Whether you’re in the market to buy or sell a car, it’s important to understand its resale value. Sellers need to make sure that they’re pricing their car properly, and buyers need to know which vehicles are the best in their price range and which offer the greatest resale value further down the line.
We’ve looked at all the research, and there are a few brands that continue to beat the rest with their resale value. The cars listed here retain upwards of 80% of their original listing price after 12 months. Unsurprisingly, Volkswagen and Toyota have repeats, with KIA sneaking in there too. We haven’t ranked these vehicles here because buying patterns shift continuously based on certain trends and economic factors, but here are our standout top 10 cars with the best resale value:
What car loses its value the fastest?
It’s common knowledge that a new car loses its value the moment it’s off the lot, so buying a second-hand car makes more sense for many South African’s looking for a decent vehicle at a fair price. When considering purchasing a vehicle, it’s as important to know which cars have the worst resale value as it is to know which cars have the best. There are various factors that affect this, from fuel economy and longevity, to buyer trends – just because a car has a low resale value doesn’t mean that it’s a bad car. However, if you’re looking for a car that you could potentially resell with ease at a future date, there are ones to avoid.
Here’s our list of cars with the worst resale value in South Africa:
How do I find out the resale value of my car?
We’ve got you covered. Our very own Car Valuation tool is quick, simple to use and absolutely free. Simply complete the form and click Submit. You’ll get a snapshot of the resale price range your vehicle is in.
Are there specific car colours that have a better resale value than others?
Yes! In the same way that certain flavours of ice cream or colours of socks are more popular, cars of particular shades tend to sell more than others. In South Africa, lighter cars have a stronger resale value. This could be because lighter colours tend to reflect the sun and be cooler in summer; they could use up to 2% less petrol because the air conditioning isn’t being used as much as it would in a darker car. Lighter colours are also cheaper and easier to repair. Because they have a higher visibility on the road, they are considered “safer” colours.
Car colours with the best resale value in South Africa:
Car colours with the worst resale value in South Africa:
How to improve or maintain the resale value of your car
Selling your pre-loved car can be tricky when the market is saturated, and there’s always going to be someone who wants to haggle you to get the price down. This is all part of the process. But if you do plan to sell your car in the future, there are a few things you can do to improve your car’s resale value.
Here’s how to improve the resale value of your car:
We hope you found this article useful! It’s clear that the brands with the best resale value are Volkswagen, Toyota and Kia. If you’re in the market to buy a second-hand car, visit our website to get started.
Or if you’d like know what the resale value of your own vehicle is, use our free Car Valuation tool for a super-quick, no-fuss assessment.