Top 10 cars with the best resale value in India

Automobiles are depreciating assets, and car owners who regularly upgrade their cars have to account for this while buying a new one. A vehicle straight out of the showroom instantly depreciates by around 10%. And during ownership, it continues to lose its value due to wear and tear. It causes the car to lose its resale value. Luckily some vehicles depreciate a lot slower than others. Read ahead to know more about the best resale value cars in India.

List of 10 best resale value cars

Below are our top picks for the cars with the best resale value in India based on their depreciation rates.

1. Maruti Alto 800

Key Specifications

Highlights of Maruti Alto 800

• With its increasing popularity in the Indian auto market, Alto has now become a household car name.

• Its low pricing, easy maintenance, and high fuel economy have made it the highest-selling entry-level car in the Indian market.

• Believe it or not, an owner of an Alto 800 may resell the car for almost 80% of its original value even after three years of ownership.

2. Maruti Wagon R

Key Specifications

Highlights of Maruti WagonR

• Another high selling Maruti car in the Indian auto market is Maruti Wagon R. 

• Apart from being reasonably priced, Wagon R has an excellent resale value, and Maruti's nationwide network of top-notch customer service outlets adds to the car's value. 

• The estimated depreciation of the Wagon R stands at around 20% in three years, allowing the owner to reclaim most of the purchase cost of the vehicle.

3. Maruti Swift

Key Specifications

Highlights of Maruti Swift

• The stylish Maruti Swift is one of the other high-selling cars with an exceptional resale value.

• It is estimated to retain approximately 80% of its value even after two years of ownership.

• The friendly after-sales service and unmatched reliability of Maruti only add to the car's value.

4. Maruti Dzire

Key Specifications

Highlights of Maruti Dzire

• The next car on our top 10 cars with the best resale value in India also happens to be a Maruti product.

• At this point, you may have realised that Maruti is amongst the car brands with high resale value in India.

• Maruti Dzire is reasonably priced and comes with a roomy cabin, fuel-efficient engine and other catchy features.

• Not surprisingly, a Dzire can retain approximately 85% of its original value even after one year of ownership.

5. Honda City

Key Specifications

Highlights of Honda City

• Honda City is one of the most successful offerings of the popular Honda brand. 

• Its attractive design, spacious cabin and efficient i-VTEC engine sets it apart from its competition and make it an attractive choice for sedan buyers.

• A Honda City can retain approximately 75% of its original value even after three years.

6. Maruti Vitara Brezza

Key Specifications

Highlights of Maruti Vitara Brezza

• Another Maruti car with a high resale value is the Maruti Vitara Brezza.

• The high-selling Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) offers excellent ride quality, bold styling and attractive specs.

• Brezza has an outstanding resale value and can retain approximately 90% of its original value even after three years of ownership,

7. Ford Ecosport

Key Specifications

Highlights of Ford Ecosport

• Packing in 6 airbags and having extremely robust built quality, Ford EcoSport is amongst the safest cars in the country.

• Although it is not as popular as the Maruti Vitara Brezza, the compact Ford SUV has a market of its own.

• Being amongst the best resale value cars, the Ford EcoSport can retain approximately 80% of its original value even after three years of ownership.

8. Hyundai Creta

Key Specifications

Highlights of Hyundai Creta

• Since its launch in 2015, Hyundai Creta has been amongst the highest selling SUVs in India.

• It offers a stylish look, comfortable ride and terrific after-sales support from Hyundai, making it a coveted option in the new and used car market.

• It also happens to have one of the best resale values, offering approximately 85% of its value even after three years of ownership.

9. Toyota Innova Crysta

Key Specifications

Highlights of Innova Crysta

• Our list would be incomplete if we didn’t add the undisputed highest resale value car in its segment, the Toyota Innova Crysta.

• Innova offers a reliable engine, spacious cabin and requires low maintenance.

• This Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) offers an unbelievable resale value of approximately 90% of its original value even after three years of ownership.

10. Toyota Fortuner

Key Specifications

Highlights of Toyota Fortuner

• With its refined engine, safety features and bold styling, it is no surprise that Toyota Fortuner is a best-seller in its segment.

• Owing to its durability and the fantastic after-sales experience Toyota offers, the car has a very high resale value.

• After three years of ownership, a Toyota Fortuner can retain approximately 88% of its original value.

The resale value of a car: What is it? How to calculate?

