Kelley Blue Book Named The Vehicle Brand That Retains The Most Value In 2026

Resale value matters for owners who plan to sell their vehicle later on. Since cars that retain the most value ensure a larger share of the original price is returned to the owner, it can be particularly important to choose brands known for resale value. Car values depreciate quickly, with an average new car losing 16% of its value in the first year, according to Kelley Blue Book (KBB). Based on the average new car price of $50,562 in September 2026, this would translate to about $8,000 in depreciation. That said, KBB named Toyota the best resale-value brand in 2026 based on its projected value through the first five years of ownership, with Toyota earning this honor for the sixth consecutive year.

Toyota also dominated KBB's top 10 list of specific vehicles that are projected to retain the most value over the first five years of ownership. Among the top 10 vehicles, five were Toyotas: the Tacoma, Tundra, 4Runner, GR Supra, and Sienna, with projected five-year resale values ranging from 54.3% to 63%. Alongside these five Toyota models, the Camry, Prius, Grand Highlander, and Sequoia also ranked first in their respective vehicle categories for best resale value. On average, Toyota vehicles are projected to retain 53% of their value, above the average for all 2026 model year vehicles — about 45% — according to a March 2026 KBB press release.

Toyota vehicles have certain qualities that appeal, in particular, to used-car buyers — explaining the brand's generally higher resale value. One is reliability, which can reduce long-term repair costs. Consumer Reports ranked Toyota as the best non-luxury brand for used-car reliability in 2025, based on owned 5- to 10-year-old vehicles.

Longevity also matters, as used-car buyers generally want a vehicle that can last despite any existing mileage. According to 2026 data from iSeeCars, Toyota vehicles generally last longer than any other vehicle brand. In fact, Toyota vehicles have a nearly 20% chance of reaching 250,000 miles compared with the average vehicle at 5.4%. In particular, models such as the Corolla, Camry, Highlander, and 4Runner rank among the most reliable long-term vehicles, lasting more than 15 years.

Low ownership costs can also make Toyota attractive to used-car buyers. Toyota is among the least expensive car brands to own over time, with Toyota's five-year maintenance cost sitting around $1,814 — the second-lowest behind Fiat, per CarEdge. Fuel costs can be another major part of total ownership costs, with most Toyota models offering solid fuel economy. The brand's 2024 models averaged 29 miles per gallon (mpg) combined, according to an EPA report. Additionally, Toyota's hybrid Camry, Corolla, and Prius models rank among the best cars in 2026 for gas mileage.