Buyers shopping for a used car in 2026 face a market where the average five-year-old vehicle has lost a steep share of its original sticker price, but a small group of models defies that trend. Two independent analyses, one from Kelley Blue Book and another from iSeeCars, have converged on a short list of cars and trucks that retain far more of their value than the typical vehicle. The overlap between those lists gives shoppers a rare, data-backed signal about which nameplates protect a buyer’s investment over time.
Why depreciation resistance matters more in 2026
New-vehicle prices have climbed steadily over the past several years, pushing more buyers into the used market. That shift has made resale value a deciding factor rather than a nice-to-have. A car that keeps 60 percent of its MSRP after five years can save its owner thousands of dollars at trade-in compared with one that retains only 40 percent. The gap compounds: buyers who finance a fast-depreciating model risk going underwater on their loan within the first two years, while owners of high-retention vehicles build equity almost from the start.
Two major data sources now quantify that gap with unusual precision. Kelley Blue Book announced its 2025 Best Resale Value Award winners earlier this year, selecting vehicles projected to retain the highest percentage of MSRP after five years. Those projections draw on the Official Residual Value Guide and assume projected future auction values, average condition, and 75,000 miles on the odometer. Separately, iSeeCars published a study that analyzed roughly 950,000 five-year-old used cars sold between March 2025 and February 2026, ranking models by their actual average five-year depreciation. When the same nameplates show up on both a forward-looking projection and a backward-looking transaction study, the evidence for durable value is especially strong.
A related question is whether these individual-model patterns show up in broader government price data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics constructs its Consumer Price Index for used vehicles using detailed transaction-level methods, estimating used-vehicle values for monthly comparisons. The hypothesis that models appearing on both the KBB and iSeeCars lists would produce measurably smaller month-to-month variance in the BLS used-vehicle CPI component is logical but currently untestable: BLS publishes aggregate indexes rather than model-level depreciation data. That limitation means shoppers must rely on the private-sector studies for vehicle-specific guidance, while the government series confirms the broader price environment those models exist within.
What the KBB and iSeeCars data actually show
KBB’s 2025 awards list a Top 10 in alphabetical order, meaning the ranking does not assign a single winner but instead identifies a tier of vehicles that its residual-value modeling expects to outperform the market. The methodology is explicitly forward-looking: it projects what today’s new cars will be worth at auction in five years, factoring in supply forecasts, brand strength, and segment demand. That approach rewards models with consistent demand and limited production more than those riding a temporary price spike.
The iSeeCars study takes the opposite angle, measuring what already happened. By tracking nearly 950,000 used vehicles that changed hands over a 12-month window ending in February 2026, the study captures real transaction outcomes rather than projections. Models such as the Porsche 718 Cayman appeared near the top of the iSeeCars depreciation rankings, reflecting strong real-world demand for sports cars with limited supply. Trucks and SUVs from Toyota and Jeep have also historically clustered at the top of both lists, a pattern driven by brand loyalty, off-road capability, and constrained inventory.
The convergence between the two datasets is the strongest signal available to buyers. A vehicle that KBB projects will hold value and that iSeeCars confirms did hold value has cleared two independent filters, one predictive and one empirical. For a shopper deciding between two similarly priced SUVs, that double validation can translate directly into lower total cost of ownership. In practice, this means a buyer choosing between, say, a mainstream crossover and a similarly priced but higher-retention truck could end up with a vehicle that costs less over five years once resale is factored in.
Segment differences also matter. Pickup trucks and body-on-frame SUVs tend to show slower depreciation than compact sedans or large luxury cars, reflecting stronger demand in both consumer and commercial markets. Vehicles with reputations for durability and low operating costs, especially from brands with loyal followings, often command higher prices in the used market. That dynamic reinforces the patterns seen in both KBB’s projections and iSeeCars’ transaction-based rankings.
How shoppers can use the rankings
For individual buyers, the practical question is how to translate this research into smarter shopping. One approach is to start with the overlapping models between the KBB and iSeeCars lists and treat them as a “shortlist” of high-retention choices. From there, shoppers can narrow options by budget, size, and powertrain, comparing specific trims rather than just nameplates.
Financing strategy should adjust to depreciation expectations. High-retention vehicles are better suited to longer loan terms, because the car is less likely to be worth less than the remaining balance mid-loan. Conversely, buyers of models with weaker resale should consider larger down payments and shorter terms to avoid negative equity. Lease shoppers can also benefit: strong residuals usually translate into lower monthly lease payments, since the leasing company expects the vehicle to be worth more at the end of the term.
Insurance and maintenance costs still matter. A truck that holds its value but costs significantly more to insure or fuel may not be the best fit for every household. Buyers need to weigh depreciation alongside total ownership costs, including taxes, registration, routine service, and potential repairs after the warranty expires. High-retention vehicles are often popular enough that parts and independent repair expertise are widely available, which can help keep long-term costs in check.
Used-car shoppers should also pay close attention to condition and history. The iSeeCars data assume typical mileage and normal wear; a poorly maintained example of a high-retention model can still be a bad deal. Vehicle history reports, pre-purchase inspections, and careful test drives remain essential, even when the underlying model has strong resale credentials.
Gaps in the data and what buyers should watch next
Several open questions limit how far this analysis can go. First, neither iSeeCars nor KBB releases the raw transaction records or proprietary auction data behind its calculations. Buyers can see the final depreciation percentages but cannot audit the sample composition, geographic distribution, or condition mix that produced them. Second, KBB’s residual-value assumptions are inherently speculative: they depend on future auction markets that tariffs, fuel prices, or shifts in consumer preference could disrupt. A model projected to retain 65 percent of MSRP today could fall short if a redesign or a competitor launch reshapes demand before the five-year mark.
The BLS data, while authoritative for tracking aggregate used-vehicle inflation, do not break out individual models. That means no one can verify, using federal statistics alone, whether the specific nameplates highlighted by KBB and iSeeCars are driving or defying the broader trends. It also leaves open questions about how regional factors, such as weather or local tax policy, affect depreciation for particular vehicles. Researchers and policymakers interested in household transportation costs must therefore rely on private datasets for model-level insight, even as they use the government figures to understand the overall direction of prices.
Electric vehicles are another wildcard. Rapid advances in battery technology, evolving incentives, and uncertainty about long-term durability make EV depreciation harder to forecast. Some electric models may eventually join the high-retention ranks if they prove reliable and desirable in the secondhand market, but the current data remain limited compared with long-established gasoline and hybrid vehicles.
For now, the best strategy for buyers is to treat the overlapping KBB and iSeeCars lists as a strong but not infallible guide. High projected and historical resale values point to vehicles that the market expects to remain desirable, but individual circumstances-how long a buyer plans to keep the car, how many miles they drive, and how well they maintain it-will ultimately determine the real-world cost of ownership. In a market where every dollar of vehicle spending carries more weight, using these data-driven signals thoughtfully can tilt the odds toward a better long-term outcome.
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*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
