15 Cars With Horrible Resale Value

Many factors, including brand reputation, model popularity, vehicle condition, mileage, and market demand, ultimately determine a car’s resale value over time. Since some cars– the Subaru Forester, for starters– hold their value better than others, factoring the resale value is a smart priority for car shoppers, even if they have no immediate need to sell the car in the future.

Granted, all cars are subject to depreciation, but the rate at which that happens varies from brand to brand and model to model. If we could always correctly determine a car’s residual value by analyzing predictable factors like reliability, brand perception, and vehicle history, we might not need market research organizations like CarEdge to figure out the best models.

Instead, volatile factors like the simple but highly effective principle of supply and demand can heavily influence resale value. That said, we’ve used the top half of CarEdge’s ranking of cars with the worst resale value after five years to list the top 15 cars with horrible trade-in value or second-hand worth. This comes from “millions of car listings and other automotive data points.”

Subaru Forester

• CarEdge’s 5-Year Residual Value: 91.74%

Based on CarEdge’s data, the Forester is a strong performer among the gathering of cars with the worst resale value. The research notes that, unlike most cars whose value depreciates rapidly when new, the Forester loses its value at a slow and steady pace.

This may sound like a credit to the compact SUV known for its AWD system, but it also means it’s harder to pinpoint the Subaru Forester’s best model year to avoid models that perform the worst in terms of residual value.

Nissan Frontier

• CarEdge’s 5-Year Residual Value: 91.16%

CarEdge notes that the Nissan Frontier will lose 23% of its value in five years. That means if you bought the 2024 model with a $30,000 starting MSRP, you can expect to sell the truck at around $23,000 after just five years.

That’s assuming it is deemed in good condition for a used car and averaging 12,000 miles per year. The Frontier is estimated to depreciate by $2,732 in the first year, all factors considered.

Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD

• CarEdge’s 5-Year Residual Value: 90.73%

The Chevrolet 3500HD losing 27% of its value after five years may not be splendid news for those who bought it new, but it’s probably good news for the used car shopper who could save $2,860 when purchasing a 2-year-old 3500HD model.

Remember, that’s assuming the truck averaged 12,000 miles a year and is in good condition. The vehicle would still have what CarEdge called “plenty of useful life” left.

GMC Sierra 1500

• CarEdge’s 5-Year Residual Value: 90.60%

The Sierra 1500 has so much going in its favor, including the many powertrains to support towing and hauling needs, a roomy cabin with impressive legroom, an easy-to-use touchscreen display, and numerous tie-down points in its massive bed.

Sadly, the Sierra 1500 is among the vehicles with a horrible resale value, returning a 22% depreciation rate after five years. CarEdge notes that 2022 is the Sierra 1500’s best model year.

Mitsubishi Mirage

• CarEdge’s 5-Year Residual Value: 90.40%

Compared to the GMC Sierra above, the Mitsubishi Mirage does not have as much going for it apart from its budget-friendly pricing and great fuel economy. It has received knocks from critics about its slow acceleration, subpar cabin comfort for a compact hatchback, and unimpressive handling.

On top of all that, it seems the Mirage is not the best option for shoppers looking for affordable cars that hold their value better. It will lose 27% of its value after five years.

Mazda CX-5

• CarEdge’s 5-Year Residual Value: 90.11%

Consumer Reports admits that the new CX-5 remains one of the best small SUVs and praised its updated transmission, suspension, and seating. CR also noted that the fuel economy of a combined 24 mpg city/highway may not be competitive for its segment but isn’t bad for an AWD SUV.

It will lose 25% of its value in 5 years, as CarEdge notes that a CX-5 customer should ensure they get a good price because the value will decline significantly.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

• CarEdge’s 5-Year Residual Value: 90.01%

The Miata has plenty of personality for such a diminutive sports car, thanks to a lightweight body cradling a punchy engine. The car is often recommended to those looking for a simple, fun-to-drive sports car that won’t cost a premium.

It’s also easy on the pocket to maintain, averaging $429 a year to keep on the road. Sadly, the MX-5 is not as stellar as regards holding its value over time. If you bought the 2022 model when new, it’d have lost 19% of its value after five years, and you’d be selling it for around $27,000, assuming you paid the $34,688 selling price.

