Depreciation is the enemy of the new-car buyer.
The benefits of buying a new car are clear – no MoT for three years, choosing your own exact specification and colour, no previous owners to thrash it or trash it, and of course that new-car smell and the knowledge that it’s box-fresh from the factory.
On the flip side, you’ll be losing money – sometimes significant amounts of money – the second you drive it out of the showroom.
And after three years, the worst performing car of 2016, the Thai-built MG6, lost almost 75 per cent of its value – a whopping £13,885 on the new price of £18,610. Perhaps not surprisingly, the MG6 has been discontinued for the UK market.
Other poor performing cars include the Fiat Qubo, the Fiat 500L and the Vauxhall Meriva.
As with most things in life, if you have the cash to buy at the top end of the market, you’ll lose less – in percentage terms at least.
The best performing car of 2016 was the Ferrari 458, which holds 93.5 per cent of its value after three years, while Porsches, Lamborghinis and Aston Martins also fare well.
The best “affordable” car on our list is the popular Audi A1 TFSI, which retains 62.3 per cent of its value after three years, a loss of just £6,786 on its new price of £18,000, which many consider well worth it for the joy of owning a brand new car.
Check out the 10 best and 10 worst cars for depreciation in our infographic.
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