Buying a new car is a huge financial decision. One significant factor to take into account is the resale value, as many new models experience sharp depreciation within the first years. Thus, resale value can become just as important as reliability or running costs. Various factors contribute to a car’s resale value, including brand recognition, rarity, design, and especially dependability.
Certain brands have built a solid reputation within the automotive landscape. They produce cars that have a loyal following, are known for their reliable engines, or offer something unique that no other company has. Spoilers: we’re talking about Toyota and Porsche!
iSeeCars has compiled a list of 10 car models on sale today which have the lowest depreciation after 10 years, compared to their original MSRP. Basically, they looked at used car prices for the 2018 model year right at the end of 2023.
In 10th place, we have the Toyota Corolla. It’s quite a common car, but if ask any mechanic to recommend a good first-time automobile for your kid, he’s going to say “Corolla or Civic” every time. The Corolla can do a lot of miles, has 8 airbags as standard, pedestrian detection, active cruise control, lane departure warning, and more.
The Corolla also comes with everything you need at a reasonable price, which is why 2018 models have lost only 25% of their original value, or $5,800.
In 9th place, we have the Subaru Crosstrek which lost $7,214 or 25% of its MSRP since 2018. The appeal of the 2018 Crosstrek is that it was brand new that model year, a lifted, body-clad version of the 5th-gen Impreza.
2018 Crosstrek models have very comfortable suspension for a compact car, standard AWD, and a new direct-injected 4-cylinder engine that makes 152 horsepower. It also comes standard with Subaru EyeSight, basically making it as safe as the Toyota.
At #8 we have the Toyota C-HR, which lost 24% or $6,692 on average since 2018. This proves a lot of people like the way the C-HR looks and want a crossover that’s efficient rather than fast. It has no leather seats, no AWD, no factory navigation, Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. It does promise to be way more reliable than rivals like the Jeep Renegade.
The 7th car to hold its value well is a surprising one, the Chevrolet Camaro. It loses 24% of MSRP or $10,161 in 5 years. It’s not that safe or fuel-efficient, but there’s plenty to love about this muscle car. We think the 2018 models look better than the current model year and better than a 2018 Mustang. You could also buy the awesome ZL1 1LE that year.
In 6th place, we have another sports car of sorts, the Subaru BRZ, which is quite surprising. Just like with the Miata, there’s steady demand for these RWD toys from enthusiasts. Some have suggested the new model’s engine is less reliable as well.
The first car in the Top 5 is the Honda Civic. As we said, almost all mechanics recommend a Civic or a Corolla. The 2018 Civic was named “Best Buy” by KBB because it looks good, drives well, and offers good value, which is why it only lost 22 or $5,817 in the last 5 years.
The new 1.5-liter turbo engine paired with the CVT transmission means the 2018 Civic pulls well and can push 40 mpg on the highway. Interior space is also unrivaled in this class.
The 4th most valuable car is a Stellantis surprise, the Jeep Wrangler. Actually, it’s no surprise at all. People pay over MSRP for new Wranglers, so demand for 5-year-old examples is strong too. 2018 Wranglers have lost $8,951 or 21% of their value.
The Wrangler is that SUV that never changes, but always stands out in a sea of pretender 4x4s. It’s not great on gas, but few cars offer so much fun at a reasonable price. Jeeps are available in bright colors and various packages are each more off-road-capable than the next.
In 3rd place, we have pretty much the same thing, the Toyota Tacoma. We’re talking about the old V6 generation which had been on sale since the Stone Age. But it’s a great platform for off-road enthusiasts, and the Toyota engines are bulletproof. Tacomas are a solid investment, losing just 20% of their value in 5 years ($8,359).
2nd place belongs to the Porsche 718 Cayman, which lost $13,372 or 18%. They sold just 2,800 Caymans for the 2018 model year. And because nothing else handles like a Cayman, enthusiasts will pay top dollar.
The Cayman has a great manual gearbox or the lightning-fast PDK option. The two most common versions of the 2018 Cayman have the new 4-cylinder turbo engines (2.0L or 2.5L), but the coupe is at its best in GTS guise, which makes 365 hp, 15 more than the S. The GTS comes with PASM, rear torque vectoring, and the 13-inch front brakes from the 911.
But in 1st place, the car which holds its value the best, we have the Porsche 911. It only dropped 9% or $18,094 of its MSRP since 2018. We know Porsches are great investments, and some models even go up in value. But it’s worth noting coupes are much better than convertibles. The 911 Convertibles was in 15th place with 26% value lost, and the 718 Boxster (Cayman with no roof) was in 12th place with a 25% decline.
