Resale Rates: Avoid These Cars And Don’t Lose Money

Buying any car is a financial commitment. Granted, while it’s not an investment in most cases (because it gives you no return), most car buyers don’t want to lose money quickly. That’s why resale rates are important.

That’s not the case with the cars in this article. iSeeCars has just released its latest study, where it discusses the brands with the highest resale rates (within one year of ownership). 

Work such as this one by iSeeCars is extremely valuable, as it provides buying tips. For one, if you want to hold on to your car, avoid luxury brands. 

Porsche, Land Rover, and Mercedes Top the List

iSeeCars analyzed more than 18 million new-car sales between 2022 and 2025 and found that nearly 30% of Land Rover Discovery Sport buyers resell their SUV within 12 months.

This resale rate means that one in three (approximately) Land Rover Discovery Sport owners will ditch within a year.

The Porsche Macan followed closely at 22%, while Mercedes-Benz models took three of the top five spots with the CLA, GLA, and GLB crossovers.

On average, only 3.6% of new cars are resold within a year. The worst offenders exceeded that rate by nearly tenfold, as this article explains.

Rank	Model	% Resold Within 1 Year
1	Land Rover Discovery Sport	28.3%
2	Porsche Macan	22.2%
3	Mercedes-Benz GLB	21.2%
4	Mercedes-Benz CLA	20.4%
5	Mercedes-Benz GLA	16.7%

Luxury brands also dominate by brand. Porsche had the highest overall return rate at 16%, followed by Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, and Infiniti.

Why Do Owners Give Up So Soon?

As Road & Track notes, luxury buyers tend to be more impulsive, chasing status or performance without fully considering practicality or reliability.

Karl Brauer, executive analyst for iSeeCars, says these owners “are either not doing enough research before buying, are overextending themselves financially, or are just incredibly fickle.”

However, at Four Wheel Trends, we don’t necessarily agree. While some luxury car buyers want these things, another aspect affects resale rates: luxury buyers don’t care. If the car becomes a money pit, then it’s all about tossing it into the trash. 

That doesn’t mean that luxury buyers don’t care about reliability. Some do, but they realize too late.  

According to Yahoo Autos and J.D. Power dependability rankings, brands like Jaguar and Land Rover consistently score below average for reliability, often plagued by electrical issues and software glitches. Porsche fares better overall but still sees high ownership costs that may push early resales.

Sedans are also at risk of an early resale Rates

The problem isn’t limited to performance SUVs. Motor1 found that even high-end sedans like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes C-Class rank among the top 10 most frequently resold cars. The reasons vary: steep depreciation, expensive maintenance, or frustration with technology-heavy interiors that don’t age well.

The data also hints at an emerging trend: as luxury vehicles become more complex—with touchscreens replacing buttons and software updates tied to subscriptions—owners may find themselves overwhelmed or disappointed.

We’ve discussed this frequently in our newsletter. Here’s one of the most recent issues, where we address how cars might now be disposable in the future.

The Bigger Picture

High resale rates among premium models reveal a strange paradox: the more expensive the car, the more disposable it seems. Meanwhile, practical models from Toyota, Honda, and Subaru maintain long-term ownership rates well above average, bolstered by reliability and lower running costs.

For shoppers, the takeaway is clear: a high price tag doesn’t guarantee satisfaction. Before splurging on that luxury badge, research reliability scores, maintenance costs, and real-world owner reviews. 

At the same time, if you want to enjoy a luxury car and you don’t care about it being second-hand, it’s also a great opportunity to nab a great ride for cheap.