When considering the cost of driving a car, it’s easy to consider items like gas, taxes, and maintenance, but one cost is frequently greater than the sum of all of these: depreciation.
Few vehicle purchasers prefer to think about depreciation, but any new car loses a significant amount of its value during the first few years of ownership, so locating one that will retain its value as long as possible will ensure you receive the majority of your money back when you sell it.
However, depreciation may not always mean negative news. If you buy a used automobile and choose wisely, you can get a lot of cars for your money.
With that in mind, a car that retains its value better than others might make your purchasing decision easier and may influence your choice between two specific models.
To determine which cars retain their residual values the best, we must consider how much of their worth remains after the industry average of three years and 36,000 miles.
With that in mind, here is our rundown of the top 8 Slowest-Depreciating Cars so far:
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The 8 Slowest-Depreciating Cars in 2024
1. Porsche Panamera
The Panamera may have received a facelift recently, but because it is not yet available for delivery, the current residual costs of this popular Porsche model have not changed.
Many people were turned off by the bloated appearance of the initial Panamera version, but it is now one of the smartest and most attractive large executive saloons money can buy, particularly in Sport Turismo estate form.
The Panamera has exceptional dynamic capability and impressive performance, making it one of the best-handling saloons on the market.
The cheapest Panamera variant in terms of features and engine size, the base 2.9 V6, comes with the coveted Sport Turismo body design.
With an average list price of just over £80,000, the Panamera is currently losing just under £30,000 over three years and 36,000 miles, for a retained value of 63.49% and an average residual value of £50,900.
This places the Porsche ninth on our depreciation list.
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2. Audi RS3
The Audi RS3 has long been one of the most popular and sought-after hot hatchbacks, thanks to not just its performance but also the sound of its turbocharged 5-cylinder engine.
Not only that, but the most recent generation is largely regarded as the greatest ever, with acclaim for its renewed feeling of joy and ability to handle input.
The newest RS3 remains as popular as ever, thanks to its 400-bhp 2.5-litre engine, legendary quattro four-wheel drive system, and the option of a sleek saloon form.
The saloon type costs somewhat more when new, but its popularity is why it retains its value better than the hatchback equivalent.
It is also critical to select the desired Comfort and Sound package in order to keep as much residual value as possible. With an average list price of £57,750, the retained value after three years and 36,000 miles is on average £35,775—putting it ahead of all of its key competitors.
This means that the RS3 Saloon ranks eighth on our list, with 61.95% of its value retained.
3. Bentley Flying Spur
Large executive saloons typically do not retain their value well, but the saloon variant of the ever-popular Continental GT defies that assumption.
While it is initially more expensive than rivals from Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, and BMW, it provides more luxury, a more premium image, and the highest level of refinement, as well as superior value retention despite the higher purchase cost.
The 4.0-litre V8 ‘Azure’ is the model to have for depreciation purposes, as it is mid-range in terms of both equipment levels and engine power.
This ensures that the buying price isn’t as high as it may be, but it still maintains a reasonable engine size to not put prospective future purchasers off the hook.
The Azure specification Flying Spur starts at £212,760, and after 36,000 miles and three years, it drops by a little over £90,000 to £122,500. With a retained value of 57.6%, the Bentley Flying Spur ranks 10th on our list.
4. Range Rover
The latest edition of the ever-popular luxury off-roader was produced in 2022, but it appears to have had little impact on the previous version’s costs.
The Range Rover is always in high demand; therefore, pre-owned prices tend to be higher than those of most of its competitors, including BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and Porsche.
Questions have frequently been raised about the brand’s dependability and build quality, as well as, more lately, insurance prices, but this does little to deter customers from choosing a Range Rover when they want the ultimate luxury SUV experience.
Interestingly for an SUV, the model with the best residual value is the P400 3.0-litre petrol engine, despite the popularity of diesel for this type of vehicle, with the ‘SE’ specification being the best of the bunch.
The advertised price of £107,320 is reduced by a little over £40,000 after three years and 36,000 miles of driving, resulting in a residual value of £66,725, 62.2% of its original value and seventh place in our countdown.
5. Volkwagen ID Buzz
If any type of vehicle was not expected to be on this list, it would undoubtedly be electric. Over the last year, the electric car sector has seen price cuts, a drop in demand, reliability issues, and problems sourcing parts, resulting in lower residual values than most.
The Volkswagen ID Buzz is an exception to all of these. While most people believe it is just a retro-themed van, the ID Buzz may also be a fantastic people carrier or family car with enough street flair to wow your neighbors.
The spiritual successor to the Microbus may appear to be pricey at £58,915 for the Pro 77kWh version in Life standard, but when compared to other electric car rivals, it is actually pretty cheaply priced.
After three years and 36,000 miles, the average retained value is £38,325 with 65.05% of its worth remaining, ranking sixth in our residual value countdown.
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6. Land Rover Defender
It remains to be seen whether the ‘original’ Land Rover Defender’s fan base is the same as that of the ‘new’ model, but the demand for the new version is undoubtedly something even Land Rover could not have anticipated.
Despite selling in the tens of thousands, the Defender’s residual value remains high, even after four years on the market.
The Defender’s perfect balance of unrivaled off-road capabilities, on-road comfort and capability, and just enough classic style hints and utilitarian inspirations ensures that it remains as popular as ever.
The best-performing Defender in terms of residual value retention is the 110-body-style P400e petrol-electric hybrid in high-spec ‘X’ form, which offers good trim levels with remarkable performance while still providing good fuel economy and the option of driving entirely on electricity.
Despite its high list price of over £92,000, the Defender retains 66.9% of its value, with an average price of £61,450 after three years and 36,000 kilometers.
7. Mercedes-Benz G-Class
The G-Class has always been a formula that should not work yet is nonetheless an appealing option. The utilitarian looks and retro style, combined with cutting-edge technology and Mercedes-Benz elegance, appear to be an odd combination, but in the G-Class, it just works and remains popular as ever.
Originally designed for military use on tough terrain, the latest version of the G-Class is a far cry from its original purpose and is more likely to be seen on the roadways of upper-class high streets than demonstrating its off-road capabilities.
Despite the desire for the range-topping G63 AMG, the G400d retains a higher residual value after three years and 36,000 miles.
The G400d, with a 2.9-litre diesel engine and AMG Line Premium Plus specification, is worth £81,775, or 62.26% of its original £131,335 list price.
The famous Mercedes-Benz now ranks fourth in our ranking, reaffirming its popularity among new and used car purchasers.
8. Range Rover Sport
While all Land Rover models perform admirably in terms of residual value retention, the Range Rover Sport stands out.
The Sport is the Range Rover’s more dynamic form, yet it still offers plenty of comfort and luxury. The current model lifts the standard even further in terms of performance, handling, refinement, and electronics, but any year of Sport is a desirable car to own.
As with its Defender sibling, the P460e petrol-electric plug-in hybrid in Dynamic SE trim retains the most value, despite its comparatively high average list price of nearly £93,000.
You can anticipate a little under £60,000 in return after three years and 36,000 kilometers, a 64.4% retained value, and third place among our slowest depreciating cars in 2024.
