4 Toyota Cars That Drop in Value Quickly—And 4 That Don’t

Automotive

When you buy a car, what you pay isn’t the end of the story—it’s what you’ll lose in value over time that often hurts the most. Whether you lease or buy used, depreciation is a massive part of your costs. Thankfully, with Toyota models, you can often predict which ones will hold value and which ones will lose it fast. Knowing which Toyota cars drop in value quickly—and which ones don’t—can help you make smarter decisions and avoid costly regrets. Let’s look at eight Toyotas: four that tend to fall hard and four that hold up well over the years.

1. Toyota Avalon Hybrid

The Toyota Avalon Hybrid is a full-size sedan that once carried prestige, comfort, and hybrid appeal. However, recent data show it retains only about 49.8% of its value over five years, making it one of Toyota’s worst in terms of depreciation. Buyers cite lower demand for large sedans, high maintenance or replacement costs for hybrid components, and stiff competition from newer hybrid or electric alternatives. Handling and interior upgrades haven’t been enough to offset the market trends, dragging it down. If resale value is a priority, the Avalon Hybrid may not be the safest pick.

2. Toyota Venza

The Toyota Venza, a crossover with hybrid-only options, also suffers from depreciation that’s steeper than many of its Toyota siblings. It retains around 57.7% of its original value after five years. While it offers comfort, style, and fuel efficiency, buyers often find more value in better-recognized or more rugged SUVs. The hybrid appeal is there, but perceptions about future battery costs and resale of hybrid models temper demand. So while it’s not catastrophic, depreciation makes it a riskier investment if you plan to resell in 3-5 years.

3. Toyota Sienna

The Toyota Sienna minivan is beloved by families for its space, sliding doors, and reliability in everyday use. Still, it ranks among Toyotas with less impressive resale metrics, retaining about 57.7% of its value after the 5-year mark. Larger vehicles often face steeper depreciation unless they have a strong niche or specialized demand. Minivans in general tend to lose value more quickly than compact SUVs due to shifts in buyer preferences. If your priority is resale—or minimizing loss—you’ll want to weigh that against the Sienna’s perks.

4. Toyota Camry (Certain Years)

The Toyota Camry is almost always a reliable choice—but not all iterations fare equally well in value retention. Specific model years (like 2012 and 2017) have shown relatively high depreciation in short spans. Possible causes include design changes, tech not aging well, or simply very strong competition in the midsize sedan category. Even though newer Camrys tend to hold value better, if you buy one of the older or less popular trims, you may lose more of your investment. So, with the Camry, what year and trim you choose matters a lot more than with some other Toyotas.

5. Toyota Tacoma

Now, shifting to the positives: the Toyota Tacoma is often cited as one of the best-resale Toyotas on the market. It regularly ranks near the top for retaining its value even after several years. Drivers love its durability, simple mechanics, and solid demand in resale markets. If your goal is to minimize depreciation, the Tacoma is hard to beat.

6. Toyota GR86

The Toyota GR86 is a sports coupe built for driving enthusiasts more than for luxury. Despite being a niche model, it ranks first among Toyotas for five-year value retention, holding about 75.1% of its original value. Its appeal comes from low mileage expectations, a loyal fanbase, and a relatively simple, lightweight design (fewer electronics to break or become outdated). If you’re okay with a smaller interior and less utility, the GR86 gives excitement without the usual heavy depreciation of sports cars.

7. Toyota 4Runner

The Toyota 4Runner is built for ruggedness: off-road use, reliability, and strong resale value. It consistently performs well in value retention rankings, especially in the SUV category. Its boxy design and powerful build mean fewer surprises, and those who wrap them tend to keep them long term. If you want an SUV that won’t bleed value fast, the 4Runner is a safe bet.

8. Toyota Highlander (Non-Hybrid)

The non-hybrid Toyota Highlander also represents a strong value holder in Toyota’s lineup. Its five-year resale value is nearly 61.9%, putting it above many crossovers in the same class. It offers three rows of seating, safety features, and the reliability people expect from Toyota, without paying extra for hybrid tech (which can complicate things). For many buyers, the Highlander hits a sweet spot: decent utility, less depreciation, and the Toyota reliability stamp.

What This Tells Us About Smart Car Buying

Choosing a vehicle based on reputation alone can cost you in the long run—especially with depreciation. The examples above show that even among Toyotas, some models drop quickly while others hold strong. If minimizing depreciation is part of your car-buying criteria, prioritize models like the Tacoma, GR86, 4Runner, or Highlander (non-hybrid). And be cautious with models like the Avalon Hybrid, Venza, Sienna, or older Camrys, where depreciation bites harder. Doing your homework—checking resale values, reading owner reports, and understanding what drives demand—can save you thousands.

Which Toyota model has dropped in value faster than you expected—or which one surprised you by holding its value well? Drop the model and your experience in the comments!

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