These Cars Drop in Value as Soon as They're Driven off the Lot
No one expects to drive the same car forever, which is why depreciation and resale value is equally as important to consider when purchasing a vehicle as its speed, performance, and practicality. Some of the worst offenders include EVs and luxury models, but a few of these may surprise you nonetheless.
Jaguar I‑Pace
The I-Pace is one swanky-looking vehicle, an all-electric sedan featuring Jaguar’s trademark consummate craftsmanship. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the worst purchases you can make if you’re hoping to make a return on your investment - the I-Pace loses 73% of its value over just five years.
Tesla Model S
Featuring a sleek, aerodynamic design and tons of fancy infotainment features and technology, the Model S is but one of the jewels in Tesla’s crown. An all-electric five-seater, it was designed with long trips in mind - but that’s about all the longevity it can lay claim to, since the car loses 65.2% of its value over just five years.
Nissan Leaf
In production since 2010, the Leaf was one of the first success stories within the electric car market. What started as a compact hatchback is now a big crossover SUV - but once you start looking at the depreciation rates for these vehicles, it makes complete sense as to why they’re constantly evolving.
Porsche Taycan
Porsche’s very own electric car, the Taycan, features the brand’s signature good looks with sleek curves and elegant features all around. It’s got the added benefit of being a sports car as well, meaning it outperforms many of its competitors - at least when it comes to acceleration. Depreciation is a whole other story.
BMW I3
The i3 is a pretty bold vehicle when you consider the company it was developed by. Featuring all sustainable materials and a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic body structure that revolutionized the game, the i3 certainly deserves its place among the electric car greats - but that doesn’t stop it from depreciating the moment you drive it off the lot.
MG5 EV
One of the only electric station wagons on the market, the MG5 EV provides immense value - in the short term, that is. With enhanced range capabilities and generous cargo space, the MG5 EV is one of the best city cars out there, but it retains just 33% of its value after three years.
Tesla Model X
Though its design may be dated according to some people, the Model X gets points for offering top-notch acceleration and tons of utility thanks to its ample cargo space and advanced infotainment systems. Unfortunately, it also suffers from a bad case of depreciation as soon as it’s off the lot.
Renault Zoe
Who is Zoe? No one knows, but if they were the inspiration for this vehicle, then they were clearly stylish and cute. The Renault Zoe is a small and affordable electric hatchback that was actually a bestseller at one point. Unfortunately, it loses up to 71.6% of its value over just three years.
Peugeot 3008
The Peugeot 3008 is easily one of the most stylish SUVs on the market, as well as one of the most luxurious, thanks to its refined interior and advanced i-Cockpit technology (which comes with its very own heads-up display). Unfortunately, electric models suffer the most when it comes to depreciation, losing up to 70.5% of their value over just three years.
Tesla Model Y
Embodying Tesla’s minimalistic design sensibilities perfectly, the Model Y is one of their most recognizable vehicles, a luxurious electric vehicle offering great performance and advanced technology. Unfortunately, it also loses up to 60.4% of its value over just five years.
MG ZS
Unlike some of our previous picks, the MG ZS emphasizes practicality over performance, with tons of room and cargo space on the inside and enough power to get you where you’re going at above-average speed. However, this emphasis on practicality over luxury hasn’t stopped it from depreciating quickly.
Mercedes-Benz EQS
The EQS is Mercedes-Benz’s own electric flagship, a refined and sustainable piece of automotive craftsmanship available as both a sedan and an SUV. Regardless of which one you buy, however, the EQS loses up to 47% of its value during the first year of ownership alone.
Audi Q8 E‑tron
With the Audi name attached to it, you probably know already that the Q8 E-tron is one luxurious beast. Featuring Audi’s own virtual cockpit and tons of advanced technology, the Q8 E-tron makes for a quiet and comfortable ride - one that depreciates all too quickly.
BMW 7‑Series
The 7-Series is BMW’s flagship vehicle, a luxury sedan that offers supreme style and comfort to create a refined, premium driving experience. Don’t expect to make your money back in the future, however - modern 7-series sedans lose 67% of their value in five years.
Infiniti QX80
Featuring a bold, boxy design and big proportions to match, the Infiniti QX80 turns heads wherever it goes. With a refined, hand-crafted interior and powerful twin-turbo engine, it’s an absolute showstealer, but it also loses most of its value as soon as the show is over.
Maserati Ghibli
Maserati is known for being one of the finest Italian stylists in the automotive industry, and the Ghibli might just be their modern masterpiece. It’s a bold and dramatic vehicle that performs just as well as some of the fastest sports cars available - unfortunately, it also depreciates just as quickly.
