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Look at these SUVs first! 2020 top 10 SUV resale values

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Top 10 SUVs resale value

The Jeep Wrangler is one of the best SUVs for resale value according to a new survey. (Photo courtesy of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles)

When shopping for a new family SUV, there are several factors to consider — including SUV resale values. You don’t want to be stuck with an SUV you could lose thousands on when it comes time to sell.

Fortunately, iSeeCars.com compiled a list of the lowest and highest depreciating SUVs during the past 5 years.

This study*, conducted by its team of automotive researchers, should be a top resource for people who want to make the best possible purchase based on resale value. Assuming you aren’t driving your SUV into the ground, by purchasing an SUV with low depreciation or high value, you can make sure you get more money back when it’s time to sell.

Lowest and highest SUV resale values

On the chart below, you can see the lowest depreciating vehicles. In other words, these are the ones with the highest resale value after a 5-year period.

Top 10 SUVs with the lowest depreciation – iSeeCars Study
Rank Model Average 5-Year Depreciation $ Difference
1 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 30.9% $12,168
2 Jeep Wrangler 32.8% $10,824
3 Toyota 4Runner 38.5% $16,325
4 Toyota RAV4 45.7% $13,257
5 Honda CR-V 45.8% $13,479
6 Toyota Highlander 47.8% $19,841
7 Jeep Renegade 49.4% $13,559
8 Subaru Forester 51.1% $15,122
9 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 51.8% $12,311
10 Kia Sportage 52.0% $14,580
Average for All SUVs 50.8%

The Jeep Wrangler finishes high on this list due to its desirability from shoppers since, until the Ford Bronco came along, there has been no real competition for it.

This is followed up by a slew of Toyota vehicles, typically known for their SUVs durability and reliability, with the best-selling midsize SUV Honda CR-V mixed in.

Rounding out the list are a few surprises with the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and the Kia Sportage.

This next list is the one you don’t want to choose a vehicle from if you are basing part of your decision on resale value.

Top 10 SUVs with the highest depreciation – iSeeCars Study
Rank Model Average 5-Year Depreciation $ Difference
1 BMW X3 66.5% $35,682
2 Volvo XC60 65.6% $31,765
3 BMW X5 65.4% $45,970
4 INFINITI QX60 64.7% $36,499
5 BMW X1 64.6% $27,510
6 INFINITI QX80 64.4% $52,229
7 Lincoln Navigator 64.2% $46,181
8 Audi Q7 64.1% $42,047
9 Audi Q5 63.5% $34,337
10 Cadillac Escalade ESV 63.3% $60,910
SUV Average 50.8%

Top brands for SUV resale values

Finally, one last list worth mentioning are the results sorted by brand. We have both the lowest-depreciating and the highest-depreciating brands.

Top 10 lowest- and highest-depreciating car brands – iSeeCars Study
Lowest-Depreciating Highest-Depreciating
Rank Brand Average 5-Year Depreciation Brand Average 5-Year Depreciation
1 Toyota 42.1% Maserati 69.0%
2 Porsche 45.7% Volvo 66.4%
3 Chevrolet 46.3% BMW 66.1%
4 Jeep 48.0% Audi 64.6%
5 Dodge 48.4% Lincoln 63.6%
6 Subaru 48.5% INFINITI 63.3%
7 Honda 48.5% Mercedes-Benz 61.9%
8 Tesla 48.6% Land Rover 61.4%
9 GMC 48.9% Cadillac 61.3%
10 Ram 49.3% Buick 61.2%
Overall Average: 49.1%

As you can see, the brands that fared better are often associated with either good reliability or high desire from consumers. The brands faring worst are known for the exact opposite.

The bottom line on SUV resale values

Purchasing an SUV is a most for a lot of families as they expand and/or want to do more traveling or adventuring. While size, fuel economy, looks, driving comfort, etc… all weigh into the decision, resale value is a pretty big one as well. Typically, if you avoid unique vehicles and/or luxury brands and stick to the mainstream, big sellers you’ll do better when it comes time to sell it.

*Methodology: iSeeCars.com analyzed more than 8.2 million new and used vehicles from model year 2015. The new vehicles were sold in 2015, while the used vehicles were sold between January and September 2020. Heavy-duty trucks and vans, models no longer in production as of the 2020 or 2021 model year, and low-volume models were removed from further analysis. New vehicle prices from 2015 were inflation-adjusted to 2020 dollars, based on data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The difference in average asking price for each vehicle between its new-vehicle price and its used-vehicle price was mathematically modeled to obtain the vehicle’s 5-year depreciation.

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Tim Esterdahl

Automotive Journalist Tim Esterdahl has been a lover of trucks and SUVs for years. He has covered the industry since 2011 and has pieces in many national magazines and newspapers. In his spare time, he is often found tinkering on his '62 C10 pickup, playing golf, going hunting and hanging out with his wife and kids in Nebraska.

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