Cars That Hold Their Value
47 popular models ranked by real 5-year value retention — the median used-market price of a 5-year-old versus a 1-year-old, from live listing data as of November 2026. The spread is enormous: the Nissan Rogue retains 84.5% while the Lexus GX retains just 48.9%.
| # | Model | 1-yr-old median | 5-yr-old median | 5-yr retention |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nissan Rogue | $21,706 | $18,339 | 84.5% |
| 2 | Nissan Altima | $19,694 | $16,338 | 83% |
| 3 | Mazda CX-5 | $26,816 | $21,950 | 81.9% |
| 4 | Toyota Tacoma | $38,925 | $31,822 | 81.8% |
| 5 | Toyota RAV4 | $32,604 | $26,239 | 80.5% |
| 6 | Toyota 4Runner | $46,245 | $36,590 | 79.1% |
| 7 | Toyota Sienna | $44,150 | $34,432 | 78% |
| 8 | Toyota Camry | $28,158 | $21,918 | 77.8% |
| 9 | Honda Odyssey | $34,160 | $26,593 | 77.8% |
| 10 | Toyota Corolla | $22,119 | $17,197 | 77.7% |
| 11 | Honda Accord | $28,249 | $21,542 | 76.3% |
| 12 | Ram 1500 | $40,772 | $30,998 | 76% |
| 13 | Toyota Tundra | $50,801 | $38,206 | 75.2% |
| 14 | Ford Mustang | $43,928 | $32,974 | 75.1% |
| 15 | Subaru Crosstrek | $28,254 | $20,990 | 74.3% |
| 16 | Honda Civic | $25,718 | $18,999 | 73.9% |
| 17 | Honda CR-V | $33,223 | $24,493 | 73.7% |
| 18 | GMC Sierra 1500 | $45,599 | $33,097 | 72.6% |
| 19 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | $41,615 | $30,177 | 72.5% |
| 20 | Jeep Wrangler | $33,906 | $24,590 | 72.5% |
| 21 | Ford Escape | $22,927 | $16,493 | 71.9% |
| 22 | Ford Bronco Sport | $27,706 | $19,809 | 71.5% |
| 23 | Ford F-150 | $44,517 | $31,665 | 71.1% |
| 24 | Subaru Outback | $31,247 | $21,995 | 70.4% |
| 25 | Hyundai Tucson | $24,681 | $17,288 | 70% |
| 26 | Toyota Highlander | $43,196 | $30,077 | 69.6% |
| 27 | Subaru Forester | $31,714 | $21,979 | 69.3% |
| 28 | Tesla Model Y | $41,850 | $27,990 | 66.9% |
| 29 | Lexus RX | $53,388 | $35,598 | 66.7% |
| 30 | Nissan Kicks | $22,725 | $14,999 | 66% |
| 31 | BMW 3 Series | $37,989 | $24,600 | 64.8% |
| 32 | Chevrolet Tahoe | $60,408 | $38,700 | 64.1% |
| 33 | Kia Telluride | $35,499 | $22,712 | 64% |
| 34 | Chevrolet Equinox | $25,354 | $16,126 | 63.6% |
| 35 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | $34,688 | $21,998 | 63.4% |
| 36 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | $37,173 | $23,469 | 63.1% |
| 37 | Kia Sorento | $32,068 | $20,224 | 63.1% |
| 38 | Hyundai Santa Fe | $31,999 | $19,809 | 61.9% |
| 39 | Tesla Model 3 | $39,999 | $24,609 | 61.5% |
| 40 | Ford Explorer | $38,030 | $22,989 | 60.4% |
| 41 | Chevrolet Suburban | $61,490 | $36,671 | 59.6% |
| 42 | GMC Yukon | $69,116 | $40,738 | 58.9% |
| 43 | Honda Pilot | $41,927 | $24,539 | 58.5% |
| 44 | Kia Sportage | $28,529 | $16,490 | 57.8% |
| 45 | Chevrolet Traverse | $38,168 | $20,906 | 54.8% |
| 46 | BMW X5 | $56,198 | $30,607 | 54.5% |
| 47 | Lexus GX | $83,995 | $41,115 | 48.9% |
Median advertised prices from live used-market listings, computed November 2026. Models without at least 25 listings in both age groups are excluded — never estimated. Click a model for its full year-by-year curve.
Retention is the price you get back
The other half of the equation is the price you pay going in. Search live inventory and compare real asking prices before the curve starts running.
Search live inventoryFrequently asked questions
Which cars hold their value best?
In this ranking of 47 popular models (live used-market data, November 2026), the Nissan Rogue holds value best: a 5-year-old sells for a median $18,339 — 84.5% of a 1-year-old's $21,706. Trucks and body-on-frame SUVs dominate the top of the table.
How is 5-year retention calculated?
For each model we compare the median advertised price of 1-year-old examples against 5-year-old examples on the used market today, from live listing data. Only models with at least 25 listings in both age groups rank — nothing is projected or interpolated.
Why does value retention matter more than sticker price?
Depreciation is usually the single largest cost of ownership — bigger than fuel or insurance. A car that costs $3,000 more but retains 10 extra points of value after five years is the cheaper car to own. Strong retention also means used examples stay expensive, which can tip the new-vs-used math toward buying new.
Does high retention mean I should buy that car used?
Often the opposite: high-retention models carry small used discounts, so a new one (with full warranty and current incentives) can cost barely more than a 3-year-old. Low-retention models are where used buyers win. Check each model's full year-by-year curve to see where the value settles.