BMW 5‑Series Hybrid
The 5-Series Hybrid is available as both a sedan and a grand tourer, but whichever model you choose, you can guarantee that you’ll get to experience some of that classic BMW leisure and performance. Just don’t expect it to retain much of its value once it rolls off the lot.
Maserati Levante
The Ghibli is a fantastic work of art, sure, but the Levante is perhaps even more special due to it being Maserati’s first-ever SUV. Their consummate sense of style translates well to the larger scale, but that doesn’t stop the Levante from losing 63.7% of its value over just three years.
Cadillac Escalade ESV
The Escalade is Cadillac’s flagship station wagon, and the ESV trim offers even more in terms of cargo space and interior comfort thanks to a much larger cabin. Its large size also means a large depreciation rate, unfortunately.
Land Rover Range Rover
The “world’s first ever luxury 4x4” still retains the same aura and legendary status that it established way back in 1970. It’s a comfortable SUV that blends supreme performance with off-road capabilities, but it also suffers from some serious depreciation issues.
Audi A8L
The long-wheelbase version of Audi’s iconic flagship sedan, the A8L, offers even more interior space than the base model, making for a more comfortable driving experience overall. Less comforting, however, is the fact that it loses up to 62.7% of its value over just three years.
BMW 5‑Series Sedan
The standard 5-Series Sedan offers more or less the same as its hybrid counterpart, including a luxurious interior and advanced technology, which combine to make for a premium driving experience. However, it also loses up to 61.7% once it rolls off the lot and into your garage.
Audi Q7
Specifically designed for families, the Q7 offers the premium Audi experience that drivers have come to love but on a much larger scale - now, even Little Timmy and his five siblings can enjoy a premium ride! Unfortunately, it also loses 61.5% of its value after purchase.
Infiniti QX60
Directly competing with the likes of the Lexus TX and Genesis GV80, the Infiniti QX60 offers drivers more of the same (advanced technology and tons of space) but at a much lower price point. It’s just as well, too, since it loses 61.5% of its value once it’s been signed over to you.
Cadillac Escalade
While the standard Escalade may not offer as much space as the ESV, it still comes with everything else drivers would want, including an opulent interior, a supercharged V8, and advanced infotainment features. And yet, it still loses exactly 61% of its value after purchase.
Audi A6
The A6 may not have the same clout as its big brother, but it’s still an Audi, which means a premium interior, supreme style, and excellent performance, making for a phenomenal driving experience. But if you’re hoping to resell it later, you may want to reconsider, since the A6 loses 60.9% of its value after purchase.
Land Rover Discovery
First introduced in 1989, the Discovery sits smack-bang in the middle of Land Rover’s lineup, right between the luxurious Range Rover and the more rugged Defender, offering a bit of both vehicles’ best qualities. Unfortunately, it also shares the Range Rover’s propensity for fast depreciation.
Mercedes‑Benz S‑Class
The S-Class represents the absolute pinnacle of German engineering. It’s Mercedes-Benz’s flagship vehicle, after all. Its luxurious status, however, comes at the cost of fast depreciation.
Audi A7
Combining the practicality and space of a sedan with the style of a sports coupe, the A7 is one of Audi’s most successful and revolutionary models. Like its siblings, though, it also depreciates heavily once it leaves the lot.
Nissan Armada
What began as a hulking, intimidating SUV has now morphed into something a little more premium and luxurious. The Armada is a great showcase of Nissan’s design sense, but it also loses 60% of its value after purchase.
Ford Expedition MAX
As its name would suggest, the Expedition MAX is the extended wheelbase version of the standard Expedition, offering even more space and comfort than the base model. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer great resale value.
Tata Indica
Perhaps the most out-of-place entry on our list, the Tata Indica is special for being the first passenger car developed by an Indian company. It’s something of an understated milestone in the automotive world, but resale values haven’t exactly skyrocketed.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
True to its name, the Grand Cherokee is a truly grand vehicle, a large and luxurious SUV with superior off-road capabilities and plenty of space. However, equally as grand is its propensity for depreciation, with second-hand models selling for less than half the price of newer ones.
Chevrolet Cruze
The Cruze may not be around anymore, but if you were hoping that its absence from GM’s lineup would cause its value to go up, you’d be sorely disappointed. Second-hand Cruze’s sell for less than 50% of their original value.
Jaguar XE
We started our list with a Jag, so it’s only fitting that we end with one as well. The XE, true to form, is a fabulous vehicle in terms of style and performance, but it’s a serious depreciation offender, too.
