The 10 fastest-depreciating cars 2025
We've delved into out data to reveal the models on sale today which lose the highest percentage of their value in the first three years of ownership...
We don't want to diminish your excitement of buying a new car, but it's important to remember how much your shiny new purchase is going to be worth when you come to see it. And the rate at which your car sheds pounds and pence – known as depreciation – varies wildly depending on which car you go for.
While depreciation rarely factors into the buying decisions of most people, it should. That's because, alongside other costs such as fuel consumption, servicing and road tax, depreciation is incredibly important. It's still important if you're buying a used car rather than a new one, too, because while high depreciation is bad news for a car's first owner, it could be good news for anyone buying used.

In this story, we've used our latest resale data to reveal the models which will lose the biggest percentage of their value over a typical ownership period of three years or 36,000 miles.
If anything takes your fancy, simply click on the relevant link to read our full review or see how much you could save by using our free New Car Deals service.
Strengths
- Relatively well priced
- Respectable charging speeds
- Plenty of standard kit
Weaknesses
- Disappointing Euro NCAP safety rating
- Rivals are nicer to drive
- Reliability could be better
Model Design 50kWh | List price £29,045 | 36k/3yr resale value £8300 | Price drop £20,745 | Retained value 28.6%
The regular Vauxhall Corsa is one of the best-selling new cars in the UK, and this pure electric version offers many of the same benefits of that car – namely, that includes a keen price and lots of standard kit for your money. However, it's also the new car which loses the biggest percentage of its value over three years and 36,000 miles of ownership.
The Corsa Electric is capable of charging up relatively quickly – minimising the time you'll need to spend at public charging stations – and it has a decent range of up to 246 miles between charges according to official figures. That's similar to the rival Peugeot e-208, but it's also worth noting that the rival MG4 has a longer range, is also keenly priced, and is better to drive.
Plus, the MG will retain more of its value than those rivals after three years of ownership and 36,000 miles.
Read our full Vauxhall Corsa Electric review
DS 9
Strengths
- Largely comfortable ride
- Low road and wind noise
- Well finished interior
Weaknesses
- Sluggish and unintuitive infotainment
- So-so headroom in the back
- Fast depreciation
Model 1.6 E-Tense 4x4 Opera | List price £61,800 | 36k/3yr resale value £18,200| Price drop £43,600 | Retained value 29.4%
The DS 9 was intended to be a left-field choice in the luxury car market, with this plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version combining the potential for low running costs with all the comfort, tech and quality you'd expect in a big cruiser.
Sadly, the reality doesn't quite live up to the hype, because despite having a comfortable ride and a well-finished interior, the DS 9 trails behind other models when it comes to infotainment, rear headroom and practicality.
And despite costing as much as many German rivals to buy, the DS 9 will lose more of its value over time – which might make it tempting for used car buyers hunting for affordable luxury.
Read our full DS 9 review
Our pick: 125kW R-EV Prime Line 5dr Auto
Strengths
- Good ride and handling balance
- Smart interior with great infotainment system
- Well equipped
Weaknesses
- Pathetic range
- Loses its value quickly
- Poor rear-seat space
Model Makoto | List price £32,395 | 36k/3yr resale value £9900 | Price drop £22,495 | Retained value 30.6%
Mazda's first electric car is already a fairly expensive proposition, so it's bad news that it will also lose value faster than most rivals, shedding more than £20,000 after three years and 36,000 miles of ownership.
The MX-30 doesn't make up for that fact with a fantastic driving experience, either, because it has a short range of just 124 miles – we suspect that figure would fall to around 115 miles in real-world use – and it feels slow on faster roads.
Plus, while the interior is smart and the infotainment system is easy to get along with, getting inside the MX-30 using its rear-hinged doors takes a lot of getting used to. The boot isn't large, either, with the rival Kia Niro EV being able to carry substantially more.
