Some cars are considered a great investment, while others depreciate when they leave the dealership. Whether it was poor timing in the market, questionable designs, or mechanical problems, some cars have become known as depreciation disasters. These are 22 vehicles that instantly lost value:
Cadillac ELR (2014-2016)
Debuted in 2014, the Cadillac ELR was penned by Tim Kozub as an upscale, eco-friendly coupe. It had a 1.4L inline-4 cylinder engine mated with an electric motor, as on the Chevy Volt, but far pricier. The inside was luxury, with hand-tooled leather, carbon fiber trim, and a digital gauge cluster. Even with its high-tech, high-quality components, consumers were repelled by its disappointing performance, with a long 8.8 seconds to go 60 mph. To an initial price of $75,000, the ELR depreciated quickly, dropping half its value in only two years.
Jaguar XJ (2010-2019)
The 2010 Jaguar XJ, penned by Ian Callum, was intended to be a bold reimagining of the luxury sedan. It came with a series of V6 and V8 engines, the most potent of which was a 5.0L supercharged V8 good for 550 hp. The interior was quintessential British refinement, with quilted leather seats, real wood grain trim, and a gigantic digital instrument cluster. Its maintenance expense and quick model updates in Jaguar’s lineup meant that depreciation took a big bite. Most XJs lost more than 60% of their value within five years. With a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds in supercharged trim, its pace wasn’t enough to keep it out of the resale graveyard.
BMW 7 Series (2016-Present)
BMW’s flagship sedan, the 7 Series, was redesigned in 2016 under the direction of designer Karim Habib. It offered a range of engines, including a 3.0L inline-6 and a 6.6L V12 in the M760i model. The interior was a technological wonder, complete with gesture controls, massaging leather seats, and even a removable touchscreen tablet for passengers in the back. Luxury sedans are known to depreciate like a brick-drop, and the 7 Series was no different. Even the high-performance V12 model, which could hit 60 mph in a mere 3.6 seconds, couldn’t maintain its value, losing about 70% in five years.
Lincoln Continental (2017-2020)
Resurrected in 2017, the Lincoln Continental was designed by designer David Woodhouse and came with a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 producing 400 hp. Inside, it provided an incredibly comfortable ride with 30-way adjustable seats, soft-close doors, and a clean, minimalist dashboard. Though its ride quality was impressive, the Continental faltered in a declining sedan market, losing almost 50% of its value in three years. It was fast, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.0 seconds, but customers still opted for SUVs, making it a resale disaster.
Maserati Ghibli (2014-Present)
The Maserati Ghibli, launched in 2014 and designed by Marco Tencone, had Ferrari-built V6 engines churning out as much as 424 hp. It had an elegant Italian interior with fine leather, an analog clock, and a high-end audio system. Unfortunately, it suffered from quality control issues and an aging infotainment system that couldn’t keep up with German rivals. The Ghibli’s value plummeted quickly, with some models losing over 60% of their value within three years. Despite a respectable 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds, reliability concerns kept resale values in the basement.
Nissan Leaf (2011-Present)
One of the first mass-produced electric vehicles, the Nissan Leaf, was created by Shiro Nakamura and introduced in 2011. It had a humble electric powertrain with 107 hp and a range of around 100 miles at first. The interior was straightforward but practical, with cloth or leather upholstery, a tiny digital screen, and an infotainment system that soon felt dated. Battery life degradation and continually advancing EV technology made older Leafs essentially worthless in a matter of years. The 9.9-second 0-60 mph was not helping its sales, placing it among the fastest-depreciating vehicles available.
Fiat 500L (2014-2020)
The Fiat 500L, penned by Roberto Giolito, was intended to be a bigger, more useful iteration of the iconic Fiat 500. It was introduced in 2014 and employed a 1.4L turbocharged inline-4 good for 160 hp. The eccentric interior boasted a tall seating position, soft-touch plastics, and a retro-inspired dashboard. Unfortunately, the 500L was beset by terrible reliability and ungainly styling, resulting in disastrous resale values. With a slow 0-60 mph time of 8.5 seconds and a history of mechanical woes, most used 500Ls sold for pennies on the dollar within a few years.
