The best resale value subcompact SUV is the Subaru Crosstrek (73% 5-yr resale value), with the Toyota RAV4 being the best resale value small and compact SUV (71.3% 5-yr resale value). The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited ranks #1 for the best resale value midsize SUVs (76.3% 5-yr resale value).
The best resale value large SUV is the Toyota Land Cruiser (63.8% 5-yr resale value) and the best resale value crossover SUV is the Subaru Crosstrek (73% 5-yr resale value). Topping the list for the best resale value three-row SUVs is the Toyota RAV4 (71.3% 5-yr resale value), while the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (Plug-in Hybrid) ranks first for the best resale value hybrid SUVs (72.2% 5-yr resale value).
The best resale value plug-in hybrid SUV (PHEV) is the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (Plug-in Hybrid) (72.2% 5-yr resale value), with the Toyota bZ4X being the best resale value electric SUV (57.3% 5-yr resale value).
Buyers shopping for their next new vehicle or SUV will typically consider things like sticker price (or MSRP), fuel efficiency, and insurance costs. But often the most expensive factor when buying a new car is resale value. That’s because almost any vehicle purchased new will lose value over time. This drop in value is called depreciation, and the rate of depreciation will be reflected in the vehicle’s retained value after a given timeframe. The faster a vehicle loses value the less it will be worth when it’s time to sell it or use it as a trade-in for the next vehicle purchase (dealers will use a car’s residual value to determine how to price it for trade-in value) .
This rate of depreciation can vary substantially between vehicles. For instance, full-size luxury SUVs tend to depreciate faster than non-luxury full-size SUVs. But even within a given segment, such as midsize pickups, the Toyota Tacoma depreciates at a much lower rate than its direct competitor, the Nissan Frontier. The same is true in the full-size pickup truck segment, where the Toyota Tundra has a better resale value than the Ford F-150 or Nissan Titan.
Different vehicle categories, and “hot” new models in high demand, will also have different resale values. Sports cars like the Chevrolet Corvette or Ford Mustang GT500, and utility vehicles like the Ford Bronco, Ford Maverick, Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, continue to sell at or above MSRP, even after being out for several model years.
Some automakers consistently produce the best cars for resale value. Honda, Lexus, Subaru, Tesla, and Toyota are brands that tend to do well on various annual best resale value awards programs. Models like the Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Lexus LS, Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback, Tesla Model X and Toyota Camry are cars that hold their value well, reflecting strong demand on the used car market.
But whether a consumer is considering a minivan, off-road SUV, heavy duty truck or electric vehicle, resale value will be among the most important considerations for shoppers looking to save money when it’s time to sell or trade-in their vehicle.
