In this article 17 sections
Toyota is the best car brand for resale value in 2026 and Lexus is the best luxury brand, according to Kelley Blue Book’s 2026 Best Resale Value Awards. Trucks and body-on-frame SUVs hold their value best. Below: the brand ranking, the top 10 models, and the best resale value picks by body style.
Every new car loses value the moment it leaves the lot. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) says the average 2026 model-year vehicle is projected to keep only about 45% of its original value after five years of ownership. That makes resale value one of the biggest costs of owning a car, and it is the number to compare before you buy.
This guide answers the two questions people search most: which car brands have the best resale value, and which cars hold their value best. The figures come from KBB’s Official Residual Value Guide, which KBB uses to pick its yearly award winners. They are projections for 2026 model-year vehicles, not guarantees for any single car.
What Is Car Resale Value?
Resale value is what a car is worth when you sell or trade it in, usually shown as a percentage of the original price. Buy a car for $30,000 and sell it five years later for $16,500, and it kept 55% of its value. At $13,500 it kept 45%, which is the 2026 average.
Reliability, brand reputation, and supply and demand drive the number. When more people want a used model than there are cars for sale, prices stay high. Mileage, condition and service records then move your own car above or below the model average.
Why Resale Value Matters in 2026
New cars cost more than they used to, so the loss in the first five years is larger in dollars even when the percentage is the same. Picking a model that keeps 55% instead of 45% on a $40,000 car leaves about $4,000 more in your pocket when you sell. That gap is often bigger than any discount a dealer offers.
Resale value also affects leases, because lease payments are built on the car’s expected value at the end of the term. A model with a strong residual value usually carries a lower monthly payment for the same sticker price.
Best Car Brands for Resale Value 2026
Here are the car brands for resale value that lead the 2026 rankings. KBB named Toyota the best brand overall and Lexus the best luxury brand. The percentages below are the brand averages KBB published in its March 19, 2026 release.
1. Toyota
Toyota won Best Resale Value: Brand with an overall resale average of 53% over five years, well above the 45% industry average. Toyota also took nine of the 24 category awards, among them the Camry, Prius, Tacoma, Tundra, Sienna, Sequoia and Grand Highlander. Five of KBB’s top 10 models are Toyotas: the 4Runner, GR Supra, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra.
2. Lexus
Lexus won Best Resale Value: Luxury Brand with an average of 47%. That is a lower percentage than Toyota, but it is strong for a luxury badge, because luxury cars usually depreciate faster. Lexus also took the luxury subcompact, compact and midsize SUV awards with the UX, NX and RX.
3. Honda
Honda did not win the brand award, but it won the compact car (Civic), subcompact SUV (HR-V) and compact SUV (CR-V) categories. For a small, affordable car or crossover, those are the names to check first.
4. Porsche, Chevrolet and Mercedes-Benz
Sports and luxury makers can still hold value when a model is rare and wanted. The Porsche 911, Chevrolet Corvette and Mercedes-Benz G-Class all made KBB’s 2026 top 10 list. They are exceptions, because most cars from these brands depreciate more than a Toyota does.
5. Ford and Rivian
Ford has two models in the top 10, the Maverick and the Ranger. Rivian won the electric SUV (R1S) and electric truck (R1T) awards.
What Vehicle Has the Best Resale Value?
The best resale value cars are trucks and body-on-frame SUVs. KBB’s 2026 top 10, listed alphabetically, is the Chevrolet Corvette, Toyota 4Runner, Ford Maverick, Toyota GR Supra, Ford Ranger, Toyota Sienna, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Toyota Tacoma, Porsche 911 and Toyota Tundra. Together they are projected to keep around 55% or more of their MSRP after five years.
Four of the ten are pickup trucks: the Maverick, Ranger, Tacoma and Tundra. Add the 4Runner and the G-Class and six of the ten are trucks or truck-based SUVs. People buy them for work and towing, so demand stays steady, while a family sedan is bought mostly on price and price is the first thing to fall on the used market.
One warning applies to every category. A fresh redesign or a discontinued badge can change how a model behaves compared with its history, so check the current market before you assume last year’s winner is still the winner.
2026 KBB Best Resale Value Winners by Category
| Category | 2026 KBB winner |
|---|---|
| Compact car | Honda Civic |
| Midsize car | Toyota Camry |
| Subcompact SUV | Honda HR-V |
| Compact SUV | Honda CR-V |
| Midsize SUV | Toyota Grand Highlander |
| Full-size SUV | Toyota Sequoia |
| Off-road SUV | Toyota 4Runner |
| Minivan | Toyota Sienna |
| Sports car | Toyota GR Supra |
| Hybrid | Toyota Prius |
| Compact pickup | Ford Maverick |
| Midsize pickup | Toyota Tacoma |
| Full-size pickup | Toyota Tundra |
| Electric car | Tesla Model 3 |
| Electric SUV | Rivian R1S |
| Luxury midsize SUV | Lexus RX |
| Luxury full-size SUV | Mercedes-Benz G-Class |
Source: Kelley Blue Book, 2026 Best Resale Value Awards, March 19, 2026. Awards are based on projected residual values for 2026 model-year vehicles.
Top Categories: Cars With the Highest Resale Value
Different lifestyles need different vehicles, but the goal is the same: the best resale value for your needs.
Trucks and SUVs
Trucks lead. The Tacoma won midsize pickup, the Tundra won full-size pickup and the Maverick won compact pickup. In SUVs, the 4Runner won off-road, the Sequoia full-size and the Grand Highlander midsize. The Jeep Wrangler is also popular used, but it was not a 2026 KBB winner, so check local prices.
