These 11 Cars Lose the Most Value in Just One Year

Some cars are notorious for steep depreciation, leaving owners shocked at their resale numbers after just 12 months. From luxury sedans to high-end SUVs and trendy compacts, these 11 vehicles lose the most value in their first year on the road. Understanding which cars drop the fastest can help buyers make smarter decisions and avoid watching thousands of dollars vanish almost immediately.

BMW 7 Series

Dude, you ever notice how rich people’s cars age the worst? like, this giant $100k BMW that feels like an airport lounge the moment you drive it off the lot it’s like the car whispers, “thanks, now I’m worth sixty.” I sat in one once, smelled like cold leather and ego. Buttons everywhere. You could host a TED talk in that thing. But resale? Nada. You could practically watch money evaporate off the dashboard.

Maserati Ghibli

Man, this one’s actually funny. It looks rich, sounds mean, but it’s basically a drama queen with engine issues. $85k-ish and still depreciates like a dropped phone. My cousin had one and it kept warning lights like it had anxiety. The seats are comfy though. Smells amazing, like fake luxury. But yeah, in a year the value nose-dives. Fast. Probably faster than it accelerates.

Nissan Leaf

Hmm, the Leaf… cute, sensible, eco-ish. But when the new one drops, the old one basically becomes a glorified golf cart. Costs maybe, what, $30k now? Still, I can’t hate it. It looks like an appliance that got feelings. My friend’s smelled like wet carpet for some reason. You never get that with gas cars, right?

Jaguar XF

I swear every Jag looks like it was designed by someone nostalgic for coolness. About $55k give or take. You feel classy until it breaks down or you look up its resale on Kelley Blue Book — then you cry a little. I rode in one once… leather so soft it felt disrespectful to sit on. But electronics everywhere just waiting to fail. British drama on wheels.

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Oh, this thing. Gorgeous. Unreliable as my Wi-Fi though. Around $45kish. You fall in love, you curse it, then you talk yourself into loving it again. Italians build cars like they’re relationships passionate and always on the verge of chaos. The smell, though… that mix of leather and espresso vibes? It’s intoxicating. Until you realize it loses like 30% of value in a year. Heartbreak on wheels.

Cadillac Escalade

Bro, imagine dropping $90k for something that’s gonna be worth like… I don’t know, two-thirds of that in a year. And it’s massive, flashy, kinda smells like overconfidence. My friend’s dad had one — he cleaned it every Sunday like it was therapy. Then he sold it and cried a little at the dealership. Can’t blame him.

Chevrolet Silverado HD

Trucks used to hold value, man. But these giant expensive trims? Like $80k for a pickup that guzzles gas like my laptop eats battery. My neighbor’s Silverado is clean, too clean he polishes it and then doesn’t drive it ‘cause gas prices scare him. The irony of losing value faster because it just sits there… poetry, kinda.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The king of losing money elegantly. $110k to start and by next Christmas it’s $70k if you’re lucky. Still, that ride feels like butter. You sit inside and forget things your bills, your bank balance, your self-respect. But then depreciation hits like a hangover after champagne. I still want one though. Stupid, right?

Audi A8

If the S-Class is a king, then the A8’s the vice principal. Good, polished, slightly boring. You drive one for a year and suddenly everyone wants the newer one with the different headlights. Boom price gone. About $90k out of your pocket, slowly sliding to “used luxury bargain” territory. Smells sterile, like a dentist’s office, but fast.

Infiniti QX80

This one’s like buying an old iPhone looks fine, works fine, but everybody knows it’s outdated. Costs like $75k new, then a year later, dealers won’t even make eye contact. Big, comfy, thirsty. I remember sitting in one and feeling like I was in a leather bubble bath. Not bad, not great, just meh, which is almost worse.

Volvo S90

Honestly, underrated and over-deprecating. $58k or somewhere there. Drives smooth, feels polite. It’s the guy who brings hummus to the party. Nice but forgettable. I rented one once and forgot I was driving something expensive until I saw the price later. Interior smells like vanilla candles and mild anxiety.