Base price range: $19,000 to $26,000
Typical five-year ownership cost: $27,000
It's rare in life that something cute and fun is also a smart buy. The Mini Cooper is such a thing. It boasts cool design, easy handling, the ability to park in even the tiniest spaces and the lowest maintenance cost in its class (maintenance is covered for three years or 36,000 miles). Maybe that's why its resale value is nothing short of phenomenal: 77% after five years.