They May Be Popular, but These Cars Are Depreciating Like Crazy
Some cars lose value faster than ice cream melts on a hot day. Today’s popular car can quickly turn into tomorrow’s bargain-bin find. Want to know if your favorite makes the list? Keep scrolling, and let’s see just which popular cars are dropping in value fast.
Acura TLX
The Acura TLX is known for its sporty looks, smooth ride, and cool gadgets and features. But it competes with bigger names like BMW and Mercedes, so used prices slide fast. It’s a great car to buy secondhand, but not so great if you’re selling.
Tesla Model S
Tesla’s Model S was once the electric car everyone wanted. Now, newer EVs with better range and a cheaper price tag are pushing Tesla down the ladder. Tech ages quickly, and so does its value. It’s still fast and very fun, but it’s not what it used to be.
Chrysler 300
As far as sedans go, the Chrysler 300 is unmistakably American. It’s roomy and comfortable, but sedans just aren’t in style anymore. So many more buyers are chasing SUVs instead, so the resale value of the Chrysler 300 slips fast.
Alfa Romeo Giulia
The Giulia has everything you could want in a car - beautiful Italian styling, performance, and sharp handling. One thing it doesn’t have, though, is a reputation for reliability. This makes buyers nervous. The Giulia is the kind of car you date, not marry, because you’ll lose money in this breakup.
Mercedes-Benz CLS
Merc’s CLS is the original four-door coupe that’s just dripping in luxury. But high repair bills and an endless wave of new models push its value way down. This is one car you want on your driveway, but be wary of that slipping resale price.
BMW X5
A luxury SUV with plenty of style and comfort? Yes, please! The X5 is one of BMW’s most common models, so used prices drop quickly. Expensive parts and even more expensive repairs don’t help the cause, and the resale value is not near what it was.
Nissan Leaf
The Leaf was one of the first affordable EVs on the market. But its short range compared to newer EVs hurts the resale value. Cheap to run, sure, but not so cheap to resell. The market’s full of longer-range options, so buyers skip older Leafs.
Cadillac Escalade ESV
Cadillac’s Escalade ESV is hands down one of the biggest, flashiest cars you’ll ever see. It’s impossible to miss. Problem is, SUVs drop in value hard when newer, shinier ones hit the market. The heavy fuel bills don’t help the Escalade ESV either.
Maserati Levante
The Levante has an exotic badge, a beautiful shape, and an engine that growls like an Italian opera. Ownership costs, on the other hand, scare off used buyers, and reliability isn’t its strong suit. You’ll impress the value, sure, but your wallet might cry when it’s time to part ways.
Lexus ES
If it’s a comfy cruiser you want, the Lexus ES should be at the top of your list. But the resale value takes a bit hit as luxury buyers prefer SUVs now. It’s smooth and reliable, and you’ll love driving it. Selling it is another issue entirely.
Ford Mustang
The Mustang is still an icon, but Mustangs are everywhere. Limited editions hold value better, but regular models sink in price fast. It’s a fun car, not a savings account. You’ll be buying this one for the rumble, not the resale.
Volkswagen Beetle
Cute, fun, and full of personality. Is there really any other way to describe a Volkswagen Beetle? Sadly, VW stopped making them, and that hasn’t magically made them more valuable. There are lots of them out there, and not much demand.
Hyundai Sonata
The resale value of the Hyundai Sonata suffers when buyers pick new and flashy SUVs instead. It’s stylish and affordable, but it just blends in with dozens of other midsize sedans fighting for attention. It’s your comfy daily driver, not an investment.
BMW 3-Series
The 3-Series BMW is fun to drive and handles like a dream. But there are just too many of them out there. The maintenance costs also keep secondhand buyers a bit cautious. Your joy quickly fades when you see the resale price.
Nissan Rogue
The Nissan Rogue is one of the best-selling SUVs, but that also means there are too many on the used market. When supply is high, prices drop. It’s practical, but not exactly rare or exciting. Great buy used? Yes. Great to sell? Definitely not.
Maserati Ghibli
The Ghibli looks like a million bucks, but the resale value says otherwise. From reliability concerns to high repair bills, there are a few things that scare buyers away. This is not the car you buy to make money back later.
Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is big, loud, and oh-so fun with its incredible V8 engine. But, it’s that V8 thirst and high insurance costs that scares buyers off. The used market is full of them, which doesn’t help the resale price and value of the Charger.
