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10 Cars Dropping Values Faster Than A Falling Rock In 3 Years

We are utterly amazed at how quickly the values of some cars can drop faster than a falling rock after just three years. For as much pride of ownership and bragging rights as some must feel, it just seems like such a waste. Knowing your shiny new car drops in value so quickly makes ownership …

We are utterly amazed at how quickly the values of some cars can drop faster than a falling rock after just three years. For as much pride of ownership and bragging rights as some must feel, it just seems like such a waste. Knowing your shiny new car drops in value so quickly makes ownership a costly exercise even if you can afford it. On the other hand, if the desire for that new car you lust for can be put on hold you’ll find it at a much more reasonable price in three years. Yeah, it won’t have that new car smell, but you won’t feel like such a bonehead for the depreciation hit, either. 

Here are the top 10 cars that depreciate the most in three years:

A 2020 Audi A4 on display at an auto show
The 2020 Audi A4 | Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images

10. Audi A4

Used price for 2017 model: $22,413

The Audi A4 takes a 51% depreciation hit after three years. This is the first of two Audi models that appear on this list. The A4 is the smallest sedan that Audi makes. 

The Q60 brings INFINITI’s powerful design language into the sports coupe segment with remarkable success, with its daring curves, deep creases, and flowing lines intensifying its low, wide, powerful stance. The look is progressive and modern, yet dynamic and moving.
2018 INFINITI Q60

9. Infiniti QX60

Used price for 2017 model: $25,967

The QX60 also takes a 51% depreciation hit after three years. This is the only crossover of the group. The depreciation amounts to a loss of $27,078 after three years.

The BMW 4 Series convertible on display during the second press day of the Geneva Motor Show 2017
The BMW 4 Series | Gerlach Delissen – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

8. BMW 4 Series

Used price for 2017 model: $26,998

The 4 Series takes a 51.7% depreciation after three years. We all love two-door models but they are losing out to the more practical four-door cars. There is one other BMW in this dubious group.

An Infiniti Q50 on display at an auto show
An Infiniti Q50 on display | Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images

7. Infiniti Q50

Used price for 2017 model: $23,140

This Infinity Q50 takes a 51.8% depreciation after three years. In the same class as the Audi A4, there is also another similar vehicle from this segment on the list. Maybe smaller four-door luxury sedans aren’t the best value on the market?

A newly unveiled 2017 Lincoln MKZ is displayed at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show
The Lincoln MKZ | FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

6. Lincoln MKZ

Used price for 2017 model: $21,517

The MKZ also takes a 51.8% hit after three years. The hybrid MKZ does a bit better at only 49.7% depreciation but either way, you slice it the value drops in half. 

5. Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Used price for 2017 model: $31,454

The E-Class is the midsize sedan from Mercedes. The depreciation is 55.4% after three years.

A blue 2019 Volvo S60 sits on display at a car show.
2019 Volvo S60 on display at the 111th Annual Chicago Auto Show | Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

4. Volvo S60

Used price for 2017 model: $19,702

A bit smaller than the S90 the S60 Volvo is the cheapest of luxury cars after three years. That might make it a bargain if you’re looking for a sedan in this segment.

3. BMW 3 Series

Used price for 2017 model: $22,718

With the BMW 4 Series also on this list, it makes sense that the sedan version would also be here somewhere. In the number three slot, it becomes a much more attractive buy at under $23,000.

2020 Ford Fusion Hybrid
Silver 2020 Ford Fusion Hybrid SE | Ford

2. Ford Fusion Hybrid

Used price for 2017 model: $13,565

The Fusion depreciates 54.9% after three years. But with the hybrid powertrain, your gas savings may make this worth looking into. It’s also the cheapest vehicle on this list. iSeeCars, which put this list together, note that the Fusion hybrid is $3,500 more than the non-hybrid version, but is $1,000 cheaper after three years than the non-hybrid. Go figure!

Audi A6 50 TFSI e qauttro on display at Brussels Expo
The Audi A6 | Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images

1. Audi A6

Used price for 2017 model: $27,890

The A6 becomes the biggest loser after three years. It is one notch up from the A4 in size. iSeeCars says that in general most luxury cars are leased, so there is a glut of three-year-old luxury vehicles landing on used car lots. Also, sedans are losing favor to SUVs so to attract buyers the price needs to be lower.

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