Chevrolet Volt (2011-2019)
General Motors launched the Chevrolet Volt in 2011, designed by Bob Boniface, as a plug-in hybrid to conventional gasoline-powered cars. It came with a 1.5L gasoline engine and an electric motor to achieve an electric-only range of approximately 53 miles. The interior was futuristic at its debut, with a digital instrument cluster and touch-sensitive controls. Nevertheless, EV technology evolved quickly, rendering previous Volts outdated and significantly depreciated. Though it had a decent 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds, its steep initial price and battery life loss resulted in rapid depreciation.
Chrysler 200 (2015-2017)
Introduced by Brandon Faurote’s design leadership in 2015, the Chrysler 200 was designed to save the faltering sedan market. It had an option of a 2.4L inline-4 or a 3.6L V6 engine delivering 295 hp. The interior had soft leather, a rotary gear shifter, and a well-laid-out infotainment system. However, its ungainly styling and tight rear seat caused it to sell poorly, and Chrysler ended production in 2017. With a 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds in the V6 model, it was reasonably quick, but that wasn’t enough to prevent it from depreciating heavily.
Infiniti QX80 (2014-Present)
Released in 2014 and penned by Shinya Momokawa, the Infiniti QX80 was to be a premium luxury SUV rivaling Cadillac and Lexus. Power came from a 5.6L V8, putting out 400 horsepower under the hood. The interior featured plush quilted leather seats, real wood trim, and a double-screen rear entertainment system. All this luxury came at the expense of too much fuel use and unfashionable styling. With a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds, it wasn’t sluggish, but it lost value quickly, frequently dropping more than 50% of its value in only three years.
Hyundai Equus (2011-2016)
Eric Stoddard designed the Hyundai Equus, which debuted in 2011 as the company’s foray into a full-size luxury sedan. It had a 5.0L V8 making 429 hp, a rich interior with massaging rear seats, a top-of-the-line Lexicon sound system, and an Alcantara headliner. However, Hyundai didn’t have the brand cachet to hang with Mercedes and BMW, and resale value suffered. Despite a respectable 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds, depreciation was nasty, with some models losing 65% of their value over five years.
Lexus LS 460 (2007-2017)
Lexus introduced the LS 460 in 2007, styled by Takeshi Yoshida, to take on German luxury sedans. It had a 4.6L V8 engine with 380 hp and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The interior was a testament to Japanese craftsmanship with semi-aniline leather seats, real wood trim, a Mark Levinson audio system, and even an optional reclining rear seat with a massage function. Even with its ultra-smooth ride, rock-solid dependability, and 5.4-second 0-60 mph, the LS 460 lost a lot of value, frequently losing more than 60% over five years because of a lack of brand prestige versus Mercedes and BMW.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2014-Present)
The W222-generation Mercedes S-Class created by Robert Lesnik and rolled out in 2014 was the height of luxury. It was available with various engines, ranging from a 3.0L inline-6 to the twin-turbo V12 in the S65 AMG. Inside was a veritable palace, complete with Nappa leather, ambient lighting with 64 colors, a huge dual-screen infotainment system, and even warmed armrests. Even as a tech pioneer, luxury sedans are infamous for depreciation, and the S-Class was no different. A new S-Class might run more than $120,000, but it would typically depreciate 60-70% of its value after five years. Even the V12 S65 AMG, which could accelerate to 60 mph in only 4.1 seconds, wasn’t immune to depreciating values.
Porsche Panamera (2010-Present)
Introduced in 2010 and penned by Michael Mauer, the Porsche Panamera was a leap of faith into the luxury sedan segment. It came with various engines, including a 4.8L V8 making 500 hp in the Turbo version. The interior was quintessential Porsche, with premium leather, a wraparound center console packed with buttons, and a cockpit designed around the driver. Although it was quick, going from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds in Turbo form, the first-generation Panamera’s peculiar styling didn’t hold up well, and repair bills were stratospheric. Consequently, initial models depreciated as much as 70% of their value within several years.
