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Aug 14, 2023

10 Amazing Cars That Hold Their Value

In an extremely volatile market, make a smart investment choice with these 10 great cars that retain their value incredibly well Buying a flashy car as an investment is usually an irresponsible

In an extremely volatile market, make a smart investment choice with these 10 great cars that retain their value incredibly well

Buying a flashy car as an investment is usually an irresponsible financial decision because of the high level of maintenance and drastic rate of depreciation that some of these models may suffer from. Buying a premium car in today’s time doesn’t come attached with the same risks for several reasons related to the shift in global finances. There are still options that will plummet in value once you drive them off the dealer floor. However, some familiar and new competitors in the luxury and premium segments are showcasing strong retention in value since being sold.

These are amazing cars that hold their value well, but they should not be considered a sound financial investment. Consumers that are looking for a fun piece of machinery that won’t hit their bank account too hard when it is time to pass on ownership may consider these models as sound purchases. These results are based on current used sale prices and valuations from professionals. The cars that appear on this list cover a variety of segments, including trucks, roadsters, and grand tourers.

Data, specifications, and values quoted in this list of amazing cars that hold their value were sourced from KBB, CarEgde, MotorTrend, and other noteworthy publications and resources.

Related: 10 Cheap Cars That Can Go Up In Value

The Toyota GR86 is a car that maintains an impressive value on the used car market, but it is not as formidable as its Subaru-badged counterpart. Valuations show that the BRZ can lose just shy of 25 percent of its value within five years of being purchased. This is an impressive result for any car, let alone a niche fun-focused Japanese sports car.

0-60 mph

6.6 seconds

Top Speed

139 mph

Horsepower

228 hp

Torque

184 lb-ft

Transmission

Six-speed manual or automatic

Engine

2.4-liter flat-four

The BRZ may appear to be the same as the GR86, but it features some minute alterations that less-extreme auto enthusiasts may appreciate. Subaru altered the chassis so that it has softer and more focused handling characteristics. This makes it a slightly more livable car to own as a daily driver. The BRZ also benefits from impressive safety ratings.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a car that appears to dominate these kinds of lists. It becomes more of an obvious inclusion once you analyze why this compact Japanese roadster only loses 19 percent of its value five years after leaving the dealership floor. The Miata is the only product of its kind, but it is not necessarily a scarce car. Not many new MX-5 units leave the dealership floor, despite not being sold in limited units like a special edition model would. This is why they are relatively scarce in the used market.

0-60 mph

5.7 seconds

Top Speed

149 mph

Horsepower

188 hp

Torque

177 lb-ft

Transmission

Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic

Engine

2.0-liter four-cylinder

The MX-5 Miata is a sought-after entry-level sports car that provides consumers with low-speed fun from its peppy engine and sharp handling characteristics. It’s not the most thrilling or powerful car available, but it has developed a cult status because it does exactly what it says on the tin.

Related: 10 SUVs That Will Only Grow In Value

The Ford Mustang has always been a big winner in the used car market. Experts reveal that the average Mustang will only lose 24 percent of its value once being purchased. More exclusive and performance-oriented examples are likely to fare even better than this. Some may consider the Ford Mustang to be the hero car of the U.S.A., although this is a widely debated topic among die-hard muscle car fans.

0-60 mph

5.6 seconds

Top Speed

155 mph

Horsepower

315 hp

Torque

350 lb-ft

Transmission

Six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic

Engine

5.0-liter V-8

The Ford Mustang has a long heritage of performance and reliability across the world, which is why it sparks so much confidence in the used car market. Another great Mustang attribute is that it is a pony car, which is available with multiple configurations that appeal to a diverse set of consumers. This covers those looking for a diluted daily driver with modest performance and hard-core speed-freak track enthusiasts.

Used values remain resilient even as the sun sets on the Chevrolet Camaro. Evaluators reveal that GM’s pony car only shaves 17 percent of its value off after five years, which is an incredible performance for a car that does not hit the same sales figures as its main rival, the Ford Mustang. This reduction in value could be accredited to the fact that there are fewer options available in the used market compared to Ford’s champion.

0-60 mph

5.4 seconds

Top Speed

155 mph

Horsepower

455 hp

Torque

455 lb-ft

Transmission

Six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic

Engine

6.2-liter V-8

Chevrolet is looking to bring an end to the Camaro as it ushers in a new age of electrification. The Camaro was widely successful, so there is a certainty that the heritage model could continue, even if it does not bear the iconic moniker.

Related: Luxury Cars That Actually Hold Their Value

The Tesla Model X is one of the few SUVs in the market that loses less than 30 percent of its value after five years. This is impressive when you consider that ICE-driven SUVs of this size in the same price category can lose up to 40 to 50 percent in the same period. The Model X has the benefit of a desirable badge sitting on its hood together with its impressive electrified performance capabilities.

0-60 mph

2.5 seconds

Top Speed

163 mph

Horsepower

344 hp

Torque

486 lb-ft

Transmission

Single-speed

Motor

Dual AC Induction Motor

Having said that. the Tesla Model X is not the brand’s best-selling product, but it is still highly desired by many consumers in the countries where it is sold. The Model X’s performance is even more impressive considering that modern electric cars don’t retain value all too well due to a multitude of reasons such as limited infrastructure and a lack of knowledge surrounding electric cars.

