As More People Buy SUVs than ever before, be wise, and get one of these with the lowest depreciation

When choosing your next car, the resale value is an important piece of information to consider. Before 2020, people often didn't pay much attention to this aspect since there was a common belief that "the minute you leave the dealership, you start losing money." However, certain models were known for retaining their value quite well. Jeep Wranglers and Toyota Land Cruisers, however, the resale value wasn't the primary consideration. In recent times, alongside all other aspects, this has shifted.

There have consistently been extremely limited-edition vehicles that could be resold in the secondary market for higher amounts due to their anticipated future worth as collector’s items. Admittedly, this strategy was typically confined to just a select group of specific models. Nevertheless, beginning in 2021, numerous instances arose where standard production automobiles were purchased solely with the intention of flipping them within a few months either through auctions or dealership sales, sometimes even by those who originally sold these cars. well over MSRP Although that trend has simmered down since those threshold periods, savvy automobile purchasers understand the importance of assessing the future resale value of the new vehicles they intend to buy.

Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot isn’t the first on anyone’s list of most exciting SUVs, but it is reliable, comfortable, and consistent. As you might assume, these are the basic ingredients of an SUV with low depreciation.

Depreciation Rate

The 2025 Honda Pilot stays robust thanks to numerous model years validating its quality. The Honda Pilot boasts impressive traction features, a spacious three-row cabin, and a reliable 3.5-liter V6 engine. Despite being a midsize SUV, Honda certainly earns a place on this list of SUVs with low depreciation, the majority of that value retention is seen in the first five years of ownership. After that, values tend to drop at a higher rate.

Toyota Sequoia

Toyota SUVs In general, they constitute the largest portion of SUVs with minimal depreciation. The top-tier model from Toyota reinforces this idea effectively. For almost twenty years, the Sequoia was equipped with robust V8 engines. This reliability is precisely what allows Toyotas to maintain their value over extended periods, which is particularly notable for one of the priciest models—not just within the Toyota lineup but throughout the broader Japanese SUV segment as well.

Depreciation Rate

In the short term, the Sequoia holds its value better than almost any other SUV. However, once you cross the two-year mark, the value takes a bit more of a hit. Even still, in a five-year span, the Toyota Sequoia still holds its value well, which is a kindness because Toyota isn’t giving these big bruisers away. The 2025 Toyota Sequoia starts at $62,425.

Subaru CrossTrek

In these times, if we have a ranking of "Top Cars," anything ,” Subaru will make it onto that list. When discussing safest vehicles, Subaru comes up. For reliability, it’s Subaru again. And when considering low depreciation rates, once more, it’s Subaru. The brand seems unstoppable right now. Because of all these factors, the Subaru CrossTrek stands out as one of the SUVs with the least depreciation expected for 2025.

Depreciation Rate

Buyers love the Subaru CrossTrek because it is a practical small SUV with standard all-wheel drive and great ride comfort, making it ideal for off-road and winter driving and any other sort of adventuring motoring you may need. However, its base 2.0-liter engine is slow (0-60 mph in 9.9 sec), and acceleration improves only slightly with the 2.5-liter upgrade. Handling is stable but not sporty. Despite its slow acceleration and noisy cabin, the CrossTrek is tough to beat in terms of reliability and low depreciation.

Jeep Wrangler

The Jeep Wrangler While it may not have the highest resale value among SUVs, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler stands as an iconic representative within its class. It’s widely recognized for maintaining significant worth in the secondary market. A vehicle from this model year should retain more than what most would consider the purchase taxes on the sticker price after just twelve months of ownership. Research indicates that these vehicles usually depreciate by merely around two percent during their initial year outside the dealership lot.

Depreciation Rate

Obviously, the off-roaders have a little more value at stake than the more civilized SUVs on this list. If a Jeep Wrangler is used properly, it might get pinstriped on trees, have more-than-average wear and tear, and even potentially have actual damage. These factors will throw these numbers off, but barring some sort of incident, Jeep Wranglers are known to hold value, even over long stretches of time. Case in point: a 2000 model Jeep Wrangler sold new (depending on trim) for something between $14,000-$20,000. Today, those same vehicles with north of 100k miles can still trade for the same money over 20 years later.

Toyota RAV4

Just like how Subaru operates entirely, the Toyota RAV4 is on a hot streak . This intrepid little SUV is synonymous with reliability and good vibes. In the last few years, the RAV4 Hybrid has really taken off alongside the RAV4 Prime PHEV (plug-in hybrid). The model has seen new levels of success, like being the highest-selling vehicle model in America in 2024, beating the Big Bad Ford F-150.

Depreciation Rate

The 2025 Toyota RAV4 is spacious, comfortable, and fuel-efficient (around 35 MPG highway), though not the most exciting drive. Acceleration is modest (0-60 mph in 9.1 sec), and the steering lacks precision. Ride quality is smooth, and higher trims offer solid off-road capability. But as we know, an SUV being fun to drive isn’t really what makes them retain value. That value lies in the practical: reliability, comfort, efficiency, and a general feeling of satisfaction with the money spent.

Source: Edmunds, Car Edge