Poor value motors: new cars that depreciate the fastest

If you want your motor to retain some value, then these are some of the cars to avoid.

It’s no secret that when you purchase a new car, it loses a chunk of its value the moment you drive it off the forecourt.

Second-hand cars – even if they have only been owned for a very short period – are always cheaper than those that are brand new.

However, the rate at which cars depreciate can vary substantially.

Now the experts over at WhatCar? have named the 10 cars that depreciate the fastest based on a trade-in value after three years, with a vehicle that’s covered a total of 36,000 miles.

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10 ‒ BMW 8 Series

The version with the highest depreciation is the 840i M Sport, which boasts a list price of a whopping £83,905.

Don’t expect to get much of that back if you sell it after three years though ‒ it retains just 31.8%, at £26,650.

The car is clearly a standout behind the wheel, delivering what the reviewers class as an “awesome performance”, while you also get “class-leading infotainment”.

It isn’t the most comfortable option within this class of car though, with others combining a comfier ride with better retention of value.

9 ‒ Peugeot e-2008

This one is a family-sized SUV, and wins praise from reviewers for its smart interior, comfortable ride and strong efficiency.

Those plus points aren’t enough to mean that it keeps its value particularly well though, since after three years it retains just 31.6% of its initial list price of £36,500.

That translates into a drop of £24,975 in cash terms, to a new value of £11,525.

8 ‒ DS 9 

The DS9, and specifically the 1.6 Tense 4x4 model is supposed to be a bit of an alternative for the luxury car market, combining potentially low running costs with comfort and tech.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t quite happen, since it’s behind its rivals on infotainment, rear headroom and practicality, according to the reviewers.

As a result, you’ll lose a whopping £51,090 in value after three years, falling from £74,415 to £23,325. That works out at just 31.34% retained value.

7 ‒ Renault Zoe

The Zoe drops sharply after three years. It starts out with a list price of £29,995, but loses more than £20,000 in cash terms to a resale value of £9,375. That means just 31.26% retained value.

The Zoe is a decent electric car, boasting a longer range than most rivals and a big boot.

However, it has a “terrible” safety rating according to WhatCar?, which will obviously dent its appeal.

6 ‒ Maserati Quattroporte

It’s another premium option on the list, with the Quattroporte boasting a list price of a mammoth £142,745.

Sadly three years down the line it’s lost most of that value ‒ on resale you’ll likely get £43,300, which works out at just 30.3% retained value.

The car looks and sounds fantastic according to the reviewers, it isn’t the most sporty option around. What’s more, losing £100,000 off the value after 36,000 miles is going to sting.

5 ‒ Vauxhall Mokka Electric

The Mokka is a car that comes with plenty of standard kit, and is capable of a decent 209 miles between charges. It’s also described as “pretty comfortable” and impressively quiet at speed by the reviewers.

This isn’t enough to help it keep value though ‒ it only retains 30% after three years, dropping from £39,985 to £12,000.

4 ‒ Nissan Leaf

It’s yet another electric car on this list. It’s a decent option, boasting a decent boot and plenty of kit as standard, it is criticised for its “flawed driving position”.

It also loses value at a rate of knots, dropping from £28,995 to £8,525 in just three years. That works out at 29.4% retained value.

3 ‒ Vauxhall Corsa Electric

The regular Corsa is one of the better-selling new cars in Britain, and the electric version boasts the same positives, such as a decent price and lots of kit as standard. This electric model also wins praise for its “respectable” charging speeds.

It doesn’t have a great safety rating though, while rivals are more fun to drive. As a result, its value drops from a list price of £32,445 to a resale value of £9,400 after three years, meaning it retains just 29%.

2 ‒ Maserati Ghibli

A Maserati is not exactly going to be within the budget of most of us, at least not at first. The Ghibli Hybrid GT Ultimate comes with a list price of an almighty £90,600.

But after three years of decent use, it crashes by a whopping £64,500 to a typical £26,100 ‒ just 28.8% of its original price, according to the WhatCar? team. 

The reviewers point out this is just a mild hybrid, with only small amounts of electrical assistance to help lower the fuel bills, leaving it expensive to run. It’s also criticised for its comfort and handling compared to rivals.

On the plus side, it has “striking looks” and the V6 and V8 versions “sound special”. Whether that’s enough for such a substantial outlay is up to you.

1 ‒ DS 3

The DS3, and specifically the E-Tense model, retains just 28.5% of its initial list price according to WhatCar.

The car has an opening price of £39,825, yet after three years of use you can expect to get just £11,350, a drop in cash terms of more than £28,000.

The DS 3 is a small electric SUV, and according to the reviewers it has some real positives like its soft suspension and comfortable ride, as well as the fact that you get plenty of useful elements included as standard.

It is a bit cramped in the back, though if you’re looking to snap up a bargain you could do worse than target a used one.

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