Honda Civic
A better name for the Civic would be “ol’ reliable” since the nameplate has been around for so long and continues to endure. You won’t find an affordable nameplate with a more dedicated fanbase than the Civic, and that’s thanks to its affordable price and excellent quality.
Volkswagen Polo
A “supermini” compact hatchback with a bubbly personality and plenty of zip, the VW Polo (or Polo Vivo) is a great car when you buy it new, and a great car when you buy it used. Its small size, wide availability of parts, and affordable cost of ownership make it the perfect starter car - one that you will likely use for a very, very long time.
Suzuki Swift
The Suzuki Swift has a lot in common with the Polo; both are small, compact hatchbacks that are affordable to buy and cheap to own. The Swift also has excellent fuel economy (great for college students working part-time), and commands excellent resale value even today.
Toyota Corolla
In general, while Toyota is hardly a “prestige” brand like Audi, Mercedes, or even Ford, their reputation for reliability makes their cars easy to sell. The Corolla is arguably their most popular nameplate, whose resale value never wavers, especially variant models like the Cross.
Toyota Fortuner
Built on the same platform as the Hilux, the Fortuner may not be as affordable upfront, but it hardly ever seems to depreciate at all. As a 7-seater, it’s perfect for large families while still offering the same rugged dependability we’ve all come to expect from Toyota.
Ford Ranger
The Ranger is a great, big workhorse of a vehicle. To put it simply, it ain’t nothing fancy, but it gets the job done well. The Ranger also commands excellent resale value, especially in the double-cab and work vehicle segments. While it’s not exactly cheap to maintain, many buyers are more than willing to pay the extra cost.
Toyota Etios
VW has the Polo; Suzuki has its Swift; and Toyota has the Etios. Besides being small, compact hatchbacks, these cars also have another thing in common: they’re cheap to buy, affordable to maintain, and retain their value oh-so well over the years.
Toyota Starlet
The Starlet isn’t as popular as the Etios, but it holds the distinction of being Toyota’s first subcompact car. Beyond that, it’s as efficient as they come in terms of fuel and maintenance, while still offering a pleasurable driving experience.
Toyota Vitz
Though the Vitz is no longer in production, that’s only helped its resale value maintain itself even more. It’s remarkably similar to the Starlet and Etios in its strength (if not in appearance), and is especially popular as a city car.
Renault Kwid
With an SUV-style exterior, the Kwid distinguishes itself from other compact models featured on this list. It makes for a great first car with its affordable entry price and low running costs, but will serve you well whether you’re a new driver or an experienced one, while still retaining most of its value over its lifespan.
Suzuki Celerio
Designed specifically for urban driving, the Suzuki Celerio lets you zip in and out of traffic discreetly with its small size and easy driving mechanics. It’s cheap to buy and cheap to maintain, making for a low-budget city crawler that holds its value well.
Hyundai I10
Like the Celerio, the Hyundai i10 is specifically geared towards city drivers. It offers zippy handling and is easy to park in tight spaces while still offering a surprising amount of cargo space for its size. It’s often chosen as a first car and can net you a pretty payday if you ever decide to resell.
Kia Picanto
Manufactured since 2002, the Picanto has more than earned its stripes. Like many of the vehicles on this list, the Picanto thrives in urban environments with its supreme agility and maneuverability, while still retaining its value.
Toyota Agya
You may not have heard of the Agya before, but if you’re working off a super-tight budget, this may be the car for you. Compact, zippy, and above all, cheap, the Agya offers everything you need in a city car while offering immense value for its low, low price.
Suzuki Alto
The Alto was eventually replaced by the Celerio in most markets, but you can still find many used models online. It’s a cheap ride with minimal tech (which means less stuff to break) while still offering respectable performance and driving mechanics.
Hyundai Atos
Like the Alto, the Atos was discontinued in many markets, but is still available for those willing to search for it. It’s a more niche pick than the other hatchbacks listed here, but it makes for a great alternative city-crawler.