As we discussed earlier, cars have a rapid depreciation rate after purchase. The resale value is the price at which one can sell a used car after factoring in the depreciation costs. 

Unlike the new car market, the value of used cars is not set in stone. Used car sales websites and dealers may quote varying prices, making estimating the accurate resale value a tricky task. Also, while negotiating rates, potential buyers will try to quote a lesser price and convince you that the value of your car is lesser than it actually is.

To avoid getting confused and misled, below are a few tips and tricks to help you calculate the release value of a car.

• Find out about the condition of the market. Unusual circumstances like the recent pandemic can drastically bring down the value of used vehicles. Also, lean periods like the year-end or a recession can significantly impact the demand for used automobiles.

• The value of a car reduces with every new owner by at least 10-15%. So be aware of that before selling or purchasing a used car.

• Ask dealers the price of the desired car model, with the desired age, posing both as a buyer and seller. It will enable you to get a good idea of the approximate price of the car.

• Check out used car buying and selling platforms to get an approximate valuation of your desired car.

Car brands with the best resale value

Below is a list of brands that command a high resale value in the used car market.

1. Maruti Suzuki

2. Hyundai

3. Ford

4. Toyota

5. Mahindra

Also, read: Top car brands in India

Highest resale value SUVs in India

Below is a list of SUVs with the best resale value in India.

1. Maruti Vitara Brezza

2. Ford Ecosport

3. Mahindra Scorpio

4. Hyundai Creta

5. Toyota Fortuner

Also, read: Best SUV cars in India

Best resale value petrol cars in India

Below is a list of petrol cars with the best resale value in India.

1. Maruti Alto 800

2. Maruti WagonR

3. Maruti Swift

4. Maruti Dzire

5. Hyundai Creta

Best resale value diesel cars in India

Below is a list of diesel cars with the best resale value in India.

1. Toyota Innova

2. Maruti Dzire

3. Maruti Swift

4. Hyundai i20

5. Toyota Fortuner

Best resale value sedans in India

Below is a list of sedans with the best resale value in India. 

1. Maruti Dzire

2. Honda City

3. Honda Amaze

4. Maruti Ciaz

5. Hyundai Verna

Also, read: Best sedan cars in India

Best resale value hatchback cars in India

Below is a list of hatchbacks with the best resale value in India.

1. Maruti Alto 800

2. Maruti WagonR

3. Maruti Swift

4. Hyundai i20

5. Maruti Baleno

Frequently asked questions

Below are some of the most common questions asked about the resale value of cars in India.

Which has the best resale value, petrol or diesel cars?

Petrol cars depreciate faster than diesel cars in the first two to three years, but diesel cars start depreciating at a faster rate post that period. The higher depreciation rate in diesel vehicles can mainly be attributed to their high maintenance diesel engines.

Do CNG cars have good resale value?

CNG cars have lesser resale value than their petrol and diesel counterparts. But with the increase in production of CNG cars, there will likely be a boost in their resale value in the near future.

How much does a car depreciate per year?

From the first to the fourth year a petrol car depreciates approximately 20% to 40%. A diesel car depreciates from around 10% in the first year to 40% in the fourth year.

What are the checks that ought to be conducted when determining the value of a car?

One must check the following before estimating the value of a car:

• The age of the vehicle

• The physical condition of the vehicle

• Car’s specifications and features

• Drivability

• Mileage

• Service history

• The vehicle’s history of accidents

• Registration Certificate (RC) details

Which car in India has the lowest resale value?

Since there is no fixed price on used cars, it is impossible to determine a single car model as the car with the lowest resale value in India. Also, luxury cars usually have the highest depreciation rate because of their high maintenance and ownership costs.

What is the resale value of electric cars in India?

Electric cars are more expensive than their conventional fuel counterparts, and their depreciation rates are comparatively a lot higher. Also, they have a much lesser cost of ownership. Therefore, buying a used electric car will be light on your pocket and will be much easier to maintain than a diesel or petrol alternative. But one must consider battery life and charging practicality before purchasing a used electric car.

Does Honda or Toyota have better resale value?

Both the car brands produce high resale value cars. One can only determine the brand with the better resale value by comparing two specific competing models of both brands.

Disclaimer: The above content is for informational purposes only. It is recommended to take the help of an expert before making a decision. ACKO Drive is not responsible for any action taken based on the information mentioned here.

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