Factors That Affect Depreciation
Brand reliability reputation, fuel efficiency, maintenance costs, popularity in the local market, and colour all significantly impact how much value a vehicle retains.
Best Value Holders in Australia
Toyota Land Cruiser (holds 70%+ after 3 years), Toyota HiLux (65-70%), Suzuki Jimny (70%+ due to demand), and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (60-65%). Japanese vehicles consistently outperform European counterparts in value retention.
Worst for Depreciation
Luxury sedans (Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3 Series) lose 40-50% in 3 years. Large European SUVs and fully loaded base-model vehicles also depreciate heavily.
How to Minimise Depreciation
Choose popular colours (white, silver, grey), maintain a complete service history, keep kilometres reasonable, protect the interior and exterior, and choose models known for reliability.