One of the most prominent hidden costs when buying a new vehicle is depreciation. This is particularly true of SUVs, which generally depreciate faster than regular cars. Knowing how much you’re going to get back on your investment when you purchase a new SUV is vital information.

Certain options out there depreciate much faster than others, meaning that when it comes time to sell your car and move on, you don’t get much back. However, there are others that are particularly good at holding their value. These vehicles offer tons of value and promise a better sum when you list them on the used market.

Utilizing the most up-to-date data out there, we’ve found the ten SUVs that offer the best resale value. We’ve used the five-year mark as a benchmark for their depreciation and detailed how much value they lose at particular points in their lifespan. We also determine the best time to sell your car to get the best return on investment.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources, including CarEdge and Edmunds. This list focuses on ICE models, and all hybrids or electric vehicles have been excluded. Models are ranked based on resale value, from worst to best.

10

Lexus RX 350

Five-Year Residual Value: 61.3%

The Lexus RX surprises by being the only luxury SUV to make it onto this list. Lexus is a bastion of reliability and quality, with the general perception being that they are super-reliable. This, no doubt, works in the favor of the RX. The compact luxury SUV may not be as sporty as some of its rivals, but it is comfortable and exceptionally classy.

Depreciation And Resale Value

It is hard to go wrong with the Lexus RX, regardless of which model year you’re looking at. It consistently ranks among some of the best luxury vehicles at holding its value. Depreciation is pretty steady throughout its lifetime, with the first five years seeing the biggest loss in value. If you’re looking for an excellent-value used luxury SUV, a five-year-old RX may be the way to go.

9

Mazda CX-5

Five-Year Residual Value: 61.8%

If you’re looking for quality and style, Mazda is definitely the way to go. One of the Japanese brand’s most popular models is the CX-5 compact SUV. The current iteration of the crossover has been on the market without any major changes for a number of years, showing just how ahead of the curve the brand is. Its fantastic interior and athletic chassis help contribute to its value.

Depreciation And Resale Value

The CX-5 is about middle of the pack when it comes to holding its value. It is better than other vehicles like the 3 but not quite as good as the 6 or the MX-5. The value decline on the CX-5 is pretty steady, making it hard to pick out the best time to sell or buy a used model. However, value does drop a little slower after the five-year mark.

8

Honda Pilot

Five-Year Residual Value: 62.8%

The Honda Pilot is the brand’s mid-size, three-row SUV. It consistently lives up to your expectations for an SUV from this segment, with a spacious interior, a decent amount of power, and a practical layout. If you’re looking for something simple and pragmatic that will get the job done for you and your family, the Pilot is an excellent choice.

Depreciation And Resale Value

The Honda Pilot is considered to be a super-reliable and sturdy vehicle, but their owners tend to drive them harder than the average crossover. This is likely a factor in why their early years are where they depreciate the most. After five years, their value tends to plateau a bit. Sell it before it gets to seven years old, though, as this is when its value drops off again.

7

Toyota Highlander

Five-Year Residual Value: 64.7%

The Highlander has always struggled to stand out in the mid-size segment, with its rivals having particular strengths that outshine the Toyota crossover. However, the Highlander is an excellent choice for families looking for simple and reliable transport. Interior space, safety, and efficiency are the three things that make up the Highlander ethos.

Depreciation And Resale Value

The Highlander is one of the best SUVs if you’re looking for something that holds its value well in the short term. It ranks among the top SUVs for depreciation at the three-, five-, and seven-year marks. There is a sharp drop in value after the first year, but this is pretty standard, after which the Toyota slowly but steadily depreciates over the rest of its lifespan.

6

Toyota Sequoia

Five-Year Residual Value: 66.1%

The Sequoia is one of the most expensive vehicles in the Japanese brand’s stable, with a starting price of $62,175 for the most recent model. It is a full-size SUV with a massive cabin, and three rows of seating equipped to carry up to eight. Its most impressive attributes, though, are its really smooth and powerful engine and its genuine off-road chops.

