One of the biggest hidden costs to buying a new car comes in the form of depreciation. It may not hit you right away, but when you’re ready to sell your car and move on, it can be a massive pain. If you shop cleverly, though, you can get a car that gets you a good chunk of your money back.
When you buy a car, particularly a new car, you’re accepting that you’re going to lose a big chunk of the money you invest. How much money you lose, however, depends on the car you get. Most of the time, affordable mainstream cars hold their value the best, with luxury cars andsports cars depreciating the most.
We’ve found ten models that hold their value better than other cars on the market, depreciating the least over five years. These cars are some of the best value-oriented options on the market. We explore what else helps them stand out in their individual segments and what kind of performance you may get out of them.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including CarEdge and TopSpeed. Depreciation rates were sourced from CarEdge. This article focuses on cars, excluding crossovers and SUVs.
102025 Volkswagen Jetta
Depreciation After Five Years: 37%
Volkswagen, particularly in the modern age, is all about sensibility. The Jetta has offered an affordable and pragmatic solution to those looking to get behind the wheel of a four-door sedan. With a starting MSRP of $22,495, it is also one of the most affordable new cars you can buy.
158 HP
184 LB-FT
0-60 MPH
Top Speed
126 MPH
The Jetta is clearly tuned for quiet comfort, with a ride quality that will surprise and impress you. However, push it to its limits a bit and you’ll find out that it is capable of being a little thrilling too. It is also capable of getting up to 41 miles per gallon on the highway.
92025 Kia K5
Depreciation After Five Years: 36%
Kia is killing it at the moment, with top competitors in just about every segment. The K5 is up against some tough rivals in the form of the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry, butit holds its own well. The starting price of the newest 2025 model sits at $27,190, undercutting most of its competition.
191 HP
181 LB-FT
FWD or AWD
128 MPH
Front-wheel drive and a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine is the standard arrangement on the K5. To get all-wheel drive, you have to upgrade to the GT-Line model. A turbocharged engine is available in the K5 GT which puts out an impressive 290 horsepower.
82025 Kia K4
Replacing the Forte, and making use of its underpinnings, the K4 is all-new for the 2025 model year. It isa big step upfrom Kia’s old compact sedan, clearly drawing inspiration for the K5 and the old Stinger. It also features competitive pricing, starting at an impressively low $21,990.
147 HP
132 LB-FT
124 MPH
Perhaps not the fastest option out there, the K4’s base engine puts out a humble 147 horsepower. However, paired with the standard CVT, this can get you up to 40 miles per gallon on the highway. The GT-Line model comes with a 190-horsepower turbocharged engine instead.
72025 Nissan Sentra
The Sentra is a super affordable option for those looking for something simple to get them from A to B. It starts at $21,590. While it comes pretty well-equipped in terms of driver assists and standard technology, don’t expect it to be plush or a fun car to drive.
149 HP
146 LB-FT
120 MPH
The Sentra may have similar levels of power to some of its core competitors, but it feels pretty sluggish, and it struggles to get up to highway speeds. The Sentra really is meant for urban buyers who aren’t looking for anything particularly special.
62025 Subaru WRX
Depreciation After Five Years: 35%
The WRX may not be as hardcore as it once was, but it still remains one of the best affordable sports sedans you’re able to buy. It handles tough and slippery surfaces better than most of its rivals, which is probably one of the reasons it is thebest-selling sports car in Canada. Prices start at $35,750.
6-Speed Manual or CVT
271 HP
258 LB-FT
145 MPH
Every WRX comes with the same turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine and standard all-wheel drive. It is plenty quick off the line, and it lays down some impressive levels of traction. The top trim tS features a reworked suspension and larger Brembo brakes. We’d definitely opt for the manual transmission regardless of which model you’re interested in, though.
52025 Prius Prime/PHEV
Depreciation After Five Years: 33%
For the 2025 model year, Toyota has dropped ‘Prime’ from the name, instead simply calling it the Prius PHEV. It remains one of the most affordable plug-in hybrid cars you can buy in 2025, with a starting MSRP of $33,375 as well as delivering up to44 miles of all-electric range.
eCVT
220 HP
139 LB-FT
112 MPH
Toyota pairs a four-cylinder engine with two electric motors in the Prius PHEV, one motor powers the front wheels while the other controls the planetary gearset. The Prius is far past its boring persona, with a quicker zero to 60 than most of its rivals and some impressive cornering abilities.
42025 Subaru Impreza
Depreciation After Five Years: 31%
Despite looking a little outdated, on the inside and the outside, the Impreza offers a ton of value in the compact car segment. It is exceptionally practical thanks to the hatch at the back, comes standard with all-wheel drive, and starts at a palatable $23,610.
152 HP
145 LB-FT
125 MPH
The Impreza is the most affordable new car that you can get in 2025with all-wheel drive, including those that offer it as an optional extra. It isn’t particularly quick, even if you opt for the RS with the larger 2.5-liter engine, but it is exceptionally practical.
32025 Honda Civic
Despreciation After Five Years: 31%
If you’re looking for a value-for-money compact car, the Honda Civic is usually one of the first options that will be suggested to you. It has a long-running history of reliability and comes packed with standard features. It is a bargain with a starting MSRP of $24,250 and can even be had as a hybrid.
150 HP
133 LB-FT
The base powertrain offered in the Civic is sturdy but slightly underpowered, which you feel when you try to accelerate. A 181-horsepower hybrid model is offered, though, that can get from zero to 60 in 6.2 seconds and can get up to 50 miles per gallon in the city.
22025 Toyota GR Corolla
Depreciation After Five Years: 30%
The GR Corolla gets its own entry because it isa very different machineto the regular Corolla. For such a high-performance car, it holds its value exceptionally well, in part because demand still outweighs supply. It starts at $38,860, which is a pretty low price for the performance it delivers.
300 HP
295 LB-FT
143 MPH
Toyota’s engineers have achieved some real wizardry by extracting 300 horsepower from a small inline-three, demonstrating the power of forced induction. It also features an advanced all-wheel drive system that allows you to split power sent to the front and back at different ratios.
12025 Toyota Corolla Hatch
Depreciation After Five Years: 19%
Beating every other car by quite a large margin, the Corolla Hatchback holds its value the best, even better than the sedan which sees depreciation of 33 percent after five years. The Corolla remains simple,value-oriented transportationwith a starting MSRP of $23,780.
169 HP
151 LB-FT
114 MPH
All hatchback models come with a simple four-cylinder engine. The sedan, however, can be optioned with a hybrid powertrain. While not the slowest car in its class, the Corolla struggles to get up to speed, producing a racket in the process. However, it does deliver a fairly impressive ride quality.
