Which car holds its value best in the UK?
Discover which cars hold their value best in the UK. Learn about depreciation & how to make the best choice in our guide to which cars hold their value best.
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For many people, a car can be the second-most expensive purchase they’ll ever make, second only to a house.
However, with people changing cars every three to five years, it’s important that drivers make a well-informed decision to ensure their car retains as much value as possible, besides being a suitable pick for their needs.
Understanding the cars that hold their value best
If you’re looking for your next set of wheels, you may be wondering which car holds its value best. You might even have your eye on an electric or a luxury model.
All cars depreciate, and while the biggest depreciation generally hits the moment you buy a new car, even used cars continue to depreciate over time.
In order to find which car holds its value the best, you’ll want to find a model with reasonably low depreciation so that you can sell it on or part-exchange it for a decent price, helping you to upgrade several years down the line.
Which cars hold their value best?
Precisely how much a car will depreciate depends on numerous variables, including how long you intend to keep it and how many miles you’re likely to drive.
That’s before you factor in things like wear and tear, damage, trim level, fuel type and so many other elements.
However, looking at industry trends can give you an idea as to which cars might hold their value best, and SUVs continue to be extremely popular. In the first quarter of 2024, six of the 10 most sold cars were SUVs and crossovers.
Similarly, a push toward more efficient powertrains has seen the rise of mild hybrid, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, so models with those options are generally pretty desirable.
Land Rover Discovery Sport
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The Land Rover Discovery Sport is a luxurious, premium model that blends genuine off-road ability with comfort and practicality.
Despite its compact dimensions, it’s a seven-seater model that gets its power from a range of petrol, diesel, mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
It’s also a seriously well-equipped car, and while the higher specifications may seem tempting, many drivers have little need to upgrade.
Range Rover Evoque
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Technically a Land Rover model, Range Rover is considered to be a brand within a brand, and the Evoque is the smallest of four stylish SUVs.
It shares a lot of its parts with the Discovery Sport above, including its engines, but it offers a more coupé-like design that continues to turn heads well over a decade after it first launched.
You used to get sporty looking three-door models and even a convertible, but the five-door version is more popular and will likely be easier to sell when it’s time for you to upgrade.
Mercedes GLC Coupé
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The Mercedes GLC is a well-rounded, high-quality family SUV, but even the Coupé model can be extremely practical.
You get all the benefits of a high-riding model with some mild off-road abilities, plus the GLC Coupé has a large 545-litre boot despite the sloping rear roofline.
Many SUV owners still prefer diesel as it can be better-suited to these heavier vehicles, but the unique diesel plug-in hybrid is more appealing. Especially with its electric-only range of up to 80 miles.
Volkswagen Tiguan
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A long-standing staple in the Volkswagen family, this mid-sized SUV is a natural upgrade from a Golf or Passat for many buyers, and because of its popularity, it can retain a lot of its value.
When the second-generation model launched in 2016, it turned a lot of heads, and it continues to be a desirable model despite the launch of a newer generation in 2024.
For the most up-to-date-looking version, seek out the R-Line trim, which has proven to be a popular option over the years. Pick from a range of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid options.
Dacia Sandero
 "Dacia Sandero front")
This is the only hatchback model on this list, proving that a high driving position is very appealing, although the Sandero Stepway model does help bridge the gap between these classes of cars.
A second generation launched in 2020, and it seriously improved the quality of materials and car tech.
Helping to reduce your loss over the years is that the Dacia Sandero is already a very affordable car – at one point, it was the cheapest car you could buy new.
Which electric car holds its value best?
While early electric cars were known for having short ranges, they’ve come a long way, and models offering in excess of 300 and even 400 miles between charges aren’t uncommon.
We’ve also had plenty of time to ascertain that battery tech is reliable and long-lasting, helping to alleviate initial concerns that they may not outlive their petrol counterparts.
With electric vehicles expected to account for more than one in five new car sales by the end of 2024, it’s clear that more and more buyers are preparing to make the switch.
Volkswagen ID.Buzz
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VW hopes its latest ID-branded electric models might be as monumental as the original Beetle or the class-leading Golf. There’s a growing number of models to choose from, including hatchbacks, SUVs, saloons, estates, and this, the ID.Buzz.
Dubbed as the successor to the iconic camper, the ID.Buzz retains all the retro charm of the 1950s classic balanced with a seriously futuristic cabin and powertrain.
The 77kWh battery is good for around 250 miles, which is about as much as you’d want to cover in a day before you park up at your next campsite to plug in.
Toyota bZ4X
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If you’re still weary about electric cars, then maybe Toyota’s industry-leading warranty might sway your decision.
With plenty of experience building batteries for hybrid vehicles, the Toyota bZ4X (and all other models built after 2021) comes with a three-year warranty that can be extended all the way up to 10 years with annual servicing.
It’s a comparably affordable model that’s well-appointed, reasonably efficient and looks great. Families will also appreciate its five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
Which luxury car holds its value best
Make a quick internet search of the cars that hold their value the best, and you’ll notice that most models are out of reach for most buyers because they’re seriously expensive.
Plenty of Porsche, Land Rover and Range Rover models make the cut, but many of them cost in excess of £100,000 new, which means that, thanks to their comparably slow depreciation, they can still be pricey to buy used.
Range Rover
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Few cars offer as much luxury as the Range Rover, which is designed to take on luxury limos like the Mercedes S-Class in a more practical SUV format.
Land Rover has been building the full-sized Range Rover since the 1970s. While the fifth-generation model from 2022 onward might seem appealing, the fourth-generation model sold between 2012 and 2022 offers the best value for money when buying used.
Many older models are now surprisingly affordable, but because they still come with more car tech than some brand-new basic hatchbacks, they’re still desirable on the used market. High-spec models come with luxuries like massage seats, a 360-degree parking camera and a built-in fridge.
Porsche Panamera
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Virtually any Porsche will retain its value for longer than average, but we’ve picked the Panamera for its luxurious appeal.
It’s a luxury limo like the BMW 7 Series with a sporty edge, which means you can pick from plenty of V6 and V8 engines, and even a plug-in hybrid.
Apart from the saloon model, you can also have the Sport Turismo variant, which the motoring industry calls a shooting brake. It’s like an estate, except it has a sense of coupé about it – we think it looks even better than the saloon.
Choose the best value car for you
There are many factors to consider when shopping for a used car, so don’t be limited by depreciation and values.
You should also focus on what makes the car right for you and whether other models offer similar features for less money.
For example, there are plenty of affordable options that come loaded to the roof with equipment, so if you’re willing to sacrifice the luxury badge, you could save yourself thousands.
There’s no concrete formula to knowing which car will hold its value the best, and while some expensive models may show a lower percentage depreciation, cheaper cars may lose less money simply because they’re lower in price to start with.
Apart from variables that you can control, like mileage, condition and service history, some of the factors that affect depreciation include brand reputation, reliability and market conditions.
Find your value-holding car at cinch
At cinch, our highly trained technicians have already done the hard work of checking each car over, and our high-resolution imagery shows you exactly what you’re getting.
By buying online, you can have the car delivered to you, plus you’ll benefit from a 14-day money-back guarantee.