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Many cars lose their value fast, and that may impact your decision on which model to buy or lease. The cars that retain their value best often include models from Toyota, Lexus and Honda.
The vehicles in this article tend to depreciate more slowly than other cars, which means you may have more equity when your lease ends. Learn why lease-end equity matters, which cars hold equity, and how that affects lease buyout and other options at the end of your lease.
Lease-end equity is the gap between your car’s market value and its buyout price, which is stated in the leasing contract. These numbers can help you decide what to do with the vehicle at the end of the lease. When the vehicle’s equity is higher than the buyout amount, it could make sense to buy out the lease. You could even turn around and sell the car and pocket the difference.
But if the equity is less than the buyout amount, you could lose money by buying the car, because its value is lower than what you’ll pay to purchase it. It might be better to turn the car in instead.
When you lease a vehicle, residual value is how much the car is expected to be worth at the end of the lease. Dealerships and leasing companies calculate a leased vehicle’s residual value by applying expected depreciation to the vehicle’s price. According to Kelley Blue Book (KBB), new cars depreciate by 30% or so in the first 24 months and about 8%-12% per year afterward. A three-year lease, in that case, might calculate a vehicle to have a residual value of 58%, for example.
A higher residual value means the car is expected to depreciate much more slowly than other vehicles, which could be good news if you plan to purchase it at the end of your lease.
According to the 2025 Best Resale Value Awards published by KBB, the vehicle that holds its value best is the Toyota Tacoma. The Tacoma, a mid-sized pickup, is expected to retain 64.1% of its value after five years. Two other Toyotas topped the list as well, including the Tundra (a large-size pickup) and the 4Runner (an SUV). Rounding out the list are the Chevrolet Corvette in second place and the Ford Bronco in fifth.
One way to find the cars that retain their value best is to focus on the automaker, not just the model. The J.D. Power 2025 U.S. ALG Residual Value Awards names Honda as the mass-market brand with the strongest residual performance. For premium and luxury vehicles, J.D. Power puts Lexus as No. 1. Toyota also received four awards from J.D. Power for its various vehicle models, making it another top brand for resale value.
If you prefer sedans, coupes or sports cars, make sure you check out Honda, Chevy and Lexus for vehicles that hold their value very well, according to KBB.
J.D. Power also highlights the Civic and the LS, as well as the following passenger cars, which scored highest in its 2025 residual value study.
If you need a little more room for passengers and cargo, consider these 2025 SUVs and trucks that hold their value well. The Toyota Tacoma, in particular, retains almost two-thirds of its value, according to KBB.
Meanwhile, the following trucks and SUVs, including the Toyota Tundra, scored the highest in J.D. Power’s Best Residual Value Awards:
Even if your vehicle doesn’t appear on our list of cars with the best lease-end equity, it might still be in a strong equity position when your lease expires. You may want to consider a lease buyout, especially if the car’s market value is higher than the residual value stated in your lease contract.
RefiJet can help you buy out your lease with affordable financing and manageable monthly payments, saving you from paying a huge lump sum when your lease ends. If you’re considering a lease buyout, contact RefiJet to get a fast quote on a lease buyout loan and keep driving your car for as long as you like.
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about cars with the best lease-end equity.
Lease-end equity is how much it would cost to purchase the car compared to its value on the market. To calculate lease-end equity, you’ll need to know the vehicle’s current market value, which you can find by reviewing websites that offer car valuations. Then compare that figure to the residual value listed in your leasing contract.
Your leased car has positive equity if the current market value is higher than the residual value. Positive equity means you could make money if you purchased the lease and sold it to another buyer.
You may be able to profit from buying out your lease early, but it depends on two numbers: the residual value or purchase price of the leased car, and the current market value of that car. You should also account for various fees you could be charged for buying the lease early, plus sales tax and other charges that could impact your profit.
Increased market demand raises prices. If your vehicle is in high demand when your lease ends, its market value could exceed the residual value of the car. That would give you positive lease-end equity.
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