Looking to buy a vehicle? You’ll want to avoid these highest-depreciating cars, trucks in Seattle

If you are just looking for a used car in Seattle, there are several models to stay away from.

A new report from iSeeCars, an online automotive search engine and research website, examined over 800,000 vehicle purchases in 2016 to determine which makes and models had the highest and lowest depreciation after five years on the road.

The report found that a five-year-old vehicle depreciated by about 40% nationwide in 2021, compared to about 49% in 2020.

“In the past 15 months we have seen record-high used car prices due to the lack of microchips, and that has slowed the average depreciation rate for all vehicles,” said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. “Vehicles with historically good value retention have lost even less of their value in the past year, but even in today’s market, some cars continue to lose value dramatically.”

On average, a vehicle in Seattle loses 36.7% in value after five years, according to the report. However, some cars such as trucks, truck-based SUVs, and sports cars often retain much of their value. In Seattle, luxury cars saw the most depreciation over a five-year period.

At the national and local levels, the Nissan LEAF recorded the highest depreciation over five years. BMW models also dominated the list, both in the Seattle area and across the county, with three models making the cut.

Keep scrolling to see the top 5 vehicles in Seattle that showed the highest depreciation in 5 years.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – JANUARY 9: BMW X5 mid-size luxury SUV with matching ski box at Brussels Expo on January 9, 2020 in Brussels, Belgium. The BMW X5 (G05) is available with various diesel and gasoline engines as well as with a plug-in hybrid drive. (Photo by Sjoerd van der Wal / Getty Images)

Sjoerd van der Wal / Getty Images

5. BMW X5

Average 5-year depreciation: 56.4%

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – JANUARY 9: Maserati Ghibli luxury sedan at Brussels Expo on January 9, 2020 in Brussels, Belgium. The Maserati Ghibli (M157) is available with V6 petrol and diesel engines. (Photo by Sjoerd van der Wal / Getty Images)

Sjoerd van der Wal / Getty Images

4. Maserati Ghibli

Average 5-year depreciation: 58.5%

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – JANUARY 9: BMW 7 series 745e plug-in hybrid luxury sedan “non display at Brussels Expo on January 9, 2020 in Brussels, Belgium. The G11-12 generation BMW 7 is available with various 6.8 “available and 12-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines as well as plug-in hybrids (Photo: Sjoerd van der Wal / Getty Images)

Sjoerd van der Wal / Getty Images

3. BMW 7 Series

Average 5-year depreciation: 58.8%

BERLIN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 16: A BMW i3 Urban Suite electric car stands at a press preview at the Greentech Festival on September 16, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. The festival, which takes place from September 16 to 18, highlights environmentally friendly developments in the fields of energy, mobility, nutrition and fashion. (Photo by Sean Gallup / Getty Images)

Sean Gallup / Getty Images

2. BMW i3

Average 5-year depreciation: 60.8%

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – JANUARY 9: Nissan Leaf compact five-door hatchback electric vehicle at Brussels Expo on January 9, 2020 in Brussels, Belgium. The second generation Nissan Leaf is equipped with an electric motor with 110 kilowatts (147 hp) and a 40 kWh battery with an EPA certified range of 243 km (151 miles). (Photo by Sjoerd van der Wal / Getty Images)

Sjoerd van der Wal / Getty Images / Sjoerd van der Wal

1. Nissan LEAF

Average 5-year depreciation: 62.5%

https://www.seattlepi.com/local/seattlenews/article/vehicles-with-the-highest-depreciation-in-seattle-16589131.php