Why Is the Car You Want So Expensive?
By the CarWhere Research Team · Updated November 14, 2026 · 24 models
Why are some cars so expensive?
Across the 24 models CarWhere checked, the most common reason is resale: 12 hold their value better than their segment, so used prices stay high and new prices stay firm. The widest gaps: 911 (91.1% of new at 5 years vs 61.5% for sports cars), G-Class (74.9% of new at 3 years vs 50.3% for full-size luxury SUVs) and Sienna (77.1% of new at 3 years vs 55.4% for minivans). Others are expensive because dealers barely discount them, because their sticker keeps climbing, or because production ended.
Updated November 2026 · Sources: Cars that hold their value
Each page answers the question for one model with CarWhere's own numbers: how much value it keeps vs its segment, what verified buyers paid vs MSRP, how its sticker price has climbed, where used prices bottom out, and how reliable it is. Every page ends with how to pay less.
All models
Value kept = median asking price of a 3-year-old (or 5-year-old) example as a share of the same model's median new price today. Paid vs MSRP = median of verified CarWhere buyer deals. A dash means we don't have enough data for that figure.
FAQ
Why are some cars so expensive?
Across the 24 models CarWhere checked, the most common reason is resale: 12 hold their value better than their segment, so used prices stay high and new prices stay firm. The widest gaps: 911 (91.1% of new at 5 years vs 61.5% for sports cars), G-Class (74.9% of new at 3 years vs 50.3% for full-size luxury SUVs) and Sienna (77.1% of new at 3 years vs 55.4% for minivans). Others are expensive because dealers barely discount them, because their sticker keeps climbing, or because production ended.
Why is the 4Runner so expensive?
The 4Runner is expensive mostly because it holds its value: CarWhere data shows a 3-year-old (2023) 4Runner lists for 72.6% of today's median new price vs 60.8% for midsize SUVs, and new ones sold for 95.1% of MSRP at the median in our verified deals.
Why is the Tacoma so expensive?
The Tacoma is expensive mostly because it holds its value: CarWhere data shows a 3-year-old (2023) Tacoma lists for 76.8% of today's median new price vs 71.2% for midsize pickups, and new ones sold for 93.0% of MSRP at the median in our verified deals.
Why is the Tundra so expensive?
The Tundra is expensive mostly because its sticker keeps climbing: CarWhere data shows the cheapest Tundra went from $25,920 in 2014 to $42,890 in 2027 (+65.5%); a 3-year-old (2023) Tundra lists for 63.2% of today's median new price vs 60.1% for full-size pickups.
Why is the Sequoia so expensive?
The Sequoia is expensive mostly because it holds its value: CarWhere data shows a 3-year-old (2023) Sequoia lists for 69.3% of today's median new price vs 55.3% for full-size SUVs.
Why is the GX so expensive?
The GX is expensive mostly because it holds its value: CarWhere data shows a 3-year-old (2023) GX lists for 67.3% of today's median new price vs 54.7% for midsize luxury SUVs.
Why is the Wrangler so expensive?
The Wrangler is expensive mostly because of its sticker, not its resale: CarWhere data shows the 2026 Wrangler starts at $36,390 and runs to $57,285; new ones sold for 93.0% of MSRP at the median in our verified deals; a 3-year-old (2023) Wrangler lists for 58.0% of today's median new price vs 62.0% for midsize SUVs.
Cite this data
Source: CarWhere Research, “Why Is the Car You Want So Expensive?,” www.carwhere.com/research/why-so-expensive. Journalists: free to quote with a link. Data downloads, methodology and the media kit are on the CarWhere press page.
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