Datsun Go
In strictly absolute terms, while the Datsun Go won’t command a high resale price, it will more or less line up with the initial purchase cost. It’s yet another hatchback on a list positively swimming with them, and offers exactly what you’d expect: cost-effective performance at a low price.
Chevrolet Utility
Also called the Corsa Utility, this Chevy model isn’t widely available in North American markets, but is immensely popular in Latin countries. Its popularity is more than earned, too: it’s a cost-effective and extremely reliable utility truck that makes for the perfect work vehicle.
Isuzu KB
The Isuzu KB has since been renamed as the D-Max, but it’s essentially the same vehicle. Rugged and reliable, the KB is a great alternative to the NP200 or Chevy Utility if you’re loyal to the Isuzu badge, and continues to be a popular work vehicle even today.
Mazda 2
While many of the hatchbacks on this list can have a somewhat cheap feel to them (at least insofar as interior materials are concerned), the Mazda 2 and its successor are distinctly “upmarket” while still being affordable to buy. It also holds its value remarkably well and feels fantastic to drive.
Subaru Forester
As an AWD SUV, the Forester tends to thrive in environments with more variable terrain than the average urban landscape. It’s solidly built and drives well, and while it may be more pricey to maintain, resale values remain high as ever.
Toyota Hilux
Also known simply as the Toyota Pickup, the Hilux is one of Toyota’s most enduring models, and is therefore easy to come by both new and used. Demand for the Hilux never seems to falter - there’s always someone looking for a sturdy and dependable pickup, and the Hilux’s reputation for offering exactly that has kept it popular.
Subaru Crosstrek
Smaller than the Forester, the Crosstrek does well for more or less the same reasons as that car. It’s rugged, reliable, and makes for a great cost-effective or starter SUV.
Subaru Impreza
Similar in overall style and design to our previous two entries, the Impreza is one of Subaru’s most enduring nameplates. Available in both sedan and hatchback versions, the nameplate commands a loyal following, most of which can be attributed to its low cost of ownership in contrast with its top-tier performance.
Toyota RAV4
Stylish, fuel-efficient, compact, and with an impressive array of technological features, the Toyota RAV4 is the full package when it comes to city-crawling SUVs. Though it’s more expensive than others on this list, it also retains its value even better.
Honda CR‑V
The Honda CR‑V is built on the Civic platform, which pretty much guarantees its reliability and popularity. Like the RAV4, the CR-V continues to be a strong performer in second-hand markets, especially when it’s well maintained.
Jeep Wrangler
In fairness to the other entries on this list, the Wrangler isn’t exactly the most affordable vehicle on the market, which instantly makes it much more niche. That being said, its cult status and reputation for dependability and ruggedness mean more people are willing to pay for the chance at getting to drive it - even second-hand.
Toyota Tacoma
In production since 1995, the Toyota Tacoma is one of the most popular Toyota nameplates still in use today. Offering a blend of practicality and off-road capabilities, it always tends to be in high demand.
Toyota 4Runner
Even older than the long-running Tacoma, the Toyota 4Runner offers many of the same benefits as that truck, including supreme ruggedness and a strong reputation for dependability, which has kept its resale value high.
Subaru Outback
A crossover station wagon with off-road capabilities, the Subaru Outback offers even more utility than the average SUV thanks to its enormous cargo space and supreme comfort levels.
Volkswagen Golf
Zippy, compact, and always dependable, the VW Golf is one of the most enduring nameplates on this list, which has somehow avoided going out of fashion even today. You can bet that resale values tend to be high.
Hyundai Tucson
More futuristic than many of the other SUVs on this list, the Hyundai Tucson’s sense of style cannot be overstated. However, it also offers plenty of utility and practicality beyond its good looks, and tends to hold its value very well.
Kia Sportage
Like the Tucson, the Kia Sportage offers plenty of advanced features in a relatively affordable compact SUV package. Demand for the Sportage is also growing, which means that it’s never held its value better than now.
Honda Fit
Ending off our list with another hatchback may seem like a cop-out, but the Honda Fit more than deserves a shout-out here. It’s a cleverly designed, immensely practical hatchback that will more than fulfill all your driving needs while also promising solid resale figures.
