Cars that are LOSING their value the most including Nissan EV… while popular Dacia among those depreciating the slowest

A CAR expert has picked out which motors have depreciated the most over the past three years, as well as those that have retained their value the best.

Fresh data from Auto Express, exclusively shared with Sun Motors, indicates that owners of a widely popular, affordable Nissan EV might face significant losses when it comes time to sell.

But it’s great news for those who are lucky enough to have a Porsche 718 Cayman on their driveway, as the much-loved lightweight sports car is the slowest depreciating car, according to the statistics.

The stylish German set of wheels has held 69.64% of its value over three years at £89,350, while the Land Rover Defender 110 is the next slowest depreciating at 68.79%.

And the EV that has held its value the best is the Lotus Eletre SUV, boasting a percentage of 62.50% after 36 months.

The Tesla X and Vauxhall Grandland Electric close in behind on 61.72% and 61.24% respectively.

However, cars depreciating the fastest are a handful of older EVs, such as the Nissan Leaf.

In terms of petrol-powered cars, the Maserati Levante – while stunning – is losing some serious value, holding just 29.13% of its price in the same time period.

However, Auto Express experts say that making the right choices with your wheels can lead to little fear of depreciation.

Their numbers, based on the On The Road price (OTR) of the model, are predicted over a three-year period with 36,000 miles on the clock.

Their analysis shows that the average car on the UK market loses 47.7% of its value over that time.

Naturally, some do a lot worse, while some do significantly better.

The top ten slowest depreciating cars are able to hold around two-thirds of their value, which includes the Cayman.

Steve Walker, Head of Digital Content at Auto Express, said: “It’s no surprise that the Porsche Cayman GT4 comes out on top as 2025’s best single model for retained value.

“A high-performance Porsche with strictly limited supply, such cars tend to change hands for a premium in the months immediately after the launch so nearly 70 per cent of the new value retained over three years is predictable.

“The popularity of this petrol Cayman among enthusiasts is only enhanced by the fact that the new Cayman, due to be revealed this year, will be electric.”

But low-budget car owners shouldn’t be dismayed, as the highly popular Dacia Duster also made the list of cars that are depreciating slowly.

Indeed, the small SUV – voted Auto Express’ Car of the Year – has an OTR of £18,745 and a part-exchange value after three years of £11,875 – meaning it retained 63.35% of its original value.

Walker added: “Perhaps the bigger surprise at the top of the depreciation tree is the new Dacia Duster.

“The car’s arrived on the UK market offering conspicuously excellent value for money and with the brand’s no-nonsense image boosting desirability, values are propped up extremely well – particularly for the lower spec versions.”

What’s more, despite their reputation for depreciation, a number of EVs have lost less than 40% of their value.

That includes the Lotus Eletre, the Vauxhall Grandland Electric and the VW ID.Buzz.

Walker said: “A huge amount has been said about electric car depreciation in recent times but while some EVs have proven to be money pits, there are plenty of others with very strong residuals that match their low fuel and maintenance costs.

“Vauxhall’s new Grandland is the 19th-slowest depreciating car in the UK with the EV version outperforming the petrol, tight pricing, sharp design and an EV range well over 400 miles all contributing to that performance.

“The new MINI Cooper Electric is another strong performer trading on its desirability, while Renault’s Scenic E-Tech is another EV family car well-pitched for style, value and efficiency.”

The good news just keeps on ramping up for Dacia as we head into 2025.

The Duster’s label-mate, the small and affordable Sandero, has been named the best-selling car across Europe for another year.

The little model can be picked up brand new for under £15,000 – which is “good news” for penny-pinching drivers in the UK.

According to recently revealed stats, Dacia sold 309,392 units of the Sandero – making it Europe’s best-selling vehicle across all channels.

It also makes it the best-selling vehicle in the European retail market since 2017.

That means it even outsold the Tesla Model Y, which remains the world’s best-seller.

The Sandero is perhaps best known for the fame it found during the height of Top Gear‘s popularity.