Audi A8 (2011-2017)
The redesigned Audi A8 in 2011 by Stefan Sielaff was a technological marvel with an aluminum space frame and optional Quattro all-wheel drive. Engines were available from a supercharged V6 to a 6.3L W12 in the flagship model. Inside, the A8 was a subtle luxury, with Valcona leather, genuine wood trim, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system. But, as with most flagship sedans, it depreciated catastrophically, losing over 60% of its value in five years. Even the W12 version, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds, couldn’t retain its value.
Tesla Model S (2012-Present)
Tesla launched the Model S in 2012, designed by Franz von Holzhausen, as a revolutionary electric sedan. It came with different battery options, with the most powerful Plaid model accelerating to 60 mph in a scorching 1.99 seconds. The interior was futuristic, with a giant touchscreen and minimalism taking center stage. Tesla’s constant software updates and newer models with better range soon rendered older versions outdated. Consequently, initial Model S models depreciated significantly, losing over 50% of their worth in a few years.
Volvo S90 (2017-Present)
Styled by Thomas Ingenlath, the Volvo S90 came in 2017 as a Nordic counterpoint to German luxury sedans. It had a 2.0L supercharged and turbocharged inline-4 engine making 316 hp. The interior was strong, with Swedish touches, authentic driftwood trim, and an easy-to-use Sensus touchscreen. Despite its beauty, poor brand equity in the luxury segment caused quick depreciation, with some versions depreciating as much as 60% within three years.
Buick LaCrosse (2017-2019)
The 2017 Buick LaCrosse, penned by Bryan Nesbitt, was an attempt to infuse American luxury into the midsize sedan class. It was equipped with a 3.6L V6 that made 310 hp, which provided a smooth and quiet drive. The inside had soft leather, wood, and an easy-to-use infotainment system. Though comfortable, sedans were out of style, and Buick’s aging customer base did not flock to purchase them. Depreciation was harsh, with prices dropping 50% in three years. Despite a 5.8-second 0-60 mph, it could not match up against more sought-after options.
Dodge Charger Hellcat (2015-Present)
Ralph Gilles’ Charger Hellcat, released in 2015, was an American muscle car on steroids. It boasted a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine delivering 707 hp that could propel itself to 60 mph in only 3.4 seconds. The interior was functional but not overly luxurious, with basic leather seats, a touchscreen infotainment system, and plenty of space. While it was a blast to drive, it had high maintenance costs. Combined with Dodge’s reputation for poor resale value, these beasts depreciated quickly, with some models losing 50% of their worth in just three years.
Land Rover Range Rover (2013-Present)
The Range Rover, revamped in 2013 by Gerry McGovern, established the luxury SUV benchmark. It was offered with a range of engines, including a supercharged 5.0L V8 cranking out 518 hp. On the inside, it was an unadulterated luxury, with Windsor leather, genuine wood accents, and a dual-screen infotainment system. Yet Range Rovers have been beset by reliability problems for years, and high repair bills led to extreme depreciation. With a 0-60 mph of 5.1 seconds, most used Range Rovers depreciate by as much as 65% within five years.
Acura RLX (2014-2020)
Introduced in 2014, the Acura RLX was penned by Toshinobu Minami to vie in the midsize luxury sedan market. It came with a 3.5L V6 that churned out 310 hp, which was replaced by a hybrid powerplant with 377 hp. Inside was pleasant but without the German competition’s wow, with leather trim, wood veneer, and an outdated infotainment setup. Acura’s luxury cache wasn’t sufficiently robust to maintain value, and the RLX lost almost 60% of its value over five years. Despite a respectable 0-60 mph acceleration of 5.4 seconds, it could not get many used purchasers.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (2015-2019)
The Tom Peters-designed C7 Corvette Z06 was a track beast, sporting a supercharged 6.2L V8 making 650 hp. While better than previous Corvettes, the interior retained some low-rent plastics combined with leather and suede. It ripped from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 2.95 seconds, which was outrageously quick. Reliability issues, including overheating on early vehicles, significantly blemished resale values. Combined with the arrival of the mid-engine C8 Corvette, depreciation hit hard, with some Z06 models losing over 50% of their value within two years.
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