2:15 am, December 10, 2010
GLASS’S has revealed the top 10 cars that have held their prices the best over the last three years.
In the list the vehicle valuations authority has excluded exotics and cars sold in very small numbers, and is based on vehicles on a ’57’ plate with an average mileage 37,000 miles.
The list shows the best performing derivative for each model, with average annual depreciation based against the new list price.
1. Volkswagen Tiguan (168bhp) SE 4Motion 5d – 68.0 per cent – £2,394 average annual depreciation
2. Mini 1.6 Cooper 3d – 65.9 per cent – £1,462 average annual depreciation.
3. Honda CR-V 2.2 CTDi (138bhp) SE 5d – 64.3 per cent – £2,356 average annual depreciation.
4. = Land Rover Freelander 2 GS Td4 auto – 63.8 per cent – £2,965 average annual depreciation.
4. = Audi Q7 3.0TDI (237bhp) Quattro S Line Tip – 63.8 per cent – £4,962 average annual depreciation.
6. Land Rover Discovery 3 2.7TD (190bhp) – 63.7 per cent – £3,720 average annual depreciation.
7. Audi TT Coupe 2.0T FSI (197bhp) – 63.6 per cent – £3,123 average annual depreciation.
8. Nissan Qashqai 1.6 (113bhp) 2WD Visia – 63.3 per cent – £1,628 average annual depreciation.
9. Land Rover Range Rover 2.7TD Sport (187bhp) S Auto – 62.5 per cent – £4,425 average annual depreciation.
10. Audi A5 2.7TDI (187bhp) Sport Coupe Multitronic – 62.2 per cent – £4,123 average annual depreciation.
Glass’s managing editor, Adrian Rushmore: ‘The VW Tiguan is blessed with all the right ingredients to give it great residual values. Apart from having the cachet of the VW badge, it has never been marketed hard as a new car and there have been prolonged periods of very limited availability.
‘The Mini still does incredibly well. Having topped the table in 2008 and then slipped to 5th place last year, the first of the new generation models are now three years old, boosting its ranking.
‘It’s also worth noting that seven of the top 10 places are occupied by 4x4s or SUVs. Despite external factors such as fuel price rises that may have worked against these vehicles, they have performed remarkably in the used market.
‘Superminis are notably absent from the top 10 list this year due to the scrappage scheme coming to an end. As demand for these exceeded supply, many buyers simply opted for a used model instead, which temporarily inflated residual values.
‘The average trade value for a car in our top 10 is £16,500. This would put the retail selling price close to £18,500. Clearly, these customers have a healthy amount of disposable income at a time of relative economic uncertainty and when purse strings are being drawn more tightly.
‘So whilst the nation is in the grip of austerity measures and cost-cutting, it seems that used car buyers are opting to pay the highest prices – relative to original list price – for cars that reflect their chosen lifestyle and image, rather than those that that reflect a desire for lower running costs or outright practicality.’
