(iSeeCars) – According to iSeeCars’ calculations, the single largest cost of vehicle ownership is a car’s loss of value over time, or depreciation. While almost all cars lose value over time, how much value they lose and when they lose it can vary across models. iSeeCars’s analysis of over 15 million vehicles shows the depreciation (and the remaining resale value) for new cars after 3, 5, 7, and 10 years. By comparing a used vehicle’s price to its cost when new, iSeeCars can determine how much value a car will retain based on how long it has been owned. The most common timeframe for evaluating vehicle depreciation is 5-years after it was new, making 5-year depreciation a useful benchmark when comparing retained value across vehicles.

As the price of new cars continues to rise, all costs related to buying them become more important for the average car shopper. While buyers can easily recognize the rising MSRP of new vehicles, they may not understand the second most expensive “cost” related to buying a new car: depreciation.

While all new cars suffer depreciation, the amount of depreciation varies substantially between models and manifests as the residual value a vehicle retains (also referred to as resale value or retained value) when it enters the used car market. The residual value is critical because it represents how much money a new car buyer can get back from a vehicle when it’s sold as a used vehicle or serves as a trade-in when buying the next car.

There are some basic guidelines to remember when looking for the best resale value. First, luxury cars tend to depreciate faster than similar models from non-luxury brands. For instance, a Land Rover Range Rover and Kia Telluride are similarly sized, but the Land Rover has a much higher MSRP and will thus experience a much higher level of depreciation versus the Kia after a few years. This remains true despite the Range Rover’s premium nameplate, higher original value, and excellent off-road capabilities.

Models that tend to hold their value better include heavy-duty, full-size pickup trucks like the Ford F-Series Super Duty and midsize pickups like the Ford Ranger. Smaller, fuel-efficient models from the compact car and compact SUV segments have also become more desirable due to rising fuel costs in recent years. The Jeep Wrangler and Subaru Forester are two examples of small SUVs with strong resale value, while the hybrid-powered Ford Maverick, a fuel-efficient compact pickup, holds its value extremely well. All of these models have won best resale value awards from various publications.

From a brand perspective, Lexus and Toyota are two of the best automakers for resale value, but shoppers should use the lists below to identify the best resale value models in each major vehicle category.

Best Resale Value Cars

Best Resale Value Small Cars (5-yr resale value)

  1. Honda Fit – 80.1%
  2. Toyota Yaris Hatchback – 77.8%
  3. Honda Civic (coupe) – 76.6%

Best Resale Value Luxury Small Cars (5-yr resale value)

  1. Lexus RC 300 – 67.8%
  2. Lexus RC 350 – 67.8%
  3. Lexus IS 350 – 62.7%

Best Resale Value Midsize Cars (5-yr resale value)

  1. Honda Accord – 68.5%
  2. Toyota Camry – 68.2%
  3. Subaru Legacy – 62.8%

Best Resale Value Luxury Midsize Cars (5-yr resale value)

  1. Lexus LC 500 – 62.3%
  2. Lexus ES 350 – 58.9%
  3. Lexus GS 300 – 56.0%

Best Resale Value Large Cars (5-yr resale value)

  1. Dodge Charger – 60.9%
  2. Toyota Avalon – 57.6%
  3. Kia K900 – 53.5%

Best Resale Value Luxury Large Cars (5-yr resale value)

  1. Mercedes-Benz S-Class (coupe) – 56.1%
  2. Porsche Panamera – 54.4%
  3. Lexus LS 500 – 52.2%

Best Resale Value Sports Cars (5-yr resale value)

  1. Toyota 86 – 77.5%
  2. Toyota GR86 – 76.6%
  3. Subaru BRZ – 75.7%

Best Resale Value Luxury Sports Cars (5-yr resale value)

  1. Porsche 911 (coupe) – 91.7%
  2. Porsche 718 Cayman – 80.5%
  3. Porsche 718 Boxster – 73.1%

Best Resale Value Convertibles (5-yr resale value)

  1. FIAT 500c – 69.2%
  2. FIAT 124 Spider – 68.7%
  3. Volkswagen Beetle Convertible – 67.4%

Best Resale Value Luxury Convertibles (5-yr resale value)

  1. Porsche 718 Boxster – 73.1%
  2. Porsche 911 (convertible) – 71.8%
  3. Chevrolet Corvette (convertible) – 64.9%

Best Resale Value Wagons (5-yr resale value)

  1. Subaru Impreza (wagon) – 71.6%
  2. Volkswagen Golf Alltrack – 64.3%
  3. Volkswagen Golf SportWagen – 64.3%

Best Resale Value Luxury Wagons (5-yr resale value)

  1. Porsche Panamera (wagon) – 60.9%
  2. Buick Regal TourX – 57.1%
  3. Mercedes-Benz E-Class (wagon) – 55.7%

Best Resale Value Coupes (5-yr resale value)

  1. Toyota 86 – 77.5%
  2. Toyota GR86 – 76.6%
  3. Honda Civic (coupe) – 76.6%

Best Resale Value Luxury Coupes (5-yr resale value)

  1. Porsche 911 (coupe) – 91.7%
  2. Porsche 718 Cayman – 80.5%
  3. Chevrolet Corvette (coupe) – 72.6%

Best Resale Value Hatchbacks (5-yr resale value)

  1. Honda Fit – 80.1%
  2. Toyota Yaris Hatchback – 77.8%
  3. Honda Civic (hatchback) – 76.5%

Best Resale Value Luxury Hatchbacks (5-yr resale value)

  1. Porsche 718 Cayman – 80.5%
  2. Chevrolet Corvette (coupe) – 72.6%
  3. Toyota GR Supra – 64.0%

Best Resale Value Subcompact Cars (5-yr resale value)

  1. Honda Fit – 80.1%
  2. Toyota Yaris Hatchback – 77.8%
  3. Toyota Yaris – 75.8%

Best Resale Value Luxury Subcompact Cars (5-yr resale value)

  1. Audi RS 3 – 61.2%
  2. Mercedes-Benz A-Class – 60.0%
  3. Mercedes-Benz AMG GT – 58.9%

Best Resale Value Compact Cars (5-yr resale value)

  1. Honda Civic (coupe) – 76.6%
  2. Honda Civic (hatchback) – 76.5%
  3. Honda Civic – 76.5%

Best Resale Value Luxury Compact Cars (5-yr resale value)

  1. Lexus RC 300 – 67.8%
  2. Lexus RC 350 – 67.8%
  3. Lexus IS 350 – 62.7%

When considering a car purchase, the resale value is a crucial factor that can significantly impact your long-term financial satisfaction. The listed vehicles demonstrate exceptional 5-year resale values across various categories, making them wise investments for their respective segments. Whether you’re looking for a compact, luxury, or specialty vehicle like a sports car or convertible, these models stand out for their ability to retain value. Prioritizing cars with strong resale values can help you maximize your investment, ensuring a better return when it comes time to sell or trade-in.

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iSeeCars.com is a data-driven car search and research company that helps shoppers find the best car deals by providing key insights and valuable resources, including the iSeeCars VIN Check report and Best Cars Rankings. iSeeCars has saved users over $418 million so far by applying big data analytics powered by over 25 billion (and growing) data points and using proprietary algorithms to objectively analyze, score and rank millions of new cars and used cars.

This article, Best Resale Value Cars for 2024, originally appeared on iSeeCars.com.