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When we’re car shopping, there’s quite a lot to consider. For any buyer that plans to sell their car at some point down the road, resale value is undoubtedly on their radar. Here is a list from a recent study showing 10 models under $35,000 with the best resale value.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma in the dirt
2021 Toyota Tacoma | Toyota

Best resale value according to iSeeCars data

iSeeCars chart of the 10 vehicles under $35,000 that also have the best resale value
iSeeCars chart | iSeeCars

For shoppers with a $35,000 budget, there are several models with good resale value. In the above chart, iSeeCars gives the top 10 models under $35,000 in terms of depreciation. In other words, these 10 vehicles have the lowest depreciation rates when compared with others cars, trucks, and SUVs.

The top 5 best resale value vehicles under $35,000

 a Rubicon 392 Jeep Wrangler driving on a scenic two way highway in the desert
2021 Jeep Wrangler | Jeep

There’s a decent variety of models in the top five. That said, three of the top five vehicles under $35,000 with the best resale value are compact pickup trucks. If resale value is a high priority and the buyer has $35 grand to spend, the Toyota Tacoma is the vehicle with the lowest depreciation rate of all.

A blue 2021 Subaru WRX STI and a red WRX parked on asphalt in front of mountains
2021 Subaru WRX STI (left) and WRX | Subaru of America, Inc.

Following the Toyota Tacoma are the Jeep Wrangler, Subaru WRX, GMC Canyon, and Nissan Frontier. The Toyota Tacoma has a depreciation rate of 32.4% over five years of ownership. The Jeep Wrangler and the Subaru WRX follow the Taco with depreciation rates of 32.8% and 39.8% respectively.

a red GMC Canyon at an auto show on display
GMC Canyon | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

Unsurprisingly, two more midsize trucks take fourth and fifth. The GMC Canyon and the Nissan Frontier have some of the best resale of any model offers for $35,000 or under. Their depreciation rates are 41.2% and 43.5% over five years, respectively.

The resale value of a 2022 Nissan Frontier, like this one driving in the desert, is estimated to be higher than most other vehicles'
2022 Nissan Frontier | Nissan

Iconic sports cars, family SUV models, and another midsize truck

The 2021 Ford Mustang on a race track
2021 Ford Mustang | Ford

The next five on the list of the top 10 models under $35,000 with the best resale value are also from a range of segments. The Ford Mustang comes in sixth place with a 44.1% depreciation rate. After that come two popular family SUV models.

The Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V are both two-row crossover SUV models that are a popular choice for many households. They also boast some of the best resale value for vehicles under $35 grand. These two crossover SUV models have five-year depreciation rates of 45.7% and 45.8%, respectively.

A midsize pickup truck, the Chevrolet Colorado has a depreciation rate of 46.0% over five years. Then the iconic Chevrolet Camaro sports car with a five-year depreciation rate of 46.8% comes in tenth. Every single model on the list of the best resale value for vehicles under $35,000 have better-than-average five-year deprecation rates.

An orange 2021 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 driving
2021 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 | Chevy

Does resale value matter?

a green Chevrolet Camaro on display exemplifies a car with some of the best resale value around
Chevrolet Camaro | Todd Korol/Toronto Star via Getty Images

For most buyers, the day that they will sell their new car on the used market is all but inevitable. Few cars, trucks, SUVs, or crossovers are kept forever. So yes, resale value is important.

It matters because depreciation affects how much money you will get for your car when it’s time to sell it. Or, it will affect the amount of trade value a dealership offers for a used model in a new car deal. While there are certainly other more important factors to consider, resale value definitely matters to many buyers. According to iSeeCars data, these are the 10 models under $35,000 with the best resale value.

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