Honda Accord

• CarEdge’s 5-Year Residual Value: 90.00%

If there was ever a one-size-fits-all midsize sedan, it’s the Honda Accord, meeting everyone’s transportation needs with its solid reliability, roomy interior, and straightforward driving dynamics. Unfortunately, CarEdge notes that newer Honda Accords no longer hold their value as well as they used to, but that’s because the prices for the new ones have spiked significantly over the years.

The Accord will return 21% depreciation after five years, making it one of the worst cars for resale value right now. On the bright side, you could save around $3,000 if you bought a 2-year-old Honda Accord.

RAM 3500

• CarEdge’s 5-Year Residual Value: 89.67%

The RAM 3500’s horrible resale value gives you an estimated $7,200 advantage if you bought a 2-year-old model, which should still be in relatively new condition. The 3500 competes valiantly against Detroit’s finest heavy-duty trucks like the Chevy Silverado 3500 and Ford F-350.

It will depreciate 28% in five years and lose a good chunk of its resale value. CarEdge recommends going for 2- to 4-year-old models of this truck due to their fast depreciation rate.

Toyota Tacoma

• CarEdge’s 5-Year Residual Value: 89.65%

CarEdge admits that the Toyota Tacoma holds its value better than most cars on the road and offers the best value, whether purchased as a new or used model. The 2023 model received a 3.5 out of 5.0 reliability score from RepairPal, which placed it 7^th out of seven midsize trucks rated for reliability. By CarEdge’s estimation, the Tacoma will lose 33% of its value after five years.

Ford F-250 Super Duty

• CarEdge’s 5-Year Residual Value: 89.00%

Using the 2024 model as a case in point, the sharp incline in the pricing structure across trim levels seems like a tell-tale of the declining residual value. The 2024 F-250 Super Duty starts at $48,760 and ascends to a bank-breaking $97,295.

That money brings a roomy, comfortable interior, a standard 4WD across all trim levels, an impressive towing and payload capacity, and plenty of tech features but the exorbitant pricing up the trim levels is off-putting. The truck will depreciate by 17% in five years.

Ford F-350 Super Duty

• CarEdge’s 5-Year Residual Value: 89.00%

CarEdge notes that it costs an average of $1,928 a year to insure the Ford F-350 Super Duty, which translates to around $9,640 added to the truck’s true cost of ownership (TCO). Though estimated to lose 19% of its value in 5 years, it offers a class-leading towing and payload capacity. However, we wouldn’t recommend the F-350 Super Duty to shoppers who intend to use it as a personal truck for several reasons.

The F-350 Super Duty is not for those looking for a fuel-efficient truck, and its massive size could make maneuverability an unpleasant challenge. That said, the F-350 Super Duty will make buyers with serious towing and hauling needs very happy.

Honda Odyssey

• CarEdge’s 5-Year Residual Value: 89.00%

While estimated to shed 27% of its value after five years, the Honda Odyssey offers an enjoyable driving experience and above-average reliability, placing 3.5 out of 5 in RepairPal’s reliability ranking.

As regards the Odyssey’s residual value dynamics, CarEdge notes that the Japanese minivan depreciates at the same pace as “the middle of the pack” in the short term but never levels off. In other words, the van never stops losing value throughout its service life.

Volkswagen Tiguan

• CarEdge’s 5-Year Residual Value: 89.00%

It’s disappointing to see the Tiguan among cars with horrible resale value, returning a 28% depreciation rate in 5 years. However, we’ve driven the new Tiguan and mostly liked what we saw and experienced. For starters, the outward view from the driver and front passenger seats is impressive, but not so much the view out the rear windscreen.

There’s no fault for the ride quality and handling, and we could testify to the SUV’s low-end power thanks to the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. We don’t mind waiting two to four years to get this Tiguan at a much lower price.

Hyundai Veloster

• CarEdge’s 5-Year Residual Value: 88.53%

The Veloster lost much of its market value long before its discontinuation in 2022 because it remained mostly unchanged in the last four years. CarEdge estimates that the Hyundai Veloster will depreciate 30% after five years, which explains why the hot-hatch costs as low as $4,000 in the used car market right now. The 2021 model is the recommended model year for the Veloster.