The Slowest Depreciating Cars 2025
One of the main factors in deciding which car to buy next can be how much it will depreciate, or its residual value. The ability for a car to hold on to its value better can result in everything from lower payments on your finance package, greater bargaining during part exchanging or greater equity and cash back in your pocket when it comes time to sell.
With that in mind, a car that holds on to its value better than others can make your buying decision easier and could sway your decision between which particular make or model you are looking to purchase. To work out which cars hold on to their residual value better, we need to look at how much percentage of that value is retained after the industry average of 3 years and 36,000 miles after the car was bought when new.
With the start of a new year, the data from the CDL Vehicle Information Services for 2024 has been confirmed and analysed by popular publication Auto Express to reveal which vehicles hold on to their value better than all the others. The average value retained regardless of fuel type for new cars is 47.7% based upon their part-exchange value after 3 years and 36,000 miles covered.
When this is converted to retail values between how the two are powered, the average residual value of an EV is over 15% lower than the average retained value of combustion engine vehicles, according to data from Auto Trader. With the number of brand-new combustion engine vehicles available diminishing over the coming years, is this divide likely to widen even further? Only time will tell.
With that in mind here is our countdown of the Top 10 Slowest Depreciating Cars as of the beginning of 2025:
10 – Porsche Macan
The Macan has been one of Porsche’s biggest selling models since its introduction, in fact since 2014 they have sold over half a million globally. With the popularity of SUV’s at an all-time high and the fact that Porsche have ensured that the Macan is one of the most enjoyable to drive means it is easy to see why they sell so well. It was also one of our most funded cars last year for our customers too, with 130 Macan models funded in 2024 alone making it our 7th most popular vehicle.
What is interesting however is the fact that despite the latest Macan switching to EV only, in the UK and North America in particular the combustion engine variant remains on sale for the foreseeable future. It is that petrol engine version that makes it into 10th place for the slowest depreciating cars at the moment, despite the appeal of the all-new electric variant.
With the range starting at just under ￡56,000, the smallest of Porsche’s SUVs retains 63% of its value after 3 years and 36,000 miles, resulting in a part exchange value of just over ￡35,000. Interestingly the electric variant is also one of the slowest depreciating EV’s on the market, but its 59.4% value retained cannot compete with the petrol version for residual value. With the combustion engine variant potentially on limited time as a brand-new vehicle, this could also mean that it holds on to its value better than ever over the next few years.
9 – Mercedes V-Class
If you need to transport more than 7 people and their luggage at any one time, there are very limited options available to new car buyers. Short of buying a minibus or taking two cars the options are limited to the Ford Transit based Tourneo Custom, the Land Rover Defender 130 or the Mercedes Benz V-Class. For brand snobbery, whilst the Defender certainly offers the same prestige badge as the Mercedes, it cannot compete in terms of space and practicality. Whereas offering the same number of seats and the addition of windows in the Ford won’t dispel the ‘white van man’ image that many feel it would come with.
The Mercedes Benz V-Class offers executive levels of comfort and refinement for all 8 occupants and can easily take an abundance of luggage at the same time. Its flexibility and dependability ensures that just because you are transporting a number of people and are limited to just a few models, it doesn’t mean you have to compromise on luxury and desirability.
Despite its starting price of just over ￡75,000 the V-Class manages to retain just over 63% of its price when new, meaning after 3 years and 36,000 miles it has a trade in value of around ￡47,800. Large executive vehicles are often the ones that really struggle to hold on to their value after a few years, maybe the scarcity of a vehicle that can carry 8 in comfort means that the V-Class bucks the usual trend.
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8 – Dacia Duster
Who would have thought that amongst this array of prestige cars from some of the most sought after brands in the automotive industry there would be a cheap affordable car also included. With the prices of most things, but in particular new cars, rising at a considerable rate recently, perhaps it isn’t too surprising that an affordable alternative is highly sought after. Despite being founded in 1966 Dacia was only popular in Eastern Europe, in particular home country, Romania. Following acquisition and a rebrand in 2008 by now parent company Renault, the brand was slated to be sold across the whole of Europe and in 2013 came to our shores.
