Do Mazdas Hold Their Value?

Mazdas are popular vehicles in the resale market, as they’re sleek, comfortable, and reliable. That being said, many drivers are curious how well their used Mazda model will hold its value over time.

Mazda vehicles can lose nearly half of their original value in the first five years of ownership. The Mazda 3, CX-5, and MX-5 Miata have the highest resale value and lowest depreciation rates. The mileage, condition, accident history, and market demand will affect the resale value of a used Mazda.

There’s a lot to consider before purchasing or selling a used Mazda model. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about Mazda depreciation so that you can proceed with confidence.

How Quickly Do Mazdas Depreciate?

Unfortunately, a car begins to depreciate once it leaves the dealership lot — there’s no avoiding it. The average vehicle can depreciate upwards of 20% in the first year of use, but this depends on the model, make, and market demand.

Over a five-year period, a vehicle can lose 40% or more of its original value.

Mazdas aren’t immune to depreciation, either. In fact, most Mazda models lose somewhere between 45% and 48% of their original value in the first five years of ownership. This means if you purchased a new Mazda CX-5 at $26,000, it would resell for around $13,520-$14,300 after five years.

Resale Value vs. Trade-In Value

You typically have two options when it comes to getting rid of an old vehicle — selling it or trading it in. Each option has advantages and disadvantages, and the correct choice comes down to the individual situation.

Let’s take a deeper look at the differences between these two options:

Trade-In Value

Trade-in value refers to the amount offered by a dealership for an old vehicle that’ll be applied toward the purchase of a new vehicle. Trading in a used vehicle is beneficial because it’s very convenient and doesn’t take much effort.

However, trade-in value is typically worth less than if you were to sell a used vehicle privately.

Resale Value

Selling a vehicle generally results in more money but requires more time and effort. You typically have to clean up the car, list it online, and communicate with buyers when reselling a vehicle.

The resale value of a car depends on the make, model, condition, and market demand.

Which Mazda Has the Highest Resale Value?

As is the case with any type of car, some Mazda models do better in the resale market than others. Some of the Mazda models with the highest resale value include the Mazda 3, the Mazda CX-5, and the Mazda MX-5 Miata.

Let’s take a closer look at these models and why they fare so well.

Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 is one of the most popular models made by the manufacturer. A Mazda CX-5 will depreciate in value by roughly $8,500 after five years, depending on several factors.

Generally speaking, a new Mazda CX-5 retails for around $33,700 on average. After five years of ownership, the average value is around $25,000.

Trade-in and private sale prices will typically be a bit lower, depending on the condition, mileage, dealership, and other factors.

Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 is another popular model by the manufacturer that does well in resale markets.

The average Mazda 3 will lose around $7,700 in value after five years of ownership. Generally speaking, a new Mazda 3 retails for approximately $29,000. After five years of ownership, the average value is around $21,000.

The mileage, condition, and buyer or dealership will greatly impact the resale value of a Mazda 3.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

One of the best models with the highest resale value is the Mazda MX-5 Miata.

A Mazda MX-5 Miata depreciates in value by roughly $6,700 after five years of ownership on average. New Mazda MX-5 Miata retail for roughly $34,500 on average. That means after five years, the vehicle might go for about $28,000.

Resale prices vary on condition, mileage, and situation. Trade-in prices are generally lower, and private sales vary significantly.

Which Mazda Has the Lowest Resale Value?

It’s hard to say which Mazda model has the lowest resale value, as it’s hard to get a 100% accurate read on depreciation values. Out of the models listed above, the Mazda CX-5 has the highest depreciation value.

However, there are several different factors that affect the resale price of a vehicle. Factors like mileage, vehicle history, condition, and market demand significantly affect the value of a used car.

Mileage

The mileage of a used vehicle is one of the largest factors that impact the resale value. If your Mazda has over 100,000 miles, it will likely sell for less in the used market.

Ideally, a vehicle should have between 12,000 and 15,000 miles per year.

Accident History

Unfortunately, accidents happen, and they affect the resale value of a used vehicle. Depending on the situation, an accident and repair can cause your Mazda to lose 15-30 percent of its value.

Vehicle Condition

The interior, exterior, and mechanical conditions affect the resale value of a used vehicle, including Mazdas. If the interior is scuffed, there are dents on the outside, or the mechanics are out of shape, then your resale value will decrease.

Market Demand

Some vehicles do better in resale markets due to higher popularity and demand. Limited edition colors, trim, and features can positively impact the resale value of a used Mazda model.

Popular models that do well in the resale market include the Mazda 3, CX-5, and MX-5 Miata, as we described above.

How to Calculate the Resale Value of Your Mazda

Luckily, you can use various online tools to determine the resale value of your used Mazda model. For instance, you can use the online tool from Consumer Reports to calculate different situations to determine the resale value of your vehicle.

You can also use the official Used Car Tool on the Mazda website to help you determine the value of your used model.

Keep in mind that resale values can vary significantly depending on mileage, condition, accident history, and market popularity. Trade-in prices are generally lower than private sales, but your experience will vary.

Wrapping Up

Mazda makes some of the best vehicles for the resale and trade-in market. However, Mazda vehicles can lose between 45% and 48% of their original value in the first five years of ownership.

Some of the best models with the highest resale value include the Mazda 3, the CX-5, and the MX-5 Miata. Like other vehicles, the mileage, condition, accident history, and market demand will affect the resale value of any given model.