10 Luxury Cars with the Best Resale Value

2017 Lexus IS 200t Front ・ Photo by Lexus

If you’re spending a lot of money on a luxury car, you might expect it to be worth more than its mainstream counterparts three or five years down the road -- but that’s not always the case. Some cars depreciate faster than others, and one of the tricks to getting the most for your money is to know which cars will be worth the most when it’s time to sell.

Kelley Blue Book studies vehicles' values and publishes an annual report called the Best Resale Value awards. The Best Resale Value Awards rank new vehicles within their classes based on their projected value at both 36 and 60 months out from the date of purchase. The following 10 luxury cars have the best ratings for resale values.

2017 Lexus RC — 58.0% after 36 months

Based on Kelley Blue Book’s research, the 2017 Lexus RC is the best luxury car to buy if you’re concerned about resale value. KBB says that after 36 months on the road, an RC will retain 58.0% of its original value, and after 60 months, it’ll be worth 38.0% of its original value. The RC is a small coupe with a very nice interior and some performance-oriented options. It’s also a reasonably practical choice for a car in this category since it’s got top-notch safety test scores and excellent reliability ratings from J.D. Power and Associates. This is the first of several Lexus vehicles to appear on our list of the luxury cars with the best resale value.

Photo by Lexus

2017 Porsche 911 — 50.8% after 36 months

Generally speaking, the editorial team at Autobytel finds Kelley Blue Book’s research quite trustworthy. This one raised some eyebrows, though. We’re not suggesting that the Porsche 911 isn’t a high-quality or desirable vehicle; we’re just envisioning the stories behind all those secondhand 911s (and assuming the worst). If you’re lusting after this luxury sports car, definitely don’t let us deter you from chasing your dreams. Kelley Blue Book says that in three years, a 2017 Porsche 911 will be worth about 50.8% of its original value, and after five years, it’ll be worth about 37.8% of its original value. In other words, go ahead and have some high-speed fun now, and cash in later.

Photo by Porsche

2017 Lexus ES — 48.5% after 36 months

\After something a little larger or a little more practical? The Lexus ES midsize sedan is one of your best bets for a luxury car with the best resale value. Like we’ve come to expect from Lexus vehicles, the ES has some of the best safety and reliability scores in its class, which helps reinforce the idea that it’s a smart choice for buyers who don’t want to make too many sacrifices in the pursuit of comfort. The ES comes with a 268-hp engine and a list of standard active safety features that’s been updated for 2017. And, it’ll be worth 48.5% of its original value after 36 months, and 34.5% of its value after 60 months.

Photo by Lexus

2017 Porsche Panamera — 48.5% after 36 months

The Porsche Panamera is one of the most expensive vehicles on our list of luxury cars with the best resale value, so it’s a good thing that owners will get a lot of it back when they sell. The 2017 Panamera is fully redesigned, yet Kelley Blue Book projects that it’ll still be worth 48.5% of its original value after 36 months, and 32.5% of its original value after 60 months. The Panamera has a spectacular reliability rating, so it’s not completely impractical, and there’s enough room for four passengers to stretch out. The interior design is minimalistic, yet modern and upscale, and buyers get the choice of four turbocharged engine options, each with a unique driving experience.

Photo by Porsche

2017 Lexus IS — 46.7% after 36 months

The IS is the Lexus brand’s compact luxury sedan, and it, too, is one of the best luxury cars you can buy if you’re concerned about getting the best resale value possible. After 36 months on the road, the 2017 Lexus IS should retain 46.7% of its original value, and after 60 months, resale should be at about 32.7%. Lexus offers the IS with three engines and the choice of rear- or all-wheel drive, and every combination provides a smooth, comfortable, and satisfying experience. A lot of driver assistance features come standard (but, oddly, the rearview camera is optional, which is odd for a vehicle in this class). For 2017, Lexus updated the list of standard advanced safety features.

Photo by Lexus

2017 Lexus LS — 44.5% after 36 months

With a projected resale value of 44.5% after 36 months and 26.5% after 60 months, the 2017 Lexus LS earns a spot on our list of the luxury cars with the best resale value. The LS is a large luxury car that competes with the very best from the German luxury brands. Not only does the LS offer better resale value than most of its competitors, it’s also got a lower starting price than the class average and provides top-notch reliability, so you’re all but guaranteed to get a great bang for your buck. There’s only one engine available in the Lexus LS, but it makes more power in rear-wheel drive configuration than it does when ordered with all-wheel drive.

Photo by Lexus

2017 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class — 43.0% after 36 months

Mercedes joins our list of luxury cars with the best resale value thanks to the CLS-Class, a large luxury sedan. Good reliability scores and strong performance help this Benz hold its value. Kelley Blue Book suggests that after 36 months, the CLS-Class will be worth 43.0% of its original price, and after 60 months, will still have 26.0% of its original value. Buyers get the choice of two powerful turbocharged engines and rear- or all-wheel drive, along with a sumptuous interior and tons of high-end features. Despite the CLS-Class’ generous footprint, this luxury car seats just four passengers, and because of the stylishly sloping roofline, the back row might be a tight squeeze for taller adults.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2017 Lexus GS — 42.0% after 36 months

Yup, there’s yet another Lexus on our list of luxury cars with the best resale value. According to Kelley Blue Book, the 2017 GS will retain 42.0% of its value after 36 months and 31.0% after 60 months. The GS is a midsize offering and is oriented toward performance a little more than the other Lexus models highlighted here. Buyers get the choice of several engines, and even the base model is satisfying thanks to its boost from twin turbochargers. Other performance features include such an available limited slip differential and available adaptive suspension system. The 2017 Lexus GS is a good choice for buyers who like the Lexus brand’s reputation for being a responsible choice, yet still, want a little fun during the daily commute.

Photo by Lexus

2017 Audi A7 — 42.0% after 36 months

The 2017 Audi A7 is the first and only Audi to join our list of luxury cars with the best resale value. Among luxury cars, Audi is generally perceived as being fairly practical, thanks to above-average reliability, high-end safety technology, and reasonable pricing. Yet, the resale value of these German workhorses just can’t compete with the high-end Japanese marques. If you want an Audi with good resale, the large, comfortable, powerful A7 is your best choice. Kelley Blue Book says owners can expect to retain 42.0% after 36 months and 27.0% after 60 months. Those aren’t bad figures, but our advice here is to focus more on enjoying the Audi while you have it, which shouldn’t be at all difficult.

Photo by Audi

2017 Cadillac CT6 — 40.2% after 36 months

The 2017 Cadillac CT6, a large sedan that was introduced just last year, slips in and takes the last spot on our list of 10 luxury cars with good resale value. And, it’s worth pointing out, it’s the only American luxury car to accomplish that feat. Buyers of the Cadillac CT6 can expect it to be worth 40.2% of its original value after 36 months, slipping to 26.7% after 60 months. The CT6 is loaded with choices, such as three powerful engines (with surprisingly good fuel economy ratings), rear- or all-wheel drive, and lots of the latest tech equipment. Even better, the CT6 seats five passengers in true comfort, with plenty of space for everyone to sprawl out.

Photo by Cadillac