With November approaching and the weather becoming cooler and windier, our thoughts naturally shift to the approaching Autumn and Winter seasons. For many, this also brings the realisation that the car they purchased for Spring and Summer is now starting to feel less suitable, particularly with the likelihood of even more rain just around the corner.
October is already known as one of the best months to buy a car, and with the noticeable shift in weather, many people are considering switching to an SUV as the seasons change.
With that in mind, we've compiled a list of the slowest depreciating SUVs currently on the market. If you're thinking about making the switch to an SUV, this guide will help you protect the value of your purchase. As usual, the list is based on industry standards, considering each vehicle's average retained value after 3 years and 36,000 miles (sources: What Car?, Auto Express, and Auto Trader).
Additionally, the list includes a variety of electric, hybrid, and combustion engine SUVs, with a range of performance levels and price points, so there’s something for everyone.
Audi RS Q3
The Audi RS Q3 is the high-performance version of Audi’s popular compact SUV. It features a slightly detuned version of the iconic 2.5-litre, 5-cylinder turbocharged engine from the renowned RS3, delivering 335bhp in a practical family car. Paired with Audi’s legendary quattro all-wheel drive system, along with a more aggressive design, larger wheels, and striking oval exhausts, the RS Q3 not only boasts impressive looks but also delivers performance to back it up.
Despite a relatively high starting price of just over £60,000 with the right options, the RS Q3’s exceptional build quality, refinement, and cutting-edge technology—hallmarks of the Audi brand—help it retain its value better than most competitors. After 3 years and 36,000 miles, this compact SUV holds on to just over 50% of its value, a remarkable achievement given its initial cost. You can expect the RS Q3 to average around £31,000 after this period, though the final value depends on the specification. Models equipped with the sought-after Comfort & Sound pack are especially in demand, and buyers often look for these features.
Tesla Model Y
Tesla’s Model Y has been a major sales success for the California-based brand. Essentially a smaller version of the larger Model X, but without the flashy gullwing doors, the more affordable and compact Model Y has sold in the tens of thousands since its 2020 debut. With its more practical size, improved handling, user-friendly technology, and solid range capabilities, the Model Y has become a popular entry point for many into the electric vehicle market—and they haven't looked back since.
The most popular version of the Model Y by far is the Long Range Dual Motor, offering enhanced range, improved performance, and all-wheel drive for added safety and control. With a starting price just under £53,000, its practicality and appeal make it the most desirable model in the lineup, helping it retain value better than many other all-electric SUVs. After 3 years and 36,000 miles, the Model Y holds on to 53.7% of its original value, putting its estimated resale price at around £28,500.
Land Rover Discovery
The Land Rover Discovery may be due for an update soon, but the current model's appeal and demand remain as strong as ever. Once considered a more utilitarian entry into the brand, the Discovery now offers advanced technology and greater refinement than ever before. The latest version is also the largest yet, and while it may not have the prestige of the Range Rover, it more than compensates with ample space, comfortably accommodating up to seven passengers and plenty of luggage.
The Discovery comes loaded with features, so whichever model you choose, it will be well-equipped and more than capable of handling tough conditions. The 3.0-litre diesel is the most popular engine option and retains its value better than other variants. Opting for the higher-spec HSE trim adds extra creature comforts, helping the Discovery hold onto as much as 54.5% of its value. With an average starting price of just over £73,000, you can expect the Discovery to be worth just under £40,000 after 3 years and 36,000 miles.
Range Rover Sport
Blending dynamic performance with luxurious comfort, the Range Rover Sport stands out as one of the best all-around vehicles available. Whether you opt for the latest model or the previous generation, the formula remains consistent and the results are remarkable. Its agility is surprising for a vehicle of its size, making it equally adept at manoeuvring through tight city streets or handling long motorway drives. As expected from the brand, it offers cutting-edge technology, extensive functionality, and a vast array of options. Plus, the prestige of the Range Rover badge adds a sense of superiority wherever you go.
While the Range Rover Sport offers various diesel and petrol options, the hybrid powertrain is the most financially sensible choice, both in terms of running costs and residual value. Hybrid models are especially in demand right now, as many see them as the perfect introduction to electric driving. The well-equipped Autobiography trim, whether in the P400e or the newer P460e version, is expected to hold its value better than other models in the lineup, retaining just over £59,000 from an average list price of around £100,000.
Range Rover
Since its launch in the 1970s, the Range Rover has epitomised luxury off-roading around the globe. Today, it has elevated this concept to new heights, providing a level of refinement and comfort that few can rival. Additionally, it's comforting to know that no matter what the British weather brings or what terrain you encounter, the Range Rover is built to handle it all with ease.
Similar to its sibling, the Range Rover Sport, the hybrid version is the most likely to retain its value after 3 years and 36,000 miles. The allure of gliding in total comfort and silence is hard to surpass, especially with the reassurance of a petrol engine that eliminates the wait at charging stations. For the previous generation, the Autobiography trim again holds its value best, but the latest model sees the base SE depreciate less than the other variants. On average, it retains a commendable £65,500 from an average list price of around £115,000.
