The Cars With the Best Resale Value

Lexus and Subaru produce vehicles with the best resale values when compared to other car makers, according to a recent report from Kelley Blue Book. It named Subaru the best brand overall and Lexus the top luxury brand for resale value, with three Subarus and six Lexuses topping their vehicle segments. Chevrolet and Toyota each had five vehicle-segment winners, mostly trucks and SUVs.

Evaluating a model’s resale value is pretty straightforward: Kelley Blue Book analysts looked at millions of transactions to determine which vehicles retained the highest percentage of their original Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) after five years of ownership.

Many consumers prioritize high resale values when purchasing new vehicles, because when it’s time to get a new car, it’s nice to have the option of selling an existing vehicle and using the proceeds for a down payment on the next one. A higher down payment will help you secure a lower interest rate on an auto loan, not to mention the fact that you can finance a smaller amount of the car’s value. Your credit score is also a major factor in getting approved for a car loan. (You can check your credit scores for free on Credit.com.)

Trucks and SUVs dominate the resale market, Kelley Blue Book notes, but to get a broader picture of resale values, we’ll list the winners in each category tracked in the report. For comparison, Kelley Blue Book estimates the average 2015 model year vehicle will retain 38.2% of MSRP after five years and roughly 75,000 miles.

Subcompact Car: Honda Fit
Resale value at 36 months: 65%
Resale value at 60 months: 47.7%

Plug-in Vehicle: Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid
Resale value at 36 months: 55%
Resale value at 60 months: 35%

Compact Car: Subaru Impreza
Resale value at 36 months: 61.3%
Resale value at 60 months: 47.1%

Compact SUV/Crossover: Jeep Wrangler
Resale value at 36 months: 67.9%
Resale value at 60 months: 57.4%

Sporty Compact Car: Subaru WRX
Resale value at 36 months: 64.2%
Resale value at 60 months: 49.4%

Mid-Size SUV/Crossover: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Resale value at 36 months: 72%
Resale value at 60 months: 60.4%

Mid-Size Car: Subaru Legacy
Resale value at 36 months: 61.8%
Resale value at 60 months: 44.3%

Full-Size SUV/Crossover: Chevrolet Suburban
Resale value at 36 months: 55.3%
Resale value at 60 months: 43.3%

Full-Size Car: Dodge Charger
Resale value at 36 months: 51%
Resale value at 60 months: 38.5%

Luxury Compact SUV/Crossover: Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
Resale value at 36 months: 57.3%
Resale value at 60 months: 44.7%

Entry-Level Luxury Car: Lexus RC 350
Resale value at 36 months: 63%
Resale value at 60 months: 45%

Luxury Mid-Size SUV/Crossover: Lexus GX 460
Resale value at 36 months: 66%
Resale value at 60 months: 48.5%

Luxury Car: Lexus GS 350
Resale value at 36 months: 54%
Resale value at 60 months: 39%

Luxury Full-Size SUV/Crossover: Lexus LX 570
Resale value at 36 months: 64%
Resale value at 60 months: 49%

High-End Luxury Car: Lexus LS 460
Resale value at 36 months: 55.5%
Resale value at 60 months: 39.5%

Hybrid SUV/Crossover: Lexus RX 450h
Resale value at 36 months: 62%
Resale value at 60 months: 46%

Sports Car: Chevrolet Camaro V6
Resale value at 36 months: 55.7%
Resale value at 60 months: 46.3%

Mid-Size Pickup Truck: Toyota Tacoma
Resale value at 36 months: 74.9%
Resale value at 60 months: 60.4%

High Performance Car: Chevrolet Corvette
Resale value at 36 months: 64.3%
Resale value at 60 months: 49.5%

Full-Size Pickup Truck: Toyota Tundra
Resale value at 36 months: 68.3%
Resale value at 60 months: 58.4%

Hybrid/Alternative Energy Car: Toyota Camry Hybrid
Resale value at 36 months: 58.7%
Resale value at 60 months: 46.7%

Minivan/Van: Toyota Sienna
Resale value at 36 months: 57.9%
Resale value at 60 months: 44.3%

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Image: iStock

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