9 Vehicles With Out of This World Resale Value

If you’re getting ready to upgrade your ride, chances are you have an existing car to sell or trade. Googling “sell my car” will start you on the path to making room for a new vehicle, but how will you know what it’s worth and how to fetch the highest price? The web is full of car valuation tools to help you determine your vehicle’s value, including the gold standard Kelley Blue Book.

Finding out if your car is in high demand means taking time to research its value. Many factors contribute to a vehicle’s desirability, but there are also specific qualities buyers look for and are willing to pay top dollar to own. Also, every individual vehicle has its own quirks and characteristics, and subjective factors like wear and tear also play a role. If you’ve taken great care of your car, chances are you’ll be able to sell it at the top of its value range.

Despite the many variables, a handful of vehicles are well-known for their incredible resale value. These are the cream-of-the-crop, most in-demand models on the road today, and if you’re lucky enough to own one, selling could net you top dollar. Here’s a list of the top 9 vehicles with the best overall resale value. Is yours one of them?

#1 – 2022 Toyota Tundra

With the full-size Toyota Tundra, it’s all about reliability. This durable rig stands the test of time, enduring hundreds of thousands of miles and still faithfully starting every morning when you slide behind the wheel. The Tundra consistently holds 50% of its value after five years, easily earning the top spot for resale value. Given the 2022 Tundra is completely redesigned, resale value is expected to keep climbing.

#2 – 2021 Toyota Tacoma

Right on its big brother’s heels is the mid-size Tacoma pickup. Designed in part to offset the growing cost of a full-size truck, mid-size models like the Tacoma have exploded in popularity. While all Toyota models are reliable, the Tacoma redefines the word by easily lasting 200,000 miles. Also, the Tacoma includes the very popular TRD Pro trim, an off-road-ready version that is wildly popular among adventure seekers. Demand plays a big role, and the Tacoma is a hot commodity in the used truck market.

#3 – 2021 Honda HR-V

Nothing spurs confidence quite like the Honda nameplate. Buyers know that Honda vehicles are engineered to exacting standards. They’re built for the long haul, and they offer one of the best value propositions in the industry. Honda owners looking to offload their HR-V crossover are in luck: it’s a sought-after model and size, so the market is huge. You can expect your 2021 Honda HR-V to retain 43% of its value at year five.

#4 – 2021 Chevy Tahoe

Oh, the land yacht. It’s championed by families, Uber drivers, and wealthy executives for its plush accommodations, cavernous cargo space, and superior ride quality. The Tahoe received its most comprehensive redesign ever in 2021, earning it a top spot on the resale value list. Large SUVs are constantly in high demand because of their versatility. Some sources estimate that five-year resale values hover in the mid-60% range, which is unsurprising given this ute’s perennial popularity.

#5 – 2020 Chevy Corvette

The 2020 model year was a critically important one for the ‘Vette. Chevy launched the next-generation version with mid-engine architecture, giving it a near-perfect 50-50 weight distribution. In fact, the 2020 Corvette has the one of the best resale values of any sports car on the market today. After five years, expect your Corvette to retain over 50% of its value. You can also expect a long line of buyers who are more than willing to take it off your hands, especially since demand has far outweighed supply since the initial release of the C8.

#6 – 2019 Honda Civic

A gold standard in compact sedans (and hatchbacks), the Honda Civic is a favorite of many drivers looking for something in this category. As such, resale values are high for nearly every model year, but especially for the 2019 model, which marked an update to the tenth generation. Sellers can rely on high demand to fuel exceptional resale percentages at the 5-year mark. On average, a Civic will hold around 40% of its value, but surging demand could drive that percentage even higher.

#7 – 2018 Honda Odyssey

After so many years of ridicule, the minivan is back. Not only that, but it’s sought after by young, single drivers looking to optimize utility and capture their own slice of #vanlife, minus the overpriced bulk of a conversion van. Whether you’re heading into the empty nest years or it’s just time for a change, the 2018 Odyssey has held its value and was the first year of a redesign that brought some real style to the minivan. However, because younger buyers are looking for minivans, even older, high mileage Odysseys are in demand.

#8 – Any Jeep Wrangler

Some would argue the Jeep Wrangler deserves the top spot on the best resale value list. Wranglers have an average depreciation of just 9.2% over the initial five-year ownership period. Why so low? It’s all about the Wrangler’s iconic status as the de facto adventure companion. Owning a Jeep means you’re part of the Jeep Wave community. It’s a statement, and it never goes out of style. Legend and lore are behind the Wrangler’s insane resale value.

#9 – The Entire Subaru Lineup

Toyota overtook Subaru as the brand with the highest resale value in 2021, but the stoic, safety-focused automaker isn’t going down without a fight. In fact, three 2022 Subaru models made the list of cars with the highest resale value: the Crosstrek, the Forester, and the Outback. Overall, used Subaru models hold their value well and return plenty of money when it comes time to sell.

Understanding Resale Value Variables

To fully comprehend any vehicle’s true resale value, it’s important to step back and look at the big picture. First, every individual vehicle is unique. If your 2020 Corvette has a salvage title, you won’t enjoy top resale value. Similarly, if your Jeep Wrangler is full of underbody rust, no one will pay top dollar. Maintaining your car’s max resale value requires keeping up with regular maintenance.

Demand is a funny thing: it’s dependent on so many factors that are out of your control. Consider geography. Convertibles aren’t as popular in cold-weather states, so northern car owners likely won’t sell theirs for top dollar. However, if you live here in Georgia and put a drop-top Mustang up for sale, expect a bidding war. It’s for these reasons that you should consider your vehicle’s resale value a guideline, not a hard and fast rule.

There’s no doubt that availability also plays a role, so if you’re planning to sell your vehicle soon, all that pent-up demand stemming from chip shortages and inventory struggles will likely work in your favor. Even if your vehicle isn’t on our list, every situation is a little different. If you are looking to sell your car, the team here at Gwinnett Place Honda can give you an accurate assessment of its current value, and we will pay cash for your used vehicle even if you don’t buy anything new from us.