Not all cars age the same. Some models hold on to most of their value years down the road, while others shed more than half in the same period. Knowing which is which before you sign could save — or cost — you tens of thousands of dollars.
A recent study from iSeeCars analyzed more than 950,000 five-year-old used cars sold between March 2025 and February 2026 to calculate depreciation relative to original sticker price.
Researchers stripped out heavy-duty trucks, discontinued models and low-volume vehicles, then inflation-adjusted the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) to 2026 dollars.
The average car loses 41.8% of its value over five years, but depending on what you drive, that number could be much higher or lower.
Trucks and hybrids win over EVs
Before getting to individual models, it helps to know how the major segments stack up.
- Trucks lose just 34.2% of their value on average after five years.
- Hybrids aren’t far behind at 35.4%.
- SUVs land near the overall average at 44.9%.
- Electric vehicles (EVs) are in a different category entirely, shedding 57.2%, more than 15 percentage points worse than the industry average.
Karl Brauer, iSeeCars executive analyst, explains in a summary of the findings:
“While SUVs are the most dominant body style in the U.S. market, it’s the truck and hybrid segments that hold their value the best among all vehicle types. Electric vehicles continue to lose more value than any other segment, outpacing the industry average by more than 15 percentage points.”
Every segment retained more value in 2026 than in 2025. Brauer attributes the shift to rising new car prices and softening consumer confidence pushing more buyers toward the used market.
The 15 cars that hold their value best
Here are the cars that best retain their value, according to iSeeCars, along with their average five-year depreciation and average price difference from the MSRP.
- Porsche 718 Cayman — loses 9.6% over 5 years, $6,988
- Porsche 911 — 11.1%, $15,533
- Chevrolet Corvette — 18.7%, $13,365
- Toyota Tacoma — 19.9%, $6,426
- Toyota Tundra — 21.2%, $8,746
- Honda Civic — 22.9%, $5,828
- Subaru BRZ — 23.7%, $8,489
- Toyota GR Supra — 24.0%, $13,963
- Toyota RAV4/RAV4 Hybrid — 25.2%, $7,731
- Toyota Corolla Hatchback — 25.5%, $6,220
- Toyota 4Runner — 25.5%, $10,697
- Lexus RC 300/350 — 26.6%, $12,674
- Ford Mustang — 26.8%, $9,205
- Toyota Corolla — 27.6%, $6,328
- Toyota Sienna — 28.5%, $11,530
The 15 cars that lose the most value
The following models lose the most value, each listed with their average five-year percentage drop and average dollar drop from the MSRP.
- Nissan Leaf — loses 63.1% over 5 years, $17,743
- Infiniti QX80 — 62.8%, $52,631
- Volkswagen ID.4 — 62.1%, $28,010
- Tesla Model S — 62.0%, $58,907
- Land Rover Range Rover — 61.7%, $69,856
- BMW 7 Series — 61.6%, $61,141
- Tesla Model X — 61.2%, $61,216
- Ford Mustang Mach-E — 60.8%, $22,976
- BMW 5 Series (hybrid) — 59.5%, $44,921
- Infiniti QX60 — 58.3%, $30,099
- Land Rover Range Rover Sport — 58.3%, $45,272
- Audi Q5 (hybrid) — 58.2%, $34,063
- Land Rover Discovery — 57.9%, $34,878
- Tesla Model Y — 57.8%, $26,020
- Audi A8 L — 57.6%, $54,824
EVs and luxury models account for 24 of the 25 worst performers in the full study.
“Luxury vehicles offer an appealing blend of upscale styling, premium interior materials and the latest in automotive technology,” Brauer says, “but if you’re buying a new car and looking to retain maximum value, you’ll want to avoid most luxury models. The used car market simply doesn’t put the same value on those traits.”
EV depreciation also barely improved year over year, decreasing from 58.8% to 57.2% while every other segment made more meaningful gains. Brauer notes that the “high upfront cost comes back to haunt electric cars on the used market, where buyers aren’t willing to pay the premium.”
If keeping your car’s value matters, trucks, hybrids and Japanese brands remain the safest bets. The hidden cost of an EV or luxury model doesn’t show up at the dealership, but it does when it’s time to sell.
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