Posted on 12/17/2023 10:09:24 PM PST by SeekAndFind
For three years now, the used-car market has been booming, after the pandemic disrupted new car supply chains, sending secondhand vehicle prices skyrocketing.
But which cars have the best resale value?
In the graphic below, Visual Capitalist's Marcu Lu and Pallavi Rao show the top 10 vehicles with the lowest depreciation rates over five years, based on data from iSeeCars.
They analyzed over 1.1 million used cars from model year 2018, sold between November 2022 to October 2023. Models no longer in production as of the 2022 model year were excluded.
Heading the list, Porsche has two models with the best resale value after half a decade.
After five years, the 911 (Coupe) only loses 9% of its retail value in the used-car market on average. Porsche’s flagship costs anywhere between $90,000–$294,000 based on the horsepower (ranging from 200–700), along with other model specifications.
At second place, the Porsche 718 Cayman loses about one-fifth of its value. Two other Porsches - the Boxster, and the 911 convertible - also feature in ranks, at 12th and 15th respectively, both losing around 25% of their retail price tag.
Here’s a look at the full list of slowest depreciating cars in the United States:
Rank | Model | Average 5-Yr Depreciation | Average Difference from MSRP |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Porsche 911 (Coupe) | 9% | $18,094 |
2 | Porsche 718 Cayman | 18% | $13,372 |
3 | Toyota Tacoma | 20% | $8,359 |
4 | Jeep Wrangler | 21% | $8,951 |
5 | Honda Civic | 22% | $5,817 |
6 | Subaru BRZ | 23% | $8,114 |
7 | Chevrolet Camaro | 24% | $10,161 |
8 | Toyota C-HR | 24% | $6,692 |
9 | Subaru Crosstrek | 25% | $7,214 |
10 | Toyota Corolla | 25% | $5,800 |
11 | Ford Mustang | 25% | $10,035 |
12 | Porsche 718 Boxster | 25% | $20,216 |
13 | Toyota Tundra | 25% | $12,588 |
14 | Kia Rio 5-Door | 26% | $5,006 |
15 | Porsche 911 (Convertible) | 26% | $42,227 |
16 | Honda HR-V | 26% | $7,318 |
17 | Subaru Impreza (Wagon) | 26% | $6,927 |
18 | Kia Rio | 26% | $4,959 |
19 | Chevrolet Spark | 27% | $4,784 |
20 | Toyota RAV4 | 27% | $8,858 |
21 | Hyundai Accent | 27% | $5,353 |
22 | Toyota 4Runner | 27% | $13,147 |
23 | Chevrolet Corvette | 28% | $22,712 |
24 | Nissan Kicks | 28% | $6,560 |
25 | Subaru Impreza (Sedan) | 28% | $7,158 |
Note: MSRP stands for Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price, the price recommended by a product’s producer to retailers. Furthermore, MSRPs from 2018 were inflation-adjusted to 2023 dollars.
The Toyota Tacoma, America’s fifth best-selling truck, comes in third, losing 20%.
The Jeep Wrangler (-21%) and the Honda Civic (-22%) round out the top five cars with the best resale value.
Two more sports cars (the Subaru BRZ and Chevrolet Camaro) feature in the top 10, indicating that these “fun” designer cars are valued for their status as well as functionality.
Aside from the sports category, Americans seem to rate Japanese automakers highly. Put together, Toyota, Subaru, Honda, and Nissan account for half of the cars with the best resale value.
I have a 2000 Camry with 189K miles. A week doesn’t go buy that someone doesn’t approach me wanting to buy lt. Everything works on it except one rear window.
One way to look at it is that the Germans make reliable Italian cars.
Bingo on the Tacoma. I bought a new one in 2019. I had to sell it in October. I paid $31,500 and sold it for $28,000 with 99,000 miles on it.
“At our age, our current car will probably be the last one we will have to buy.”
Same here. I’ve replaced the alternator, tires, a rusty front bumper and windshield wipers: nothing else on my 95 Nissan truck. Oh yeah...the metal hoses on the power steering, but I’d driven over a boulder.
