Cars That Lose Value Fastest (2026)
Which cars lose value fastest?
The Audi Q5 keeps only 48% of its new price after three years, the least of the 78 models we compared. Luxury models make up most of this list. The typical model keeps 68%.
cars · November 9, 2026
Value kept by model, same trim vs. new
| Model | After 1 year | After 3 years | After 5 years | Typical 3-year-old ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi Q5 | 75% | 48% | 38% | $28,000 |
| Cadillac XT5 | 71% | 53% | 42% | $32,000 |
| BMW X5 | 76% | 54% | 39% | $43,000 |
| GMC Acadia | 78% | 56% | 44% | $29,500 |
| BMW 3 Series | 70% | 57% | 44% | $31,500 |
| Porsche Macan | 76% | 57% | 37% | $44,000 |
| Land Rover Defender | 83% | 58% | – | $50,000 |
| Cadillac Escalade | 85% | 58% | 48% | $68,500 |
| Buick Envision | 72% | 59% | 46% | $27,000 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE | 78% | 60% | 47% | $46,500 |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 73% | 60% | 42% | $33,000 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | 80% | 60% | 50% | $24,000 |
| Chevrolet Traverse | 83% | 61% | 45% | $30,000 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 70% | 61% | – | $23,000 |
| Subaru Outback | 75% | 61% | 55% | $27,000 |
Fast depreciation is good news for used buyers
A car that loses value fast new is often a strong used buy: the first owner pays for the drop. A three-year-old car from this list costs about half of the same trim new. Check the car's history and the cost of repairs out of warranty before you buy.
See the cars that hold their value best and car depreciation by year.
About the data
We compared asking prices for cars listed for sale in the U.S. on November 9, 2026, one listing per car. "New" is the median asking price of new 2026 models. For each older model year we used cars with about 12,000 miles a year for their age (for example 27,000–45,000 miles for a 2023). We compared every trim with the same trim new and averaged the trims, weighted by the number of cars, so a shift in trim mix does not look like depreciation. Typical asking prices in the tables are the median of all trims at that age.
This is a snapshot of today's prices by age, not one car followed over time. A car you buy now can lose value faster or slower, especially if a new generation arrives. Asking prices are before negotiation, taxes and fees. New cars often sell below sticker, so the real first-year loss can be smaller than shown. We left out modified cars and prices that were clearly not a full asking price.
Questions
Which cars lose value fastest?
In our November 9, 2026 snapshot: Audi Q5, Cadillac XT5, BMW X5. The Audi Q5 keeps 48% of the same trim new after three years.
How much value does the typical car lose in three years?
The median model in our study keeps 68% of its new price after three years and 57% after five.
Cite this study
OttoQuest. Cars That Lose Value Fastest (2026). Published .
https://ottoquest.com/guides/cars-that-lose-value-fastest
Referencing these findings? Link to this study so readers can check its sample, dates and methodology.