Read our full Mazda MX-30 review
Strengths
- Offers off-road ability
- Reasonably spacious interior
- Respectable equipment levels
Weaknesses
- Lacks engine refinement
- Small boot for its class
- Disappointing interior quality
Model 1.3 T4 GSE PHEV Summit | List price £44,655 | 36k/3yr resale value £13,875 | Price drop £30,780 | Retained value 31.1%
Jeep is synonymous with off-roading, and sure enough the latest Compass SUV is incredibly capable away from the Tarmac. On the road, however, the Compass is louder than rivals, has steering that's too light to inspired confidence, and has less performance than you'd like in a car of this size.
While the interior offers a simple infotainment system that's easy to get along with, and the kind of high-up driving position which SUV buyers will love, the quality is cheap in places and some of the controls are confusingly laid out. And while there's plenty of space on the rear bench for your passengers, most family SUVs offer more space for your luggage.
This plug-in hybrid version loses out on some more boot space due to its battery, but the upside is that it provides you with an official all-electric range of 32 miles.
Read our full Jeep Compass review
Our pick: S8 Quattro Vorsprung 4dr Tiptronic
Strengths
- Extremely comfortable ride
- Spacious interior and boot
- Class-leading interior quality
Weaknesses
- Expensive to run in terms of depreciation
- Plug-in hybrid has a shorter electric range than the S-Class
- Dim-witted automatic gearbox
Model 55 TFSI quattro Sport Tiptronic | List price £82,485 | 36k/3yr resale value £25,900| Price drop £56,585| Retained value 31.4%
You could well argue that if you're spending the kind of money needed to put the Audi A8 luxury limousine on your driveway, that you're not overly concerned about running costs or depreciation, but nobody, even the super-rich, likes a bad investment – and with enough value lost after three years to buy a Range Rover Evoque, that's exactly what this version of the A8 is.
Still, there's plenty to enjoy to take your mind of the maths. The power delivery from this 55 TFSI petrol engine is buttery smooth, and it revs more keenly than the equivalent diesel engine, even if it's not up to quite the same standard as the Mercedes S-Class in S500 form. Like the S-Class, the A8's standard air suspension grants it a fair amount of wallowing through corners, but the upside is a supremely comfortable ride. Indeed, we think it's one of the most comfortable cars regardless of class.
And you can enjoy that comfort from an interior which feels truly special, with lots of gadgets designed to make your life easier, and acres of space to stretch out – especially if you go for the long-wheelbase model.
Read our full Audi A8 review
Strengths
- Awesome performance
- Class-leading infotainment
- Well priced
Weaknesses
- Cramped in the back
- There are sportier rivals...
- ...and more comfortable ones
Model M850i xDrive | List price £117,975 | 36k/3yr resale value £37,975| Price drop £80,000| Retained value 32.2%
It used to be the semi-sensible 840i petrol-engined version of the BMW 8 Series which performed worst for depreciation, but these days it's the range-topping M50 model, with its stonking 523bhp V8 engine, which features here.
The twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre engine is immensely strong, reacting quickly to inputs and, in Sport Plus mode, does a good job of letting everyone else know that you're coming. Though, as you might expect, the running costs are substantially higher than for other 8 Series models.
Inside you'll find plenty of space to stretch out, and an infotainment system that's easy to get along with, thanks to its rotary dial controller. Some rivals are sportier and more comfortable, though, and crucially will cost you less in depreciation over three years.
Read our full BMW 8 Series review
Our pick: 300h 2.0 Premium 5dr CVT
Strengths
- Well-equipped
- Comfortable ride
- Reliability record
Weaknesses
- Shorter range than rivals
- Charges up more slowly than rivals
- Cramped rear seat space and boot
Model 150kW Takumi | List price £50,995 | 36k/3yr resale value £16,550 | Price drop £34,445 | Retained value 32.5%
That this all-electric version of the Lexus UX SUV features on this list of the fastest-depreciating cars is only the cherry on top of what is a fairly unappealing cake. That's because, alongside hefty depreciation, you've got to factor in the UX300e's short real-world range of just 170 miles, as well as limited practicality and uninspiring handling.
