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- Toyota took half the spot on its list of vehicles with the highest resale value.
- Ford, Chevrolet, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche concluded the rest of the Kelly Blue Book.
Car buyers may have a list of the best attributes they want to see on their next vehicle.
This list may include fuel economy, available storage, and even the number of cup holders, except for the right price.
However, one area that may be overlooked is resale value. This could mean real money in the future when the buyer is about to sell or trade in a reliable ride.
Which vehicles stand out when it comes to resale value?
Well, Kelly Blue’s book has the answer.
10 best resale worthy vehicles
- 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 list of awards was compiled by Kelley Blue Book. The percentage that vehicles are expected to retain their original sticker price, following each vehicle in parentheses for five years.
Why should you be concerned about the value of resale?
Allyson Harwood, senior editor of Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader’s Creative Strategy, said the resale value reflects the quality of the vehicle itself in many ways.
“Part of buying a vehicle is seeing it as an investment. It’s a relatively expensive proposition. It’s one of the more important financial spendings that a family has,” she said. “And that’s not just the cost when you buy it, but also what you get for it when you sell it on the other side, as there’s the possibility of our lifetimes when we buy multiple cars.”
How are the rankings determined?
According to Harwood, the rankings are based on statistical models that consider millions of transactions.
“(The results show) what the seller/buyer has experienced, and (help) project what they experience. If you model factors such as reliability, maintenance costs, and functionality on a particular maker and model, it’s important even if the high demand for that particular body style, maker and model is important,” she said.
Toyota takes 5 spots
Harwood showed that it’s no coincidence that Toyota owns half of the spots on the list.
Toyota is known for its reliability, practicality and overall quality reflected in its fit and finish, she said.
It is worth noting that Toyota and its luxury brand, Lexus, also won the best awards for resale value among mainstream and luxury brands, respectively.
What the heart wants
Harwood has admitted that some shoppers buy cars based on what their minds want. But she said it wasn’t “the most practical way to do it.”
Buyers with family may want to consider cargo volume. Shoppers may also look to fuel economy, insurance and repair costs.
Considering the resale value, it can make a big difference when a car buyer buys it.
According to a post about the list written by Harwood, the vehicles on the list retain more than 95% of the other models.
“The average new vehicle is worth about 44.6% of the original sticker price after 60 months, but these 10 vehicles return an average of about 58% in the owner’s pocket. For a vehicle that costs $35,000, there’s a meaningful difference of over $4,500 over a five-year purchase owner’s owner cycle.
It is worth noting that differences in quality between vehicles may not be the same as before, according to Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at Autoforecast Solutions.
Most vehicles today are very reliable and durable, he said.
Resale value was once a measure of long-term durability in the consumer’s eyes, but today’s vehicles are so good that they can stay on the road for many years, he said.
Eric D. Lawrence: Please contact elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Send a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.