The clearcoat is starting to go away, the headlights are peeling internally, and the headliner is shot, but it’s putting money in my pocket every day. :)
In two years, I can get an antique tag, for which it is eligible after 30 years. I may treat it to new paint as a job well done. ;)
NEW cars, maybe: Obama’s “Cash for Clunkers” changed the used-car markets.
I love my Porsche 911 and the most reliable car I have ever owned.
My biggest problem is all the kids that want to race me.
Scary powerful and too expensive to risk being stupid.
My Subaru STI has proven to hold its value but the most unreliable car I have ever owned.
Yep that is the Porsche 911!
Things have calmed down a bit but there is still a shortage of inventory on 911.
This. Exactly this.
I don't buy a car or truck to turn around and sell it. I bought my truck to use around the property and around town. I intend to drive it until it's irreparable. Unfortunately in modern vehicles that comes sooner rather than later due to the overwhelming number of computer components, but I will keep it going as long as I can.
This just feeds into the disposable materialistic society we've come to know.
Owned 2 Subarus: a legacy wagon that I drove to dealership with 285 k miles after being t-boned and passenger side stove in. Traded for 2016 Impreza sedan
Still driving that with 185 k. Ery minimal repairs. Mostly maintenance only. Great AWD in Michigan Winters.
I switched to Toyota from GM. Toyotas are more reliable and by in large are cheaper than comparable GM models.
I am friends with my Toyota salesman. During the pandemic, the only place you could get a new Toyota was at the car auction. Dealers took their new car allotments straight to auction and would sell them at auction for 10-20% over the invoice price. If I wanted a new Toyota, my sales guy would go to the auction and buy one for me over MSRP.
My son is buying my “used by old fart” Tundra with low miles and a generous Dad discount. Should keep him in a vehicle for the next decade. I’ve got my name on a Toyota Sequoia coming in February. They are nearly impossible to get at MSRP. Seriously thinking about trying to sell it to make $10-$20K on it.
Our ‘13 Toyota Prius was bought new and I put 259K on it without spending a dime on repairs. Just tires, oil and filters and a few bulbs, all documented. A suicidal deer changed all that in Oct. It felt like losing a dog!
“ I switched to Toyota from GM. Toyotas are more reliable and by and large are cheaper than comparable GM models.”
Me too. I’m on Corolla #2. This one is loaded and feels very luxurious (to me). Great sound system. I have yet to need a repair of any kind. I’ll probably keep getting Corollas until I can’t drive anymore.
He’s wrong. The water pump can be replaced in the car.
It’s internal though and driven by the timing chain. Keep an eye on the coolant level and oil condition. When the water pump starts to leak it can leak in to the oil. Catch it early and it can be repaired.
Fill the oil pan full of coolant and you’ll have to replace the engine
The Onion even did a joke about Toyota recalling them because you should have bought another one by now.
How about a 1991 Chevy S-10, with new 6 cylinder engine, manual 5 speed transmission, new tires, a/c, heater, radio/cassette,CD player with USB input (4 speaker stereo),
rebuilt rear wheel differential full synthetic lubricated. New paint (white), interior in great shape with LED lighting, and the truck bed coated with custom removable cover. That’s not on the list obviously. Anyone with a Porsche like that is not concerned about... resale.
Porsche just keeps raising the prices……. That why people buy used ones, save money on your toy!
I’ll note there’s not a single BMW or Mercedes on the list. While this doesn’t make them a good new car it can make them a *great* used car, so long as they’ve been maintained.
I own a 2005 SLK350, two seater, hard-top convertible. I bought it in 2012 for about $19k, the original sticker was closer to $60k. After over 11 years of ownership, all I’d ever had to do was standard maintenance. I once had a crankshaft position sensor fail, I was able to replace myself for $35. It’s a fun car and the best one I’ve ever owned.
I have a Mazda CX30, 2020 model, less than 20,000 miles on it and the it has held it’s value extremely well. I have had 6 Mazda’s and never ever had a problem out of them. Very quality and well built.
Yep. I once saw a Ferrari sell at auction (on TV) for $35k. Hmmmm I thought - maybe I should do that. Then the commentator actually mentions, “...and before everyone rushes out to an auction to get a cheap Ferrari, consider the $5k+ per year costs to properly maintain it”.
OK. Maybe not.
Super cars are made with super materials, some designed as maintenance items. So they’re super expensive to replace.
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