Purchasing a car is one of the biggest financial investments a person can make. Aside from the joy of driving a specific vehicle and its unique connection forged with each owner, one of the more important aspects of owning the vehicle is the value it retains.
iSeeCars.com, the automotive search engine, analyzed more than 4.3 million new and used car sales to find which models carry the highest and lowest depreciation five years after being purchased.
Read More: The 11 new cars people most regularly ditch after just one year of ownership
The data that came back pointed to one conclusion: Pickup trucks are the best buys if you're looking for your car to hold onto its value—six of the top 10 cars were of that model.
“Pickup trucks depreciate the least of any vehicle segment at 41.3 percent, while cars depreciate at 54.1 percent and SUVs at 51.9 percent,” said Phong Ly, CEO of iSeeCars, in a public statement. “The lower depreciation for pickup trucks is likely because it is a growing vehicle segment and their popularity is keeping values high.”
The iSeeCars.com average 5-year depreciation for all vehicles was 50.2%.
One reason for the low depreciation of pickup trucks is their durability.
Speaking of the Toyota 4Runner, Ly said, "The Toyota 4Runner is a body-on-frame SUV, which means it’s built like a truck and has truck-like durability," adding that, "Its ruggedness and reputation for being a reliable vehicle help contribute to its value retention."
Let's take a look below at the 10 cars and trucks with the lowest depreciation.
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