Genesis G80
The G80 is packed with luxury features and costs way less than you would pay for a German car. The problem is, luxury cars from newer brands like Genesis drop in value quickly because buyers want “name” badges. It’s still a good ride, though.
Lincoln Navigator
Lincoln’s Navigator is a huge luxury SUV with serious presence. The gas mileage, however, is bad, and buyers know it. Even used, it’s a thirsty beast. And with gas prices so high, the resale value stinks. It’s not the long-term investment you think it is.
Toyota BZ4x
This is Toyota’s electric SUV. It’s still relatively new, but EV values are dropping thanks to fast changes in tech. The early range and charging issues of the bZ4x don’t help either. It’s not the worst EV out there, but resale isn’t its strong suit.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Older models of the Jeep Grand Cherokee lose value thanks to reliability concerns. It doesn’t help that its newer rivals offer more tech and better efficiency. Grand Cherokees are often left to sit on dealer lots a lot longer than other cars.
Volvo S90
Volvo makes some of the safest cars in the world. But buyers worry about repair costs after the warranty ends. Luxury cars from less “prestige” brands drop fast, and Volvo’s no exception. It’s classy to own, and cheap to buy secondhand, which should tell you everything.
Infiniti QX80
The Infiniti QX80 is huge, luxurious, and super thirsty on fuel. Sadly, this is one of a few reasons why the value of the QX80 isn’t what it used to be. Newer SUVs have fresher styling and better mileage, too, making that resale value slip.
Chevrolet Camaro
Sadly, the Chevrolet Camaro is just another American muscle car that’s quickly losing steam. The culprits? Oversupply and SUV demand. Yes, it’s fun to own, but it’s rough to resell unless it has a rare trim that makes it stand out.
Maserati Quattroporte
Maserati’s Quattroporte is the epitome of four-door luxury. It looks incredible, but it has way too many maintenance nightmares and poor reliability issues that crush its value. It’s the kind of car you drive for the drama, and not the hassle of selling it.
Jaguar XF
Jaguar and elegance go hand-in-hand, which is why the XF has become so popular. But, reliability concerns and high maintenance costs keep used buyers away from the XF. Buying a Jaguar XF now is buying luxury without a safety net for your wallet.
BMW 5 Series Hybrid
A luxury sedan with hybrid tech? What more could you want in a car? Hybrid technology is great, but recent concerns over hybrid batteries have pushed the price of the BMW 5 Series way down. Now, even BMW lovers hesitate when they think of the future repair bills.
Volkswagen Passat
Volkswagen’s Passat was one of the more solid and comfortable cars on our list, but VW pulled it from the U.S. market. Demand has also slipped, and it’s the resale value that has now taken a hit. You won’t see many of these on the roads anymore.
Chevrolet Suburban
The Chevrolet Suburban was built to haul a small army, making it the perfect car for soccer moms and lift clubs. But gas prices have made it a wallet drainer. New tech makes old models feel even older and outdated. Resale values have dropped significantly.
Mazda CX-90
Mazda’s CX-90 is new and stylish, but it’s competing in a rather crowded SUV market. These days, buyers often go for cheaper Mazdas or more well-known brands that are known for their reliability. Mazda’s resale value is at an all-time low.
BMW 7 Series
The 7 Series is the big boss of BMW sedans. It’s loaded with tech, but when that tech gets old, repairs get expensive. Not many people want to buy an older BMW with outdated tech, and the resale tanks as people shy away from buying them used.
Kia Optima
Kia’s Optima is a good-looking and comfortable car, but like other cars on this list, midsize sedans just aren’t in style anymore. SUVs have stolen the spotlight, and it's the resale value of cars like the Optima that pays the price.
Audi A8
The A8 might be Audi’s flagship sedan, but it’s just not worth as much as it used to be, even a few years ago. It’s stuffed with tech, and when that tech ages, buyers worry about the repair bills. It’s a smooth ride that’s seen a big price drop.
Audi A6
Another Audi on our list, the A6, is a luxury car with very sharp handling. Like its rivals, it drops in value once the warranty’s gone. No one wants to be saddled with costly repair bills, which makes the A6 really hard to sell.
Tesla Model X
It seems not even the Tesla Model X is safe from sinking resale values. This flashy electric SUV has Falcon doors and some pretty cool tech. But that tech becomes outdated very quickly, and the older models of the Model X lose value fast.