Compact Cars
The Honda Civic won the compact car award. Small cars are efficient and cheap to run, so used demand stays steady. The Civic is a safe place to start if you want a small car that keeps its value.
Sports Cars
Sports cars are usually a poor bet, but the Toyota GR Supra won the sports car award, and the Corvette and 911 both made the top 10. They are the exception, not the rule.
Best Resale Value Sedans
Sedans are the hardest body style for resale value. Buyers moved to SUVs and crossovers, so used sedan demand fell across the board. Still, two sedans won KBB categories in 2026: the Honda Civic (compact) and the Toyota Camry (midsize). In luxury, the Acura Integra (compact) and Mercedes-Benz E-Class (midsize) won their classes.
The pattern is simple. The best resale value sedans are small or midsize, reliable and cheap to service. Luxury sedans did not win any KBB award above the compact and midsize classes, so check the model’s projected value before you buy one if resale matters to you.
Electric Car Resale Value
Electric vehicle values are harder to predict. Prices, tax incentives and battery technology change fast, and a five-year-old EV may have older battery tech than a new one. KBB still named winners in the electric classes in 2026: the Tesla Model 3, Rivian R1S and R1T, Porsche Taycan and Cadillac VISTIQ. Treat EV projections as less certain than those for a Tacoma or Civic.
If you want lower fuel costs with more predictable values, look at hybrids. The Toyota Prius won KBB’s 2026 hybrid award.
Luxury Car Brands With High Resale Value
Luxury usually means faster depreciation, because you pay for the badge. Lexus is the main exception, and its 47% average is above the 45% overall average. Mercedes-Benz did well with the G-Class and E-Class, and Acura won with the Integra.
If you want a luxury vehicle that keeps its value, look at the Lexus RX, NX and UX or the Acura Integra before other luxury sedans. Expensive repairs on out-of-warranty luxury cars also push used prices down.
How to Check the Resale Value of a Car
Use Online Tools
Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds and similar sites let you enter a model, year, mileage and condition to see a current value. KBB’s award lists show which models are projected to hold value best. Check the same model on two sites to see how close they are.
Look at the History of the Model
A model that has held value for years is likely to keep doing so. The 4Runner and Tacoma are repeat names in KBB’s lists, which tells you something about long-run demand. Past results do not guarantee future prices, especially after a redesign.
Factors That Damage Resale Value
Even the best resale value cars lose money if you neglect them.
- High mileage: More miles mean a lower price. Aim to stay near 12,000 miles a year or less.
- Poor condition: Dents, curb-scraped wheels and a worn interior cost you at sale.
- Unusual colors: Very bright colors narrow the pool of buyers. White, black, gray and silver are easiest to sell.
- Missing records: Buyers pay less when they cannot see service records.
- Accident history: A reported crash lowers value. See our guide to how to check car accident history before you buy used.
Tips for Maintaining Value
Keep Records
Save every receipt for oil changes, tire rotations and repairs. Documentation proves the car was cared for and buyers pay for that.
Park Smart
Sun damages paint and hail dents panels. Park in a garage when you can.
Drive Gently
Avoid potholes and hard use. A car that drives tight and clean is easier to sell at a good price.
The Role of Supply and Demand
High demand and low supply mean high prices. Small, affordable trucks like the Ford Maverick and Ford Ranger both made KBB’s top 10, a sign that demand for affordable pickups is strong.
The reverse is also true. When buyers lose interest in a body style, as happened with sedans, resale values slide.
Buying Used vs. Buying New
The New Car Argument
A new Toyota Tacoma or 4Runner loses value more slowly than most new cars. You also get a warranty and current safety technology.
The Used Car Argument
The first owner absorbs the steepest drop. A three-year-old car costs much less than a new one and has already taken the worst of the loss. Be careful with used luxury cars, because repairs can be expensive once the warranty ends.
Used Cars With the Best Resale Value
The best used picks are the same names as the new ones. A three-to-five-year-old Tacoma, 4Runner, Civic or CR-V should depreciate more slowly than most rivals. Look for a full service history, one or two owners and average mileage. A very low price with no records is usually a warning, not a bargain.
Conclusion
If you want one answer, buy a Toyota or Lexus, and lean toward a truck or body-on-frame SUV. For a cheaper car, the Civic, Camry and CR-V are the KBB category winners. The average 2026 vehicle keeps about 45% of its value after five years, while the top 10 models are projected to keep around 55% or more, so model choice is worth thousands of dollars.
Keep your car serviced, keep the records, and check current prices before you buy or sell, because projections shift each year.
Related guides: car buying calculators and tools and What to Do After Buying a Used Car.
FAQs
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Sources
- Kelley Blue Book: 2026 Best Resale Value Award winners (March 19, 2026)
- Kelley Blue Book: 2025 Best Resale Value Award winners
- Honda News: Civic, Accord and CR-V earn 2025 KBB Best Resale Value awards
Morgan Reyes is the founder and editor-in-chief of NextCarReview, which Morgan launched in August 2024. A 2022 graduate of Columbia University, Morgan is based in New York and writes and edits the site’s reviews, comparisons and buying guides. Morgan does not road-test vehicles. Every article is built from published primary data: EPA FuelEconomy.gov ratings, NHTSA crash ratings, recalls and owner complaints, IIHS results, and manufacturer specifications and pricing, with each figure cited and checked before publication. Contact: admin@nextcarreview.com
