This year’s list actually has an emphasis on personality, and many of the models features that we probably thought were outlandish..but now we’re accepting most of those features as being “cool”.

KBB says that “for 2009, three vehicles – Kia Soul, Nissan cube and smart fortwo – are all-new to the ‘Coolest Cars’ list, and two of this year’s repeat winners – Honda Fit and MAZDA3 – have undergone redesigns. The MAZDA3 is the only model that can boast about being named a Coolest New Car Under $18,000 by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com for six years in a row, which also is every year since the car’s inception. A worldly bunch, the 2009 Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 list includes vehicles from companies based in the United States, Japan, Korea and Germany.”

They go on to say that they chose cars using the same set of criteria that we do: safety, fuel economy, interior size, comfort, technology, the vehicle’s fun-to-drive-factor, as well as the decidedly subjective “cool” factor.

The editors compiled the list of qualifying vehicles using Kelley Blue Book’s New Car Blue Book Values, which reflect real-world transaction prices and provide a more useful comparison point than Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). Every vehicle on the list can be purchased for less than $18,000.

Here’s the list of the 2009 Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000:

2009 Ford Focus
2009 Honda Fit
2010 Kia Soul
2010 Mazda MAZDA3 i Sport
2009 Nissan Cube
2009 Scion xB
2009 Smart Fortwo
2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i
2009 Suzuki SX4
2009 Volkswagen Rabbit S

The editors over at Kelley Blue Book have picked the top ten cool, new, affordable cars that are selling for under $18,000. Not only are these cars “sporty”, many are smaller vehicles that have great fuel economy. All but one of the cars on the list gets at least 30 miles per gallon or better.

When choosing the 10 Coolest New Cars under $18,000, the Kelley Blue Book editors examined each vehicle through their “subjective magnifying glass of what is cool, with an emphasis on its styling, performance and fun-to-drive factor.” Additionally, more objective criteria such as safety, fuel economy, environmental impact, interior size and comfort were taken into account.

Top 10 Coolest New Cars Selling Under $18,000

Vehicle          MSRP

2007 Chevrolet Silverado Classic    $17,015
2007 Ford Focus SES 2-door Hatchback   $16,180
2007 Honda Fit    $14,445
2007 Hyundai Tiburon    $17,295
2007 Jeep Patriot    $14,985
2007 Mazda 3    $18,175
2007 Nissan Versa    $13,075
2007 Scion tC    $16,980
2007 Suzuki SX4    $17,124
2007 Volkswagen Rabbit    $15,630

All vehicles are listed by their New Car Blue Book value. New Car Blue Book values represent transaction values, or what others are paying for this vehicle, during the week of April 9, 2007. New Car Blue Book values are updated weekly on kbb.com. Adding optional equipment at the time of purchase will increase the price of the vehicle.

Kelley Blue Book’s Comments on the Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000

2007 Chevrolet Silverado Classic (Regular Cab Manual WT)
The 800-pound gorilla of this group earns its spot on the list by delivering the most metal for the money along with hefty hauling and towing capacities. It’s not the newest-tech, but if you need to lug cool stuff, the full-size Silverado Classic lets you do it for a compact-pickup monthly payment.

MSRP: $17,015 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $16,590

2007 Ford Focus SES 2-Door Hatchback
Its Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle status helped place the versatile Ford Focus 3-door on the list. We also applaud the Focus’s combination of international style and cheeky, fun-to-drive character in a handy, economical package.

MSRP: $16,180 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $15,937

2007 Honda Fit
Driving the Fit is the most fun you can have with four wheels and 109 horsepower. Matched with Honda’s renowned interior intangibles and a cleverly configurable rear seat that provides uncanny cargo capacity, the diminutive Fit is cool condensed.

MSRP: $14,445 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $14,301

2007 Hyundai Tiburon
Hyundai’s sporty entry combines the presence of a $30,000 sports coupe with energetic driving dynamics and the value expected from the brand. Updates for the 2007 model year include freshened front and rear styling.

MSRP: $17,295 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $17,157

2007 Jeep Patriot
Based on the same platform as the Dodge Caliber and Jeep’s own Compass, the Patriot sets itself apart by featuring all the utility and features of its twin brothers but also adding an off-road capability and Jeep purity the others lack.