Land Rover Defender
If you want to venture off-road, the Defender has always been the go-to choice for generations. However, the original Defender often felt out of place on paved roads. With the launch of the revamped Defender, it offers all the mud-slinging off-road capabilities while also excelling on the highway, enhanced by a generous dose of Land Rover and Range Rover technology and refinement. This model successfully combines styling elements from the original with a touch of utilitarian functionality, a challenging balance to achieve.
The sales figures and popularity of the new Defender are impressive, with no indication that its appeal will diminish anytime soon. Its modernisation is evident in the addition of a hybrid powertrain to the lineup, which, not surprisingly, retains its value the best. With a variety of model types available, there are many options to choose from. However, it’s the well-equipped and sportier Defender 110 X-Dynamic HSE that retains up to 58.1% of its £77,000 list price after 3 years and 36,000 miles.
Aston Martin DBX
High-end luxury cars, whether in saloon or SUV form, typically appear on lists of the highest depreciating vehicles; however, there are some exceptions. The Aston Martin DBX was designed to enter the luxury performance SUV market, but for many, it feels like a mismatch of styles and doesn’t hold the same allure as the brand's latest models, such as the Vantage, DB12, and Vanquish.
However, it embodies everything an Aston Martin should be: comfortable, refined, luxurious, and featuring a fantastic sound from the AMG-sourced 4.0-litre V8 engine under the hood. Fortunately, it also drives and handles exceptionally well, with impressive performance thanks to its 550bhp output. Ultimately, regardless of your opinion on its design or interior styling, the DBX stands out as one of the most remarkable luxury SUV options available, and its residual value is stronger than many competitors. With an average new price of around £158,000, it is expected to retain approximately £95,000 of its value after 3 years and 36,000 miles.
Lotus Eletre
Lotus's decision to move away from their longstanding ethos of "simplify and add lightness" under new ownership highlights their commitment to a new direction. The Emira marked their final celebration of a combustion engine sports car, as the future will focus entirely on electric vehicles. The Eletre was the first model introduced and represents a dramatic shift from tradition. It is a wind-sculpted, all-electric super-luxurious performance SUV, boasting up to 900bhp and an impressive array of technology that could rival a tech startup.
While existing fans of the brand may not be the primary target customers, the shift in the automotive industry was clearly unsustainable. With its modern design, active aerodynamic management, luxurious interior, innovative technology, and the promise of Lotus's signature sharp handling, the Eletre presents a very appealing option. With an average list price of just over £90,000, the Eletre is expected to retain more than 60% of its original value after 3 years and 36,000 miles, holding steady at around £55,000 in residual value.
Mercedes Benz G-Class
Retro-inspired vehicles and restomods are currently trending, but no one has been doing it longer than Mercedes-Benz. Their military-inspired G-Class has, for decades, combined utilitarian aesthetics with impressive power, cutting-edge technology, and the luxury synonymous with the Mercedes-Benz brand, all wrapped in a stylish package. Its remarkable ability to seamlessly blend these elements while looking equally at home covered in mud, parked outside a Michelin-starred restaurant, or cruising down the motorway speaks volumes about its desirability and strong image.
While many people associate the G-Class with the flashy, fire-breathing G63 AMG "G-Wagon," it is actually the more understated and practical G400d that holds its value better after 3 years and 36,000 miles. With its Premium Plus specification, it boasts a high level of equipment and advanced assistance systems, placing it among the best in its class, while its iconic boxy design gives it a significant edge in the style department. The relatively high average list price of £131,000 does little to dissuade buyers, as it retains over 62% of its value, resulting in a resale price of more than £80,000.
Lamborghini Urus
For several years, the Lamborghini Urus has consistently topped the SUV residual value retention charts, and it's easy to see why. Its versatility as the "ultimate one-car garage" allows it to function as a supercar, luxury GT, spacious SUV, track day toy, winter snow vehicle, and school run taxi all in one. This explains why the Urus is Lamborghini's best-selling model of all time, achieving this feat in record time without compromising the brand's core values to boost sales. It boasts a futuristic angular design, delivers the performance and sound expected from a supercar, and looks just as striking in bright colours like orange, green, or yellow as it does in more subdued black or grey.
The appeal and popularity of the Urus have surprised many, but it's this very factor that helps keep its residual values strong. The recent launch of the hybrid variant is likely to enhance the model's attractiveness, with initial sales expected to exceed the list price for some time after delivery to first customers. Despite being the priciest vehicle on this list, with a starting price of £185,000 for the Urus S, it retains an impressive 72.6% of its value after 3 years and 36,000 miles, resulting in a resale value of nearly £135,000. No other vehicle comes close to the Urus when it comes to retaining value, and it's easy to understand why.