Hold onto your wallets if you’re driving an Audi Q4 e-tron. According to new data, Audi’s electric SUV is now officially the worst car for losing value in the UK, depreciating at a staggering 18.1% each year.
In fact, electric cars are taking a serious hit across the board. The study, conducted by GAP Insurance provider ALA Insurance, revealed that the top three cars for worst value retention are all electric. Joining the Q4 e-tron are the Volkswagen ID.3, dropping by 17.8% a year, and the Jaguar I-Pace at 17.3%.
It’s not all doom and gloom for everyone, though. If you want to keep more of your car’s value, you might want to consider a Cupra Formentor as this sleek SUV loses just 2.5% annually. Meanwhile, BMW’s electric i4 is close behind, only dropping 3.1% each year – making it the best electric car for resale value.
The Highest Depreciating Car Models
| Make | Model | Av. Yearly Value Loss |
| Audi | Q4 e-tron | 18.1% |
| Volkswagen | ID. 3 | 17.8% |
| Jaguar | I-Pace | 17.3% |
| Nissan | Leaf | 17.2% |
| Tesla | Model S | 17.1% |
| BMW | 5 Series | 15.8% |
| Mercedes-Benz | E-Class | 15.3% |
| Vauxhall | Mokka Electric | 15.1% |
| Mini | Electric | 15.0% |
| Audi | A7 | 15.0% |
| BMW | 1 Series | 14.9% |
| Range Rover | Sport | 14.8% |
| BMW | 3 Series | 14.5% |
| Hyundai | Tucson | 14.1% |
| BMW | X3 | 13.9% |
| Land Rover | Discovery Sport | 13.8% |
| Tesla | Model Y | 13.2% |
| Nissan | Qashqai | 13.1% |
| BMW | M3 | 13.0% |
| Land Rover | Evoque | 12.9% |
| Tesla | Model 3 | 12.7% |
| Mercedes-Benz | A-Class | 12.3% |
| BMW | X1 | 12.3% |
| Audi | RS6 | 12.3% |
| Nissan | Juke | 12.2% |
| Kia | e-Niro | 12.0% |
| Lexus | UX | 11.8% |
| Mercedes-Benz | GLA-Class | 11.5% |
| Jaguar | XJR | 11.4% |
| Land Rover | Discovery | 11.4% |
| Mercedes-Benz | C-Class | 11.3% |
| Range Rover | Velar | 11.0% |
| Jaguar | E-Pace | 10.9% |
| Audi | A3 | 10.7% |
| Toyota | Yaris | 10.6% |
| Mercedes-Benz | S-Class | 10.1% |
| Kia | Sportage | 9.8% |
| Lexus | NX | 9.6% |
| Ford | Puma | 9.4% |
| Tesla | Model X | 9.3% |
| Volkswagen | T-Roc | 9.2% |
| Jaguar | F-Type | 8.9% |
| Volkswagen | Golf | 8.8% |
| MG | HS | 7.9% |
| Land Rover | Defender | 6.3% |
| BMW | i4 | 3.1% |
| Cupra | Formentor | 2.5% |
But it’s not just individual models that took a pounding in this study – entire car brands were put under the microscope too. Volkswagen emerged as the best-performing car make, with its models losing just 10.9% of their value each year. On the flip side, Nissan drivers will be in for a shock as their cars can depreciate by up to 14.2%.
The Highest Depreciating Car Makes
| Make | Av. Yearly Value Loss |
| Nissan | 14.2% |
| BMW | 13.4% |
| Audi | 13.3% |
| Tesla | 13.0% |
| Mercedes-Benz | 12.1% |
| Jaguar | 11.9% |
| Land Rover | 11.4% |
| Volkswagen | 10.9% |
Depreciation is a fact of life for car owners, but this latest report highlights just how fast some vehicles drop in value. Typically, a car loses most of its value in the first few years, but ALA Insurance found the best time to sell your car is around the four-year mark – that’s when the rate of depreciation slows to around 9% annually, compared to a painful 14.6% in the third year.
Speaking on the study, ALA Insurance Founder and Managing Director, Simon England says:
“We wanted to dig deeper on car value retention of some of the market’s most popular makes and models to help motorists make more informed decisions when it comes to purchasing their next car. While there are measures you can take to help your car retain its value like regular servicing, avoiding excessive mileage and more, car depreciation will always occur and it’s worth being aware of.
“In the event your car is written off or stolen, GAP Insurance is critical to make sure you retain your car’s full value, despite any market depreciation. This is especially important when it comes to cars with low value retention, so if your car is one of the models identified in our study it could be worth exploring your options.”
To learn more about how GAP Insurance can protect you visit the ALA Insurance website.