Depreciation And Resale Value

The Sequoia’s short-term depreciation is better than most SUVs, but in the long run, it doesn’t fair quite as well. It loses most of its value between years two and three, depreciating by 18 percent. After its fifth year on the road is when the Sequoia starts to lose its value more rapidly. If you’re looking to unload your Sequoia and trade up, this is the sweet spot.

5

Jeep Wrangler

Five-Year Residual Value: 66.3%

If you’re looking for an SUV that embodies fun, the Wrangler is it. People buy Wranglers not because they’re looking for the most comfortable interior or the longest list of features, but because they’re capable and an absolute joy to drive. While other options, like the Ford Bronco, are threatening the Jeep’s supremacy, the Wrangler’s long history keeps it popular.

Depreciation And Resale Value

If you’re looking for an SUV you’re going to keep for a long time, the Wrangler offers a great return on your investment. Value drops quickly in its first two years, likely because of how hard people drive the Jeep, but after that point depreciation occurs slowly and steadily. If you’re looking for the best time to sell your Wrangler, it is probably in its fourth year, when it will still have 71 percent of its value.

4

Subaru Forester

Five-Year Residual Value: 67.6%

The Forester has recently been redesigned, but its overall ideology hasn’t changed in a long time. The Forester is a two-row SUV, with a super-smooth ride and an exceptionally quiet cabin. It is a compact SUV that strives to offer one of the most spacious interiors and also aims to be a pretty competent off-roader. The newest model lives up to these expectations.

Depreciation And Resale Value

Subaru has defined itself in the modern age by developing utility-focused vehicles that are simple and easy to use, which is what has made it so popular. The Forester’s value dips quite steeply in its first three years before leveling out. After five years, it starts to drop pretty harshly again. This means that the best time to unload your Forester is after five years.

3

Subaru Crosstrek

Five-Year Residual Value: 68.2%

If you’re looking for an entry-level adventure vehicle, you’re not going to get much better than the Crosstrek. This is especially true since they added the Wilderness package, which improves ride height and grants the subcompact SUV many other off-road upgrades. It is a rugged little Crossover that delivers easy-to-use controls and a comfortable cabin.

Depreciation And Resale Value

The Crosstrek really takes Subaru back to its roots a little bit, offering affordable capability in a small package. This is clearly appealing, with the Crosstrek’s short-term depreciation being among the lowest of any vehicle. It really only starts to dip in value after seven years of ownership, allowing you to hold on to this Crossover for a while without losing too much money.

2

Honda HR-V

Five-Year Residual Value: 72.9%

The subcompact HR-V hasn’t been on the block for a particularly long time, debuting in the States for the 2017 model year. This is enough to get an idea of how well it holds its value, though, and it ages fairly gracefully. The HR-V does a fantastic job of offering similar value and comfort compared to the CR-V just in a slightly smaller and much more affordable package.

Depreciation And Resale Value

The HR-V loses most of its value in its first two years, depreciating by 21 percent. After that, though, the HR-V has an amazingly slow rate of depreciation, even as you head towards older model years. The ten-year depreciation figure is just an estimate, as the oldest HR-V is currently only eight years old. Whether buying new or used, this crossover will give you great return on your investment.

1

Toyota RAV4

Five-Year Residual Value: 73.1%

The RAV4 is one of the most popular vehicles on the market, with it being the best-selling SUV so far in 2024. There are plenty of reasons why this versatile compact SUV stands out. It is a jack-of-all-trades, doing everything that you expect a compact SUV to be able to do, all while remaining simple and easy to use as well as being particularly affordable.

Depreciation And Resale Value

Toyota is a brand synonymous with value and reliability. This definitely helps the RAV4’s resale value. If you buy a new RAV4, expect it to depreciate rapidly in its first year. If you’re looking for the best return on your money, sell it before it reaches six years old as this is when it begins to lose value quickly again. Between its second year and fifth year, it holds its value insanely well.