Hyundai hasn’t always been the most reliable option on the market, but it’s usually on the cheaper side of new cars. Over the last half a decade or so, the brand has turned itself around with new styling, models, and some of the best electric cars on the market, like the Ioniq 5. Does that mean they’ll hold value better, though? In this article, we explore some of the best and worst Hyundai models in terms of how well they hold their value. In other words, these are the models that depreciate the least or most. We’re basing our research on 2022 models, since they’ve been on the road for long enough to gather accurate data in comparison to one another and other brands. Here’s how Hyundai resale value holds up over time.
We’re looking at five-year depreciation data for the Hyundai models and their competitors from validated sources that calculate the depreciation rate of new cars. Actual pricing for used models will vary based on location, condition, mileage, and features. Cited new vehicle prices exclude destination, options, and other fees.
No More Or Less Than The Average
In general, Hyundai is about average in comparison to other brand’s overall lineup depreciation. So whether Hyundais do have good resale value comes down to the individual models being compared, rather than the brand as a whole. Nevertheless, sources like CarEdge gather data and provide an overview of essentially every brand in the United States in terms of reliability, resale value/depreciation, and each model’s cost to maintain and repair over time. Hyundai falls in ninth place, with models holding 54.6% of their value after five years on the road. For reference, the brand with the best resale value is Toyota at 63.6% of its models’ original prices, and Dodge is in 19th place, with models holding just 35.3% of their initial cost.
If you want to know if Hyundais actually do hold their value, you’ll have to break it down model by model, which we’ve done later on in the article. For example, Hyundai Santa Fe resale value is better than the Tucson Hybrid, but worse than the Sonata. We’ll get into the specific numbers next, but here’s how you can help preserve your Hyundai’s value. Start by taking care of the car; that means keeping up with regular maintenance and performing repairs in a timely manner when parts break. Regularly changing your car’s oil and filters, washing it, avoiding scratches and dents, and driving at or below the average annual mileage in the US can all help to keep your resale value higher after years of driving. That last part might not be possible, depending on your driving style and personal needs, but taking care of the car in the other ways we mentioned should still help.
If you’re looking to preserve a Hyundai’s value over time, it’s best to look for a model that won’t depreciate too much in the first place. Oftentimes, you can’t control how much your car depreciates, no matter how well you take care of it, how many miles you drive, or if you meet every scheduled maintenance check. That all helps, of course, but it only delays the inevitable. Here are the three Hyundai models with the least amount of depreciation after three years according to Kelley Blue Book’s depreciation percentage.
2022 Hyundai Sonata
Base MSRP When New
$25,245
Current Used Value (SE)
$18,228
Engines
1.6L Turbo Inline-four
2.5L Turbo Inline-four
The Hyundai with the least depreciation over the last few years is the 2022 Sonata. Data from Kelley Blue Book shows the model having an average depreciation of just 34% since it was new, which is good even for other brands with better resale value. To be completely clear: the resale value percentage is the percentage of the initial value that you can expect to sell the car for, while the depreciation percentage is the amount of money lost since buying the car. Since the Hyundai Sonata has a depreciation of 34%, that means it lost thirty-four percent of its initial value on average across all trim levels. This is partly due to the model’s above-average reliability, respectable practicality, and interior features.
2022 Hyundai Venue
Base MSRP When New
$19,000
Current Used Value (SE)
$14,923
Engine
1.6L Inline-four
The 2022 Hyundai Venue is one of the most reliable Hyundai models on the road today. We analyzed reliability data, costs to repair and maintain, and more in another article, which helps explain why this model is still holding its value so well. KBB’s examination of current values found the ’22 Venue to have depreciated an average of 35% across all three trims. Unlike some other Hyundai models, this Venue only has a single recall pertaining to the car’s rear-seat seatbelt pre-tensioners, and a handful of owner complaints to platforms like the NHTSA and Car Complaints.
2022 Hyundai Tucson
Base MSRP When New
$25,800
Current Used Value (SE FWD)
$18,688
Engines
2.5L Inline-four
To answer your question: “do Hyundai Tucson hold their value?” Yes, they hold value better than almost every other Hyundai model on the road. The Tucson is one of the best-selling models the brand has to offer; Hyundai sold a brand-record 836,802 units in 2024, with almost a quarter of all sales being the Tucson. KBB found that the 2022 model depreciated an average of 35% across all trims. That’s partially due to buyers still looking for midsize SUVs more than nearly any other type of car, but also could be due to the Tucson’s slightly above-average reliability and practical features.
There are a handful of 2022 Hyundai models between the best and worst-depreciating models, but the worst all have one thing in common: they all have big batteries. It’s a shame that hybrids and electric cars depreciate more, but the fact remains that EV batteries degrade over time and cost a fortune to replace. Owners don’t want to keep a car long enough to require an inevitable $10,000 repair. With that being said, here are the three worst-depreciating Hyundai models.
2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
Base MSRP When New
$29,750
Current Used Value (Blue AWD)
$19,634
Powertrains
1.6L Turbo Inline-four Hybrid
There are other models with depreciation between the gas Tucson and the Hybrid (namely the Kona at 36% through the Santa Cruz at 41% of their value lost over the last few years), but the third-worst-depreciating Hyundai of the last three years is the 2022 Tucson Hybrid. The Tucson Hybrid lost 42% of its value on average across all three trims since it went on sale. This could be due to the fact that hybrid batteries degrade over time, losing their maximum charging capacity and range.
2022 Hyundai Kona Electric
Base MSRP When New
$34,000
Current Used Value (SEL)
$20,616
Powertrains
Single Electric Motor (FWD)
The regular gas-powered Kona only depreciated about 36% over the last few years, but the all-electric variant has fallen by 47% on average across all trims since the 2022 model came out. Some electric cars hold better value than that simply due to the fun factor, powerful motors, quick 0–60 times and other performance options. The Kona Electric has none of that; it’s a relatively boring, simple EV with front-wheel drive, an under-powered motor, and just average range.
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5
Base MSRP When New
$39,950
Current Used Value (SE Standard Range)
$20,963
Powertrains
Single Electric Motor
Dual Electric Motors
Finally, the worst Hyundai model in terms of depreciation is the Ioniq 5, which lost an average of 53% of its value across all trims since the 2022 model hit the streets. That’s a real shame, because the Ioniq 5 is objectively a good electric vehicle. It has a respectable range, a variety of power outputs, and handsome styling. Why it depreciated so far can mostly be due to the typical EV pathway of degrading batteries over time, but with only a few years on the clock, it’s hard to tell. J.D. Power gave it a 73/100 in initial quality and reliability, and it has the highest number of customer complaints to the NHTSA, so the 2022 model year is the worst one you can buy according to those metrics.
It should be common knowledge that new cars depreciate quickly, but some are better than others. Toyota and Ram, according to CarEdge, are two brands that hold their values relatively well over the course of five years on the road. Hyundai falls closer to the middle of the pack in terms of resale value. If you must buy a brand-new Hyundai, go for the Sonata or the Venue. Whatever you do, avoid the brand’s electric cars if you want to save money in the long run, even if they are good cars while you own them.
Hyundai models’ resale value varies from car to car – electric and hybrid Hyundais tend to lose more money than gas cars.
The Hyundai Sonata has the best resale value after three years of depreciation in terms of percentage of value lost since it was new.
According to CarEdge’s data, Toyota has the highest resale value and lowest depreciation.
In general, no. Toyota models hold their value better for a variety of reasons, including their superior reliability.
Sources: Hyundai, KBB, CarEdge, J.D. Power, NHTSA
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