On the plus side, you do at least get a lot of standard kit, and this range-topping Takumi model shouldn't leave you wanting for any luxuries. You get a larger 10.3in infotainment screen, advanced LED headlights, an upgraded sound system and a head-up display all included.
Be warned, too, that drivers expecting the kind of high-up driving position typically associated with SUVs might be disappointed here, because the UX sits you quite low down inside the car. A Tesla Model Y or VW ID 4 are better bets if you want a raised view out of your car.
Read our full Lexus UX300e review
DS 3
Our pick: 115kW E-TENSE Pallas 54kWh 5dr Auto
Strengths
- Plush and classy interior
- Quiet cruising manners
- Plenty of standard kit
Weaknesses
- Expensive to buy new
- Sub-par electric range
- Cramped rear seats
Model E-Tense Pallas | List price £31,200 | 36k/3yr resale value £10,200| Price drop £21,000 | Retained value 31.69%
This small electric SUV counts the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV and MG ZS EV among its key rivals, but loses more value once you've covered 36,000 miles than all of those.
While the DS 3 isn't as fast as those cars, the 9.0sec 0-60mph sprint time afforded by its 154bhp electric motor will still be plenty quick enough for most drivers. And the DS does a good job of soaking up ruts and bumps in the road, with its soft suspension giving a comfortable ride, with none of the jostling you'll experience in the firmer Kona Electric.
In terms of range, the DS 3's 50.8kWh battery gives an official range of 250 miles – and our experience in the real world suggests that around 200 miles should be possible between charges.
Read our full DS 3 E-Tense review
Strengths
- Very quiet engines
- Spacious interior
- Excellent build quality
Weaknesses
- You can’t add many options
- Hesitant automatic gearboxes
- Infotainment difficult to use on the move
Model 50 TFSIe quattro Sport S Tronic | List price £60,585 | 36k/3yr resale value £19,825 | Price drop £40,760 | Retained value 32.72%
It's worth noting that not all versions of the Audi A6 luxury car depreciate heftily, but this plug-in hybrid version is one which does, losing more than £40,000 worth of value once you've owned it for three years.
That means you'd better make the most of its reduced running costs compared with a regular petrol or diesel car, and with an official range of up to 34 miles, you could manage your commute, the school run, or both, before the 2.0-litre petrol engine joins the fray. With both power sources running, the 0-62mph sprint time of 6.2sec feels plenty fast enough.
You get a great view out of the A6's interior – it's better for looking over your shoulder than the rival Mercedes E-Class – and while the A6's touchscreen isn't as intuitive to use as the rotary controller in the BMW 5 Series, it still offers swish graphics and lots of features.
It's worth noting that plug-in hybrid versions of the A6 lose a bit of boot space to accommodate their batteries, leaving 360 litres for your luggage. However, we suspect that will still be enough for most families.
Read our full Audi A6 review
Strengths
- Smart interior
- Decent to drive
- Well equipped
Weaknesses
- Expensive
- Cramped in the back
- Driving position won’t suit everyone
Model Allure | List price £29,950 | 36k/3yr resale value £9925 | Price drop £20,025| Retained value 33.1%
On paper and depreciation aside, there's a lot to like about this small electric car. Even entry-level versions can officially take you up to 224 miles between charges, which is better than you'd find in the rival Fiat 500 Electric, for example. And while the 134bhp electric motor isn't the last word in performance, it's nippy enough for most situations. Just remember that the BYD Dolphin and MG4 are faster still.
Inside, once you've gotten used to Peugeot's slightly odd i-Cockpit dashboard layout, which has you looking over a small steering wheel at the instruments rather than through them, you'll appreciate the many high-quality materials on show. Everything feels built to last, and you get a decent amount of kit as standard too.
Sadly, though, things get worse when you look at pricing, because you'll pay more for an e-208 than you would for most rivals, barring the Fiat 500, and that's before you remember that the Peugeot will drop more of its value over three years than those models.
Read our full Peugeot e-208 review
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here