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- Toyota took half the spots on a list of vehicles with the best resale value.
- Ford, Chevrolet, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche rounded out the rest of the Kelley Blue Book compilation.
Car buyers might have a list of top attributes they’d like to see in their next vehicle.
The list might include – aside from the right price – fuel economy, available storage, maybe even the number of cup holders.
But one area that might be overlooked is resale value, which can mean real money down the road when the buyer is looking to sell or trade in what is hopefully a trusty ride.
Which vehicles stand out when it comes to resale value?
Well, Kelley Blue Book has an answer.
10 vehicles with the best resale value
- 2025 Toyota Tacoma (64.1%)
- 2025 Chevrolet Corvette (61%)
- 2025 Toyota Tundra (60.9%)
- 2025 Toyota 4Runner (60%)
- 2025 Ford Bronco (57%)
- 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class (56.6%)
- 2025 Honda CR-V (54.4%)
- 2025 Toyota RAV4 (53.9%)
- 2025 Porsche 911 (53.8%)
- 2025 Toyota GR Supra (53.7%)
The awards list was compiled by Kelley Blue Book. The percentage the vehicle is expected to retain of its original sticker price after five years follows each car in parentheses.
Why should we care about resale value?
Allyson Harwood, senior editor of creative strategy for Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader, said resale value in many ways reflects the quality of the vehicle itself, which is important considering what buying a vehicle represents for most of us.
“Part of what goes into buying a vehicle is looking at it as an investment. It’s an expensive proposition, relatively speaking. It’s one of the more significant financial expenditures a family’s going to have,” she said. “And it’s not just about the cost when you buy it, but also what you will get for it when you sell it on the other end because the odds are in our lifetimes we’re going to be buying multiple cars.”
How are the rankings determined?
The rankings are based on statistical models looking at millions of transactions, according to Harwood.
“(The results show) what sellers/buyers have experienced and (help) project what they will experience. When it comes to what gives specific makes and models high resale value for consumers, factors such as reliability, maintenance costs, features and even if that particular body style, make and model are in high demand are important,” she said, noting that maintenance and accident history can affect resale value for individual vehicles.
Toyota takes 5 spots
Harwood indicated it’s no accident that Toyota owns half of the spots on the list.
Toyotas are known for their reliability, practicality and overall quality reflected in fit and finish, she said.
It’s worth noting that Toyota and its luxury brand, Lexus, also took top awards for resale value among mainstream and luxury brands, respectively.
What the heart wants
Harwood acknowledged that some shoppers will buy a car based on what their heart wants. But she said that’s not the “most practical way to do it.”
Buyers with families might want to consider cargo volume. Shoppers might also look to fuel economy or the costs of insurance and repairs.
Considering resale value can make a big difference the next time the car buyer makes a purchase.
The vehicles on the list retain their value better than 95% of other models, according to the Kelley Blue Book posting about the list written by Harwood.
“While the average new vehicle will be worth about 44.6% of its original sticker price after 60 months, these 10 vehicles will return an average of almost 58% to their owners’ pockets. For a $35,000 vehicle, that works out to a meaningful difference of more than $4,500 over a five-year buy-own-sell ownership cycle,” Harwood wrote.
It’s worth noting that the difference in quality between vehicles, however, might not be what it once was, according to Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions.
Most vehicles today are extremely reliable and durable, he said.
Resale value used to be a measure of long-term durability in consumers’ eyes, but today’s vehicles are so good that if they’re well cared for, they can remain on the road for many years, he said.
Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.
