Among new-car buyers, the smart set look for a model that can be driven without much fuss for 100,000 and even 200,000 or more miles to maximize their vehicular values. According to the car insurance website TheZebra.com, average new car, truck or SUV buyers now hold onto their coveted rides for an average of eight years.
Whether it’s for love or money, it’s easy to see why the phase “buy-and-hold” can be a money-saving mantra for new-vehicle buyers, especially with transaction prices at a staggering average $50,080 according to kbb.com, with financing periods extending as long as 84 and even 96 months.
And yet, some owners apparently fail to feel the love, and unceremoniously unload their rides almost immediately like a jilted reality-TV-show suitor. Some early breakups can be attributed to a hasty hookup made under the influence of a flashy brochure and new-car smell. Other relationships can fail because of a vehicle’s shortcomings that were not immediately apparent or that the relationship simply requires too much in the way of maintenance (and repairs) to go the distance.
At that, it seems that some cars, trucks and SUVs are statistically more prone to short-lived ownership periods than others. According to a study of over 18.5 million new vehicles from the 2023-2024 model years conducted by the used-vehicle marketplace iSeeCars.com, luxury-brand models are most likely to be unloaded within months of taking possession, with Porsche, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz leading the pack in this regard.
In terms of individual models, the Land Rover Discovery Sport SUVis the model found to most frequently changes hand within a year of being titled, at 11.4% of all units sold. Though fewer mainstream-brand owners tend to pull the proverbial trigger as quickly, a noteworthy 11.4% of all MINI Clubman buyers sever ties relatively soon after taking delivery. As a point of reference, iSeeCars says the industry average for one-year vehicular relationships in the U.S.is 3.6% of the national inventory.
“Multiple factors can contribute to why a new car is resold so quickly,” explains iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. “Owner dissatisfaction is the most obvious cause, but financial hardship and even creative dealer accounting can also drive this number up, with some retailers registering demonstration vehicles as sold to increase sales numbers for their stores and the manufacturer.”
Some cars seem less amenable to long term relationships than others, with small and spartanly equipped models like the cramped and underpowered Mitsubishi Mirage G4 at number two among mainstream cars, while some may tire easily with rougher-riding rip-roaring (not to mention expensive to own) sporty models like the Porsche Macan, which is in second place among short-term upscale vehicles.
As with a real-life divorce, braking up with a car, truck or SUV too quickly can sometimes be an expensive proposition. According to data assembled by Carfax.com a new vehicle’s worth drops by 10% within the first month of ownership and about 20% by the end of year one. An ultra-early trade-in can also become a financial nightmare if it’s “under water,” which means the car’s market value is less than its outstanding loan balance, with the seller having to make up the difference.
On the plus side, since one person’s loss is another’s gain, vehicles with a quick turnaround can also be among the best values in the pre-owned market. They provide smart shoppers with the ability to garner a low-mileage under-warranty model for significantly less money than a factory-fresh alternative.
On the other hand, an earlier iSeeCars analysis found that those who seek a longer term vehicular relationship would do well to choose a Honda CR-V, Ford Escape Hybrid, Lexus IS 350 or Nissan Versa, or a Toyota Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Camry Hybrid, Tacoma, Prius, RAV-4 or Tundra, which top the list of cars most likely to be owned for 15 or more years.
In the meantime, here are the lists of mainstream and luxury models iSeeCars says are most likely to be traded in within the first year of ownership, noting the percentage of early trade-ins registered for each.
Early Trade-In Mainstream Cars
- MINI Clubman: 11.4% of all units sold
- Mitsubishi Mirage G4: 8.6%
- Mazda CX-70: 7.2%
- MINI Countryman: 6.7%
- Hyundai Sonata: 6.4%
- Mazda CX-90: 6.4%
- Hyundai Santa Cruz: 6.4%
- Toyota GR Corolla: 6.3%
- Jeep Cherokee: 6.3%
- MINI Hardtop 4-Door: 6.3%
Early Trade-In Luxury Cars
- Land Rover Discovery Sport: 28.3% of all units sold
- Porsche Macan: 22.2%
- Mercedes-Benz GLB: 21.2%
- Mercedes-Benz CLA: 20.4%
- Mercedes-Benz GLA: 16.7%
- Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: 16.4%
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class: 14.0%
- Land Rover Discovery: 13.6%
- BMW 5 Series: 13.4%
- Jaguar F-PACE: 13.3%
Source: iSeeCars.com; the full report can be found here.
