to the “value retention hitlist”, the GLK 220 CDI 4MATIC immediately went to place place in the compact off-roader category. In three years time, GLKbuyers can expect to realise up to 66.5 percent of the current new vehicle price. The residual value specialists also have a very high opinion of the Mercedes models ML 280 CDI 4MATIC and R 280 CDI 4MATIC, which each achieved the peak position in their market segment.

Last not least, the Mercedes-Benz range also has the convertible with the highest value retention: the SLK 200 KOMPRESSOR. According to “Auto-Bild”, this exciting two-seater will still retain up to 66 percent of its current new value when resold in three years time.

The “value retention champion” among minivans also bears the Mercedes star on its bonnet: the B 150 takes first place in this market segment, and is forecast to achieve a value of 64.5 percent after three years.