MSRP: $14,985 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $14,985

2007 Mazda MAZDA3
Fun, stylish, versatile and substantial, the exceptionally well-rounded MAZDA3 is the only vehicle to make it onto our list the past four years in a row — and every year since its introduction. Suffice it to say, it’s cool.

MSRP: $18,175 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $17,993

2007 Nissan Versa
By offering more room than its closest competitors and available features like Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity and keyless entry and start, the Versa offers a little taste of luxury at a decidedly down-market price.

MSRP: $13,075 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $13,206

2007 Scion tC
Wearing the mark of a brand born to be cool, the tC coupe furthers its own pedigree with industrial-sleek styling, lively performance and a sharp interior that belies the car’s sub-$18,000 starting price.

MSRP: $16,980 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $17,235

2007 Suzuki SX4
The most affordable four-wheel-drive vehicle out there is wrapped in distinctively styled sheetmetal and offers advanced features like keyless entry and start. A 100,000-mile powertrain warranty is pretty cool, too.

MSRP: $17,124 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $17,038

2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
With an eager engine, unexpectedly tenacious handling and interior refinement on par with cars costing twice its price, the vehicle formerly known as Golf plays off its Euro roots to offer Continental cool.

MSRP: $15,630 *NEW CAR BLUE BOOK VALUE: $15,474

Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com), the leading provider of new and used-vehicle information, now provides projected resale values for all new vehicles on its Web site. Available on all new-vehicle pricing reports, Kelley Blue Book shows a rating that demonstrates how much value a brand new vehicle will retain over the first three years of ownership.

By clicking on the ‘Learn More’ link, shoppers can see a complete depreciation graph of any new vehicle, how it compares to other vehicles in its segment, and how well it will maintain its value compared to the industry average after three, four and five years of ownership. The illustrated graphs and easy to read comparison charts will assist buyers to quickly assess which vehicles will best hold their value down the road compared to other vehicles.

What a new vehicle will be worth when it comes time to sell it years later was ranked as the No. 1 piece of new vehicle information shoppers would like to see aside from new vehicle MSRP and invoice pricing. In a study conducted by Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research among new vehicle shoppers on kbb.com, 92 percent of respondents said they were interested in knowing what a new vehicle would be worth after three-to-five years of ownership.

Depreciation often is the greatest expense incurred by drivers during the first five years of vehicle ownership but the most overlooked cost among consumers shopping for a new vehicle. The average new vehicle will only retain about 35 percent of its original value after a five-year ownership period, meaning that a $20,000 new car today will only be worth somewhere close to $7,000 after five years.

What You Can Do
Though a vehicle’s resale value is determined by such things as, market conditions, brand perception, expectations of the future economy, and supply and demand, there are steps a consumer can take to get the best return on their car in the future. Certain features available on new cars today will be desirable by a majority of used-car buyers three or five years down the road, and these features will help the vehicle maintain more of its original value.

In-market shoppers should consider the following options in their next new vehicle to help better retain its value. First, choose a popular exterior color, such as black, white or silver. Then select equipment that many buyers want. Included on this list are: antilock brakes (ABS), alloy wheels, CD player/CD changer, parking sensors, navigation system, sensing cruise control and leather-covered seats. At the same time, avoid less popular colors and go easy on customization.

Best Resale Value Awards
Since 2003 Kelley Blue Book has named the top new vehicles to retain their value after a five-year ownership period in its Best Resale Value Awards. Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com determined that for the 2007 model year, Honda and Acura brand vehicles have the best resale value of any brand on the market today. In the fall of 2007, Kelley Blue Book will announce the 2008 model year vehicles expected to have the best resale value in 2013.

Based on projections by Kelley Blue Book’s expert staff of market analysts encapsulated in the Kelley Blue Book Residual Value Guide, the prestigious Best Resale Value Awards honor vehicles expected to maintain the greatest proportion of their retail prices after five years of ownership. Low-volume vehicles and vehicles with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of more than $60,000 are excluded from awards consideration.

Values reflect projected future wholesale pricing for clean, reconditioned vehicles at the end of a five-year lease period. Kelley Blue Book’s residual values are used by banks, financial institutions, governmental agencies and the automotive leasing industry.

For more information about Kelley Blue Book’s Best Resale Value Awards, please visit www.kbb.com/resaleaward.