The other side of the purchase price.

Published 12 September 2026 · Public-source research and WHV interpretation

The price you see. The cost you keep.

The shape, the feel of a steering wheel, the way a car fits into a life: these are legitimate reasons to want one. There is another question worth bringing to the decision. After the years of use, what might remain of the purchase price?

A lower loss in value does not make a car a profitable investment. It can still make a meaningful difference to the cost of enjoying it. Equally, a more expensive car is not automatically cheaper to own because a percentage looks favourable.

A starting point, not a verdict.

Kelley Blue Book’s 2026 awards put the Porsche 911, Chevrolet Corvette and Mercedes-Benz G-Class among its top ten models for projected five-year retained value in the US. These are forecasts against original manufacturer’s suggested retail price, not guarantees for a buyer’s actual invoice.

Different categories, not a like-for-like buying ranking. Source: Kelley Blue Book, 18 March 2026. Forecast horizon: 60 months. Market: United States.

The figures do not establish what a particular example will lose in its first two years. Nor should they be transferred unchanged to Croatia, Germany or another market, where taxes, supply, specification and buyer preferences can differ.

Read the method before the number.

iSeeCars takes a different approach in its 2026 study: it models historical depreciation from asking-price information for five-year-old vehicles and inflation-adjusted original MSRP. That is useful context, but it is not the same question as a forecast for a new 2026 car. Averaging the two would create a number without a coherent meaning.

What to establish for your shortlist.

1. The actual entry price. Include the specification, options, taxes and any discount or premium. A model’s reputation does not make every purchase price sensible.
2. The relevant next owner. Compare the same generation and variant in the market where you would sell. Mileage, condition, service history and transaction channel need to be comparable.
3. The intended time together. A two-year ownership plan needs two-year evidence. A longer horizon asks different questions about use, maintenance and changing demand.
4. The whole cost. Insurance, servicing, tyres, financing and selling costs sit alongside depreciation. Unknown costs do not become zero.

The WHV reading.

The useful insight is not “buy this badge and your money is safe”. It is that pleasure and financial care need not be separate conversations. Start with a car you genuinely want to use; then investigate the particular version and terms that make its ownership case convincing.

These models are research entry points, not completed two-year purchase recommendations. A specific recommendation would require current local comparables, a defined specification and an individual ownership scenario.

Sources and scope.