A study conducted by the car data company “carVertical” shows that some cars depreciate faster than others. This depends not only on the specific brand and initial price but also on the car’s market demand.
“Citroen C4 SpaceTourer” depreciates the most in Lithuania
The study results showed that a new car can lose more than two-thirds of its value in the first 5 years. Thus, if a buyer pays 30 thousand euros for a new car, its value will only reach 10 thousand euros after 5 years.
Among all cars checked by “carVertical” clients in Lithuania, the “Citroen C4 SpaceTourer” showed the highest depreciation. Over 5 years, cars of this model lost an average of 70 percent of their value. Next in line are “Audi e-tron” (68.5 percent), “Ford Mustang” (67.1 percent), “Jeep Grand Cherokee” (66.5 percent), and “Peugeot 508” (66.2 percent).
“Cars lose value quickly; it’s like a hidden cost that few drivers think about. However, if you buy a rapidly depreciating car and later want to sell it, you need to be prepared for financial losses,” says Matas Buzelis, car market expert at “carVertical”.
Paying twice for a luxury car
In most markets surveyed by “carVertical”, more luxurious and electric cars lose their value faster.
“Due to their high initial price, luxury cars depreciate faster. This is also due to high repair and maintenance costs, which make luxury cars less in demand in the secondary market. Since modern vehicles depend on various technological solutions, various features quickly become outdated, so older luxury models are often not the most attractive purchase,” explains M. Buzelis.
According to the car market expert, depreciation particularly affects electric car owners. Due to rapidly developing battery technologies and increasing range per charge, even an electric car a few years old may receive little attention in the secondary market.
Due to the expensive maintenance of older cars, buyers in the “premium” car segment are generally more inclined to choose new models. However, one should be prepared that after a few years, the value of such a model will have significantly dropped, and demand will be limited.
Analyzing the data from all countries participating in the “carVertical” study revealed that in Europe, the “Jaguar I-Pace” (73.1 percent), “Land Rover Range Rover” (70.1 percent), “Nissan Leaf” (62.4 percent), “Audi e-tron” (60.9 percent), and “Jaguar XF” (59.9 percent) models depreciate the most over 5 years.
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Car depreciation varies across different European countries. While “premium” class and electric cars depreciate the most in Western Europe, economic models also rapidly lose value in more price-sensitive markets.
“Renault Megane” retains its value best
Car depreciation is not uniform. Two different but similarly priced cars can have completely different values after a few years – their prices in the secondary market can differ by thousands of euros.
The “carVertical” study shows that among all cars checked in Lithuania, the “Renault Megane” retains its value best – this model depreciated by an average of 60.3 percent over 5 years. Next in line are the BMW 5-series (62.4 percent), “Volvo XC60” (63.8 percent), “Ford Focus” (63.8 percent), and “Peugeot 308” (65.8 percent).
“Economy class models retain their value better. This is due to a lower initial price, cheaper maintenance, and higher demand in the secondary market. However, each market has its specifics, and the most depreciating cars differ in various European countries,” explains M. Buzelis.
Car depreciation is determined not only by its age but also by how attractive the car is to another buyer. If the vehicle’s demand is low or it is considered a risky purchase, this will significantly affect its value. Meanwhile, popular, economically attractive cars will depreciate slower due to high demand.
In “carVertical” vehicle history reports, you can find the “Market Price” feature, which assesses the price changes of similarly equipped models over the years and the projected future value of the car. This way, buyers looking for a used car can clearly see how much the model they are interested in will be worth after a few years.
Methodology
The “carVertical” study analyzes vehicle history reports purchased by the company’s users from January 2023 to December 2025. The study covers the depreciation of cars manufactured in 2020. The depreciation percentage was calculated by comparing the manufacturer’s recommended selling price of the car with its average market value after five years. The most depreciating models were ranked by depreciation percentage.
“carVertical” is a company specializing in vehicle history reports, operating in 37 countries – mainly in Europe, as well as the USA, Mexico, and Australia. By collecting data from over 1,000 registries and databases worldwide, “carVertical” provides comprehensive reports that help clients make well-informed decisions when purchasing used vehicles.
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