These 5 Cars Have the Best Resale Value

Buying a new car has always been a bit of a personal finance faux pas. The often-quoted statistic that a vehicle loses about 11% of its value right when you drive it off the lot means buying new usually isn't the best thing for your bank account.

New car prices have surged over the past few years, rising 22% from 2020 to 2023. Higher prices for new vehicles has translated into rising insurance costs for new vehicles as well.

Still, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to buy a new vehicle, so why not focus on the ones that will likely have the best resale value?

Here are five vehicles with the lowest five-year depreciation, according to iSeeCars data.

1. Porsche 911

5-year depreciation: 9.3%

OK, let's address the elephant in the room first, shall we? If you're buying the iconic Porsche 911, you probably don't care much about depreciation or worry about resale values. The 911's starting price of $114,400 ensures that those wondering whether the car is a good value need not apply.

But the 911 is actually a good value. Most luxury vehicles depreciate quickly, but Porsche's superbly built flagship sports car loses just 9.3% of its value after five years. And Kelley Blue Book notes that if you hold onto the 911 long enough, its value may actually go up. I wonder if my wife would be open to a fantastic investment idea I just had…

2. Toyota Tacoma

5-year depreciation: 20.4%

Toyota consistently makes some of the most reliable vehicles with high resale values, and the Tacoma pickup truck keeps the track record intact. The Tacoma loses just 20.4% over a five-year period. So, go ahead, and hit the off-road trails to your heart's content -- a few bumps and scratches might not ding the value too much.

While the Tacoma is an excellent choice for buyers looking for great value, it's worth mentioning that car insurance is usually more expensive for pickup trucks than other vehicles. So be sure to shop around for a good rate to get the most value from your purchase.

3. Jeep Wrangler

5-year depreciation: 20.8%

Unsurprisingly, one of the most well-known symbols of youth and independence remains popular among buyers many years after it rolls off the dealer's lot. Jeep owners are also a loyal bunch, which likely leads to more demand for Wranglers, no matter the model year.

iSeeCars says the legendary Wrangler depreciates by 20.8% after five years, giving you both one of the most iconic off-roading vehicles ever made with the practicality of solid resale values.

4. Honda Civic

5-year depreciation: 21.5%

I've been a fan of Hondas ever since my parents purchased an Accord back in the 80s (yikes, I'm old). I remember hanging out in the dealership, sitting in all the new cars in the showroom and testing out what was a fancy new feature at the time: power windows.

I've owned several Hondas since then, and I'm not the only one who seeks them out. Honda's knack for creating reliable vehicles attracts a loyal following and helps keep the resale values of many of its models, including the Civic, high. Depreciation is just 21.5% after five years.

5. Subaru BRZ

5-year depreciation: 23.4%

With a starting price of just $30,195, Subaru's little sports car is affordable, in addition to being a great value. That's no easy feat to pull off, but the vehicle -- co-developed with Toyota and also released as the Toyota GR86 -- marries a fun-to-drive car with low depreciation.

Buyers can sleep soundly at night knowing they've found a great vehicle with strong resale value, not to mention multiple 10Best accolades from Car and Driver.

If you're looking for even more value

Buying a vehicle that retains more value than most can be a great financial decision. And one way to maximize that value is to keep vehicle costs, including insurance and repairs, to a minimum.

Choosing a vehicle that has a high reliability rating will help you with maintenance costs. But, some people forget to apply the same research skills to finding the best car insurance.

Auto insurance prices have ballooned 20% over the past year. Taking the time to get a few rate quotes from insurance companies can save you significant cash over the lifetime of your vehicle -- maximizing the value you get out of it.