Most depreciation advice focuses on the shape of the curve — steep in year one, flatter after that. That's useful, but it skips a question a lot of shoppers actually ask first: which kinds of vehicles tend to sit toward the strong end of that curve, and which tend to sit toward the weak end? The list below isn't a ranking of exact models or a promise about resale percentages; it's a curated snapshot of categories and reputations that come up again and again in used-vehicle discussions, meant as a starting reference point.
Categories commonly cited for strong vs. weak resale value
The table below is illustrative and directional — a general reference for category-level reputation, not a specific-model appraisal. Treat "Holds value well" and "Depreciates faster" as commonly-cited tendencies, not guaranteed outcomes for any individual vehicle you might be considering.
| Category / reputation | General tendency |
|---|---|
| Mid-size pickup trucks | Holds value well |
| Compact and mid-size SUVs (mainstream brands) | Holds value well |
| Off-road-capable 4x4 SUVs | Holds value well |
| Hybrid compact sedans/hatchbacks | Holds value well |
| Reliability-reputation compact cars | Holds value well |
| Full-size pickup trucks (popular trims) | Holds value well |
| Mainstream mid-size sedans (average trims) | Average / typical curve |
| Minivans (mainstream brands) | Average / typical curve |
| Compact crossovers (average trims) | Average / typical curve |
| Large luxury sedans | Depreciates faster |
| Entry-luxury compact sedans | Depreciates faster |
| Low-volume performance/sports coupes | Depreciates faster |
| Ultra-luxury and exotic models | Depreciates faster |
| Early-generation EVs (fast tech turnover) | Depreciates faster / wide swing |
| Diesel passenger cars (in some markets) | Depreciates faster |
Notice this is a table of categories and reputations, not specific model names with specific percentages — that's intentional. Real resale value for any one vehicle depends on its exact trim, mileage, regional demand, and condition, which a category-level list can never fully capture.
Why does the gap exist?
A few recurring patterns explain most of the spread between "holds value well" and "depreciates faster" categories:
- Depth of buyer pool — mainstream trucks and SUVs have a huge pool of used-vehicle shoppers; ultra-luxury and exotic models have a much smaller one, which slows resale and pressures price.
- Reputation for reliability — models with a track record of low repair costs tend to attract buyers willing to pay more for a used example, which supports resale value over time.
- Maintenance and running costs — vehicles known for expensive parts, specialized service, or high insurance costs face softer used demand relative to their original price.
- Pace of technology change — categories where each model year brings meaningfully better range, features, or performance (some EVs, some tech-forward trims) can see older versions lose value faster as buyers wait for the newer one.
- New-vehicle discounting — brands or trims that are frequently sold new at a steep discount effectively drag the "true" starting value down, which can make the depreciation percentage from MSRP look larger than it really is in practice.
Modeling your own car against a category
This calculator doesn't look up your specific make and model — instead, it gives you two controls to approximate where your vehicle sits: the Vehicle type dropdown (sedan/hatchback, truck/SUV, or luxury/sports) sets the base curve shape, and the Depreciation rate selector (Low / Average / High) lets you nudge that curve to reflect a specific brand's reputation without changing the body-style category.
A version of this reference table with searchable specific models is a natural next step — something to potentially add as a dedicated, longer content section down the line, expanding past general categories into 10-20 commonly-discussed individual models with side-by-side value-retention notes.
A note on currency display
Right now, every dollar figure in the calculator — purchase price, current value, projected future value — is shown and entered in US dollars. That fits the tool's US-market depreciation curves well, but if you're mentally converting to another currency while reading the output, here's a useful shortcut: the underlying percentage-based curve doesn't care what currency you're using. A car that retains 40% of its value after 5 years retains 40% whether the original price was in dollars, pounds, or euros — only the number formatting changes.
A simple display toggle for pounds (£) or euros (€) — converting the shown dollar amounts to another currency symbol and format without touching the underlying math — is the kind of small convenience feature that could be added on top of the existing calculator later. Until then, if you're working in another currency, the easiest workaround is to enter your purchase price already converted into US dollars at whatever exchange rate you're using, and read the output the same way.