The Toyota Tacoma is an awesome truck that only sheds an impressive 33 percent of its value over five years. The Tacoma accredits this impressive market resilience to its reputation surrounding reliability, capability, and low maintenance costs. Toyota’s mid-size truck is known to be an easy and proficient product to own to its main rivals, which is why used models are so highly sought after.

0-60 mph

7.6 seconds

Top Speed

131 mph

Horsepower

278 hp

Torque

265 lb-ft

Transmission

Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic

Engine

3.5-liter V-6

The Tacoma doesn’t have much variety in terms of engine and drivetrain options. Still, there is a broad offering of trims and packages that cater to varying consumers shopping in the truck market. Work-truck specifications may but just as desired as the flagship TRD off-road package examples because they both maintain similar reputations. This is likely to continue with the new-generation model.

Related: New Cars That Are About To Tank In Value In 2023

It may baffle some to learn that the Nissan GT-R only loses 25 percent of its value after five years. This is a result that most models in the segment cannot even come close to. The GT-R has been produced by Nissan for over a decade but in very small numbers. 40,000 units have been constructed for the global market since the car was introduced in 2007. This is less than Ford’s annual allocation of the Mustang in the U.S. alone.

0-60 mph

2.9 seconds

Top Speed

200 mph

Horsepower

600 hp

Torque

481 lb-ft

Transmission

Six-speed automatic

Engine

Twin-turbo 3.7-liter V-6

The Nissan GT-R is a car that divides many car enthusiasts. Some argue that it is an emotionless performance car that has long overstayed its welcome, while others assure that it remains a halo tuner car that upholds the import culture.

It should be no surprise that the Chevrolet Corvette only sheds 18 percent of its value every five years. The Corvette is a performance car that is well-known in every household and desired by many car enthusiasts for a multitude of reasons that include exclusivity, incredible performance, and head-turning design. The C8-generation of the Corvette increased this level of demand and desirability with its new mid-engine layout.

0-60 mph

2.6 seconds

Top Speed

194 mph

Horsepower

670 horsepower

Torque

470 lb-ft

Transmission

Eight-speed automatic

Engine

5.5-liter V-8

It’s understood that the C8-generation could be the last purely ICE-driven iteration of its long lineage. This is likely why values remain impressively resilient within the used car market. The Corvette also remains a hard-to-come-by model due to production constraints experienced over the last few years. There is little doubt that its reputation and desirability will change much in years to come.

Related: These Are The Classic Cars Expected To Grow In Value Exponentially In 2023

The new Z sparked a flame of excitement and hope among Nissan's performance enthusiasts with its new twin-turbo engine and retro-inspired sports car design. It has not been on the market for a long time. But used values reflect that it may only lose around 20 percent of its value over five years, which is a significant improvement from the 370Z’s 25 percent loss.

0-60 mph

4.5 seconds

Top Speed

155 mph

Horsepower

400 hp

Torque

350 lb-ft

Transmission

Six-speed manual or nine-speed automatic

Engine

Twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6

The Nissan Z likely maintains impressive value retention for the same reasons that the Nissan GT-R does. Nissan garners an excellent reputation in the used market because of its impressive reliability, the joy its handling characteristics bring its drivers, and the aspirational status it holds in the world of imported cars. The Nissan Z appears to dominate similar cars in the market, like the Toyota Supra, despite bearing a platform that is revised but relatively older. There’s little doubt that its value will shift, given how well it has been received by reviewers and consumers.

High-end German cars are usually hit with drastic depreciation once the dealer sells them to their first customers, but this is not the case with the Porsche 911 range. The average Porsche 911 only loses 15 percent of its value when looking at the entire range as a collective. Those who are familiar with what the 911 represents should not be surprised by this result, as the iconic badge has always represented the pinnacle of refinement and performance in its segment.

0-60 mph

3.2 seconds

Top Speed

191 mph

Horsepower

443 hp

Torque

390 lb-ft

Transmission

Six- or seven-speed manual or eight-speed automatic

Engine

Twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-six

The Porsche 911 caters to those who want impressive performance in a modest package via the Carrera specification. Those who want the most extreme 911 experience can opt for the GT and Turbo ranges. In between all of these models are specific special edition trims that add a level of exclusivity to the range.

As of 2023, the Toyota Tundra, Toyota Tacoma, and Tesla Model X are rated to have the best resale value in the used car market.

Performance coupes usually fetch the best prices in the used car market but attached to this are usually high maintenance and insurance costs.

Cars that maintain a good value in the current used marked are the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, and Hyundai Elantra. Other cars that compete in these segments also reflect promising values.

Gas cars still maintain impressive resale values because consumers are more familiar with them and general infrastructure still favors fossil fuel vehicles.

There is no SUV that does not appreciate but the model that appears to be maintaining the best value in the used car market is the Tesla Model X.

Nikesh Kooverjee has been active in the automotive journalism sphere since 2014 with an extensive career in both print and digital media. Before this, he acquired his degree in Media and Writing and English Language and Literature. He is also a passionate fan of all things gaming and Formula 1, but in his spare time, he works on and cruises around in his 1974 Austin Mini. He has a desire to expand his collection, but for the time being, one British classic is enough to keep his hands full.