A car is not an investment. We all know that, right? The odds of a car appreciating in value are very slim. Most of them, even the most reliable and sought-after sports cars and hot hatches, tend to lose more than half their value in the first five years alone. There are classics and supercars that seem to go up in value like a fine wine, but these make up less than 1% of the market, and they're almost never mainstream vehicles.But, there are some very big exceptions to this rule. Yes, we're talking about Toyotas, but we're also talking about Subarus, heavy-duty pickups, and niche vehicles like the Mini Cooper. These cars, trucks, and SUVs have all managed to retain remarkable value after four, five, or six years on the market.Vehicles have been chosen for inclusion in this list based on low five-year depreciation rates according to our own pricing tool (excepting the six-year-old 2020 Subaru BRZ and the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, neither of which were available for 2021), with our cutoff being less than half of the 60% depreciation suggested by CarEdge. An effort has been made to include vehicles across multiple segments and brands, and the final list has been arranged from quickest to slowest rate of depreciation. Subaru BRZ The Subaru Sports Car Is Unique For More Than Just Its Rear-Wheel Drive 2025 Subaru BRZThe Subaru BRZ is the brand's only vehicle offered in rear-wheel drive, and the only one without an all-wheel drive option. Its resilience on the used vehicle market is evidence of what can happen when an automaker steps outside of its comfort zone.In its last J.D. Power review, for the 2023 model year, the car only scored a 76/100 for Quality & Reliability, but RepairPal puts the BRZ's typical annual maintenance costs at just $672, which isn't bad for a sports car. Mini Cooper Hardtop The Mini Cooper Has A Small, But Devoted Fanbase In The US 2025 Mini Cooper HardtopLike the Toyota Tacoma and the Subaru BRZ, the Mini Cooper reaps the benefits of a devoted fanbase. If you're after a used Mini Cooper, then you're after a used Mini Cooper. You don't have a list of close second and third and fourth and fifth choices. This creates something of a seller's market for anyone who owns a Mini in good condition.The 2021 model in particular is an easy sell based on its 82/100 Q&R rating, from J.D. Power. This rating puts it five points higher up the scoreboard than the 2026 iteration. Package that devoted fanbase and impressive reliability rankings to a cheerful driving experience, and the Mini's solid retention values should come as no surprise. Mazda CX-30 The 2021 CX-30 Is Still One Of The Best Family Cars On The Market 2026 Mazda CX-30The 2021 Mazda CX-30 boasts an 81/100 Q&R rating with J.D. Power, and a near-perfect report card with the IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick+ award. IIHS dinged it a point for a single Poor rating, for excessive glare from the Premium-trim headlights, on models built before October 2020. Otherwise, the car scored a Good rating in every single category.Excellent safety and reliability ratings paired with an average combined fuel economy of 28 mpg and a capable 2.5-liter 186-horsepower straight-four engine make for a crossover in which just about anyone would be happy to chauffeur the family. Hyundai Santa Cruz The Santa Cruz's May Be No More After 2026 2025 Hyundai Santa CruzWe're on the record naming the Hyundai Santa Cruz as one of the most underrated pickups available today. In fact, it's so underrated that Hyundai may be looking to ax it after the 2026 model year. That may play a part in keeping resale value nice and high, but the fact is that anyone who test-drives one of these small pickups tends to discover a new favorite. That, combined with limited availability, owing in part to poor sales, may help to explain why it's still selling for 85% of its initial value four years in. Toyota Corolla It's A Toyota, That Alone Makes It A Slow Depreciator 2026 Toyota Corolla XSEIn order to give other brands a fair shot at making this list, we limited our Toyota representation to one pickup, one SUV, and one car. This one's the car, a Top Safety Pick winner (2021) with an 81/100 Q&R rating, according to its last J.D. Power review. If you're wondering why we picked the Toyota Corolla, and not the more popular Toyota Camry, Toyota's iconic mid-size sells for $18,999 from an MSRP of $25,045 after five years, which is impressive, but not quite as impressive as the Corolla's 86% value retention. Toyota Land Cruiser It's A Toyota, And It's A High-Value Luxury Off-Roader 2016-2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Mk7 Facelift 2 Gray Front ViewThe Toyota Land Cruiser may be the most reliable off-roader on the market today. Combined with high initial cost and somewhat limited supply, owing to its niche status, that results in an SUV that stubbornly refuses to lose its value.Our advice: Look into a Lexus LX, instead. It's basically the same thing, but, being a luxury car, depreciates a tiny bit faster, with a 2021 model currently trending at $71,352 from a base MSRP of $86,930. Ford Ranger Demand For The 4th-Gen Ranger May Have Been Boosted By 5th-Gen Delays 2023 Ford Ranger front 3/4 yellowThe Ford Ranger is reliable, with an impressive 87/100 Q&R rating for the 2021 model year. But, more than that, 4th-gen's slow depreciation may be explained in part by hangups resulting from UAW strikes affecting the launch of the 2024 model year Ranger. Pair that with post-pandemic supply chain hangups, and we're still feeling the ripple effects of those initial low production numbers three years later. Honda Civic The Highest-Resale-Value Family Sedan After Five Years 2025 Honda CivicWe've already covered the Honda Civic Sedan's superb value retention, naming it the slowest depreciator in its segment. There's a case to be made for a used Honda Civic as the most practical sedan purchase available, with its 86/100 Q&R rating (2021), and Top Safety Pick award, and a pragmatic buy will almost always retain value well. Toyota Tacoma The 3rd-Gen Tacoma Was The Last With A V6, Driving Up Demand For Used Models 2025-toyota-tacoma-trdoffroad-bronzeoxide-015A five-year-old Toyota Tacoma holds its value very well, in part because it's a Tacoma, and in part because this is the last generation Taco that Toyota ever sold with a V6. At a depreciation rate of 1%, it's basically frozen in time. The 2023 models are the real treasures, though, currently selling at $31,474 from an MSRP of $28,600 for a base model, representing a 10% increase in value.It's not just that these are the last V6 Tacomas, though. Loyal Taco drivers who were first in line to buy the 2024 model year were rewarded for their devotion to the brand with transmission problems that the brand was slow to address. Toyota has since handled the problem via a service bulletin, but the whole debacle turned many drivers off of the 4th-gen models entirely, driving up demand for the third generation. GMC Sierra 3500HD HD And SD Trucks Tend To Hold Their Value Very Well 2024 - 2026 GMC Sierra 3500HD 5th Gen (GMTT1XX) Facelift (34)We could have filled this whole list with all the biggest Rams, Fords, Chevies, and GMCs. We're letting the GMC Sierra 3500HD represent the segment because it's a remarkable value-holder even for an HD, actually appreciating by 17% over five years, according to our price trend tool.HD and SD trucks tend to hold their value well because automakers can't always keep up with the demand for big work trucks, meaning that used sellers benefit from making up the difference. Additionally, drivers typically see HD and SD trucks as an investment, and may even be buying them with a business account, taking the sting off high pricing.