Ever wondered what your vehicle might be worth in 12 months/12,000 miles after purchase?
If your car features in the list below, you might want to look away now. Trade valuations experts Glass’s have compiled a list of the top 10 worst depreciating cars after one year (or 12,000 miles). Significantly, the list includes three electric vehicles, whose values have dropped by as much as 65%. Ouch. On a positive note, that means great potential bargains for the brave on the second-hand market…
(Percentage marks the value retained after 12 months/12,000miles)
1) Renault FLUENCE E Z.E. (95bhp) Expression+ saloon four door auto – 27.21%
Big saloons aren’t exactly flavour of the month with UK buyers these days to start with; throw in a dash of range anxiety and it’s no surprise the Fluence’s residual value drops so rapidly.
2) Vauxhall MERIVA 1.4 16v (99bhp) Expression MPV five door (2010 MY) – 29.05%
Vauxhall’s clever-doored miniature people carrier takes a hefty hit after 12 months, although the base Expression model’s lack of standard kit will no doubt be partly to blame.
3) Chevrolet CRUZE 1.4 (100ps) 4X4 LS station wagon five door 1398cc (2014 MY) – 31.78%
Chevrolet’s already packed its bags and left the UK market, leaving behind a budget estate that’s jettisoned almost 70% of its value.
4) Citroen C-ZERO E hatchback five door auto – 32.07%
The C-Zero was part of the early-adopter EV crowd but it’s now a generation or two off the development pace. As it dates, its values take a nosedive.
5) Nissan LEAF E hatchback five door auto – 33.23%
This might appear something of a surprise entry. The Nissan Leaf is the UK’s top-selling pure electric vehicle, after all. The E is the entry-level version, however, which means stingy equipment levels. Still, a 12 month-old Nissan Leaf for £6k could represent a bargain to some.
6) Renault MEGANE 1.6 (100bhp) Extreme estate five door – 33.26%
More bad news for French car fans, as the Megane wagon loses more than 60% of its value.
7) Vauxhall INSIGNIA 1.4i 16v Turbo (140ps) SRi saloon 4d 1364cc (2012.5 MY) – 34.98%
Ahh, the fleet car you’ll see in every business car park. Getting a hammering up and down the motorways of the UK isn’t always a great recipe for sturdy residuals, and nor is a small petrol engine and four doors rather than the more practical five-door hatchback layout. Value retention that dips below 35% is the result.
8) Peugeot 207 SW 1.4 8v (75bhp) Access estate five door – 35.62%
One from the era before Peugeot remembered how to make cars pretty again. This particular derivative mixing a small petrol engine with a largish (but not quite large enough to be properly practical) body might go some way towards explaining its low retention.
9) Chevrolet ORLANDO 1.4 Turbo (140ps) LS five door 1364cc (2014 MY) – 35.96%
Chevy’s first attempt at an MPV for the world resulted in a built-to-a-price car that couldn’t compete with Picasso, Galaxy and co. Prices might have been affordable to begin with, but a 64% drop in value after a year has gotta hurt.
10) Peugeot 308 1.6VTi (120bhp) Access hatchback five door 1598cc (2013.5 MY) – 36.04%
A second appearance for Peugeot in the bottom 10, although the previous-generation 308 wasn’t actually such a bad car. The wide-mouthed grille wasn’t for everyone – CAR likened it to Julia Roberts wearing braces – but it was good to drive, well-built and comfortable. Now it’s been replaced by a better all-rounder, its second-hand values have dropped a notch.