With the popularity of SUV’s in recent years it is hardly surprising that the Duster is one of the brand’s most popular models. In fact, it is second only to the Sandero and is responsible for almost a quarter of all Dacia’s ever sold since the company formed, some 2.4 million vehicles. Despite the range starting at just ￡18,850, as well as off-road capability, room for all the family and their luggage, the latest Duster comes with a touchscreen display, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, cruise control, hill start assist, parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring and much more, all as standard.
Such value for money means that the demand for the model has continued to rise and the strong residual values reflect that. The Duster’s ability to offer such slow depreciation mans that in 3 years and 36,000 miles when you come to part exchange your vehicle you will have lost on average just ￡6,870. That works out at just 36.7% of the value and a residual value of 63.3%. It just goes to show that even though you are saving money in the first place, doesn’t mean you are sacrificing the value that will be left in the car when it comes time to sell it.
7 – Land Rover Discovery
The Land Rover Discovery was introduced as the mid-point between the utilitarian (at the time) Defender and the comfort and usability of the Range Rover. It aimed at providing all the off-road ability you’d ever need yet be able to just as easily be used for the school run and never venture off the road at all. After 5 generations and 36 years these days it has even grown into its own sub-brand amongst the Land Rover / Range Rover products.
Despite nearing 8 years since the current Discovery 5 was launched its appeal and desirability remain strong amongst consumers. The latest version is even more refined and luxurious than ever before, with the premium feel of the Range Rover and its technology and capability on offer for considerably less cost. With its size it is also more flexible and better equipped for those looking for the perfect family SUV that can take on all conditions.
With a starting price of over ￡52,000 the Discovery sees a return of 63.8% of its value, meaning just over ￡19,000 has been lost over 3 years and 36,000 miles. Despite the fact it will be due for a replacement any time soon, the appeal and demand for the Discovery is as strong as ever, hence the impressive residual value. With the next model likely to be hybridised or be offered with electric power for the first time, it remains to be seen whether the following model will have the same appeal. Yet with the current iteration providing the best iteration of Discovery yet, the current model will be sought after for some time yet.
6 – Toyota Land Cruiser
The Land Cruiser is a model that has in one way or another been on sale for nearly 75 years. With more than 10 million vehicles sold over that time there have been 15 different model iterations across Light-Duty, Heavy-Duty and Station Wagon. Though incredibly the heavy-duty version is only on its 3rd generation in that time, the latest J70 model has been on sale and merely facelifted since 1985, the ’40 Series’ before that was replaced after a mere 25 years. It is the Light-Duty however that is the only one aimed at luxury and more of a focus on-road capability, and the one that has undergone the biggest overhaul for the all-new model.
Many of the latest models on the market have looked to their past for styling and design inspiration. There are plenty of brands that have at least one or two ionic past models that still have large followings, but only the very best can use that appeal when they are launching a brand-new model that is heavily influenced by a legendary vehicle. For the latest smaller iteration, Toyota have drawn on the appeal of the G-Class, Defender and even the Suzuki Jimny and much like a lot of manufacturers these days have gone all retro-modern.
The new for 2024 Land Cruiser is widely regarded as the best performing on the road there has ever been. Along with its iconic Land Cruiser of ‘days gone by’ inspired styling it also is seen as the best looking and the perfect model to take on the appeal of the latest Defender. With a starting price of ￡75,000 the Land Cruiser isn’t exactly cheap, but what premium cars are these days? Happily however thanks to its appeal and demand, not only is it unavailable to buy on the Toyota website for now, it is also as a result holding its value remarkably well on the pre-owned market. A 3 year old model that has covered 36,000 miles would be expected to hold on to just under ￡48,000 of its value, an impressive 64%.