The best deal in a car dealership isn’t a discount — it’s a vehicle that holds its value. Kelley Blue Book’s 2026 resale awards put the industry average at 44.7% of MSRP retained after five years, but the spread around that average is enormous: the Toyota Tacoma keeps 63.0%, while a Tesla Model 3 keeps just 35.0%. On two $50,000 sticker prices, that difference is $14,000 of value over five years — bigger than any negotiation you will ever win, and it’s decided the day you choose the model. Here are the full 2026 rankings and how to use them.
The 2026 Winners
Kelley Blue Book’s 2026 Best Resale Value Awards, based on five-year retained value:
| Rank | Vehicle | 5-yr value retained |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota Tacoma | 63.0% |
| 2 | Toyota Tundra | 59.9% |
| 3 | Toyota 4Runner | 58.0% |
| 4 | Toyota GR Supra | 56.0% |
| 5 | Mercedes-Benz G-Class | 55.0% |
| 6 | Toyota Sienna | 54.3% |
| 7 | Ford Maverick | 54.1% |
| 8 | Chevrolet Corvette | 54.0% |
| 9 | Porsche 911 | 53.9% |
| 10 | Ford Ranger | 53.4% |
The top ten averages 56.2% — nearly 12 points above the industry’s 44.7%. Toyota is the best brand for resale for the ninth time in ten years, with Lexus taking the luxury crown. Not far behind the podium: Honda CR-V (53.2%), Civic (52.5%), and Camry (51.9%) — the mainstream models that quietly out-resale most of the market.
The pattern behind the list is stable year to year: trucks and body-on-frame SUVs hold value best, because their demand outlives the new-model cycle — a used Tacoma with 60,000 miles does nearly everything a new one does, and buyers know it. Sports cars with devoted followings (Corvette, 911, GR Supra) hold value for the same reason. And the Toyota effect is compounding: decades of durability data is exactly what used-car buyers are paying for.
The 2026 Losers
| Vehicle | 5-yr value retained |
|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 | 35.0% |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 36.4% |
| Porsche Taycan | 37.8% |
| Rivian R1T | 41.0% |
Two forces chew up resale here. Luxury sedans depreciate because their running costs and complexity age badly — a five-year-old luxury sedan carries five-year-old luxury repair risk, and buyers price that in. EVs depreciate because the technology moves: each new model year’s range and charging speed makes last year’s car look older than its mileage suggests, and with no federal tax credit since September 30, 2025, the used-EV discount is now the main way buyers close the price gap. Even the Rivian R1T — a genuinely desired truck — sits six points under the industry average.
The hidden twist for buyers: the losers’ weakness is the used market’s opportunity. A two-year-old Model 3 at a 40% discount to new is someone else’s depreciation paying your discount. The trick is to be the second owner, never the first.
What a Resale Point Is Worth
The arithmetic is worth internalizing because it’s so lopsided. On a $40,000 vehicle, each percentage point of five-year retained value is $400. Run the numbers on the extremes:
- Tacoma-class (63.0%): $40,000 → $25,200 at year five. Five-year depreciation: $14,800.
- Average vehicle (44.7%): $40,000 → $17,880. Depreciation: $22,120.
- Model 3-class (35.0%): $40,000 → $14,000. Depreciation: $26,000.
The gap between the best and worst on the same sticker is $11,200 over five years — $187 a month — which is more than most buyers spend on fuel. No haggling technique, incentive, or financing trick closes a gap that size. And in 2026, with average new-transaction prices back above $50,000 per Kelley Blue Book’s August report, the dollars attached to each point are bigger than ever.
How to Shop With This Table
If you buy new and sell within five years: buy from the top of the table. The Tacoma-premium you pay up front comes back at sale time; the “deal” on a fast-depreciating EV is a deal only for the buyer who buys it from you used.
If you buy new and keep for a decade: resale matters less — reliability and maintenance costs dominate. That also favors Toyota and Honda, conveniently, but for different reasons.
If you buy used: let the first owner absorb the losers’ cliff. A 2-to-3-year-old EV or luxury sedan is the cheapest per-year ownership in the market, if you’ve priced its insurance and charging reality first — start with the EV vs gas comparison.
Always: check where your specific trim sits. The table is by model; option packages, colors, and regional demand move individual cars a few points in either direction.
Bottom Line
Resale value is the biggest cost lever in car ownership and the one the industry talks about least, because it doesn’t sell cars — it sells specific cars. In 2026 the range runs from Toyota’s 63% Tacoma to a 35% Model 3, an $11,000-plus swing on the same sticker price, and the industry average of 44.7% means most buyers are leaving that money on the table without ever seeing it. Pick from the top of the table if you’ll sell, from the bottom of it secondhand if you won’t — then run the full five-year math in our car cost of ownership calculator with the real resale figure for your model.
FAQ
Which car has the best resale value in 2026?
The Toyota Tacoma, at 63.0% of MSRP retained after five years per Kelley Blue Book’s 2026 awards, followed by the Toyota Tundra (59.9%) and 4Runner (58.0%). Toyota is the top brand for resale for the ninth time in ten years; Lexus leads luxury.
What is the average car resale value after 5 years?
The typical new vehicle retains 44.7% of its MSRP after 60 months — meaning it loses about 55% of its value — per Kelley Blue Book’s 2026 data. The award winners average 56.2%, the worst models under 40%.
Which cars lose value fastest?
EVs and luxury sedans: the Tesla Model 3 retains just 35.0% after five years, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class 36.4%, and the Porsche Taycan 37.8%. Fast-moving EV technology and expensive out-of-warranty repair risk are what used-car buyers are pricing in.
Is a car with high resale value worth paying more for?
Usually, yes. On a $40,000 vehicle the difference between 63% and 45% resale is $7,200 over five years — a premium paid at purchase that comes back at sale. The exceptions are buyers keeping a car for a decade or more, where maintenance cost and reliability matter more than the eventual sale price.