Maintaining your vehicle’s value isn’t just about pride of ownership, here in North Carolina, it directly affects your ability to recover financial losses after a collision. As an appraiser with more than two decades in this industry, I’ve seen how a car’s natural depreciation, combined with accident-related diminished value, can significantly impact long-term equity.
The latest analysis from U.S. News offers a clear picture of which 2022 models lose the least value over their first three years. For anyone navigating insurance claims, shopping for a car, or planning long-term ownership, this data matters.
Below, we break down the findings, and add expert insights from the North Carolina appraisal side of things.
Key Takeaways (with Expert NC Insight)
- Japanese manufacturers, especially Toyota, dominate resale value.
This has always been consistent in our North Carolina market. Toyota models hold strong even when they’ve been in an accident, which often results in higher diminished value payouts for owners because insurers know these vehicles have stronger market demand. - The Ford Mustang is the only American model in the top group.
The Mustang retains value largely because it’s an icon, not just a car. In NC, Mustangs also have a strong resale audience, which sometimes reduces how aggressively insurers try to minimize DV claims for them. - Small depreciation drops translate to major long-term savings.
Even a 3%–6% difference in natural depreciation makes a major impact when combined with post-accident diminished value. Cars that naturally hold value tend to experience more significant financial losses when damaged, which strengthens DV claims.
Methodology
U.S. News evaluated 2022 model-year vehicles by:
- Calculating the average of their high and low original MSRPs
- Comparing those numbers to the high and low average resale prices from Chrome Data
- Measuring total dollar loss and percentage loss over three years
While the methodology is national, the ranking aligns closely with what we observe here in North Carolina auctions, dealer wholesale markets, and retail channels.
Three-Year Depreciation Rankings (2022 Models)
| Rank | Brand | Model | Avg 3-Yr Depreciation (%) | Avg Difference from MSRP ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota | Corolla Cross | -2.63% | -$662 |
| 2 | Toyota | 4Runner | -4.85% | -$2,209 |
| 3 | Toyota | C-HR | -4.89% | -$1,260 |
| 4 | Subaru | Crosstrek | -4.90% | -$1,277 |
| 5 | Toyota | Tacoma | -5.34% | -$2,040 |
| 6 | Ford | Mustang | -5.41% | -$2,822 |
| 7 | Nissan | Versa | -5.74% | -$993 |
| 8 | Toyota | Sienna | -5.80% | -$2,515 |
| 9 | Honda | Civic | -5.84% | -$1,536 |
| 10 | Toyota | RAV4 | -7.90% | -$2,524 |
| 11 | Kia | Rio | -8.49% | -$1,437 |
| 12 | Toyota | Corolla Hybrid | -8.63% | -$2,075 |
| 13 | Toyota | Corolla | -8.70% | -$2,137 |
| 14 | Toyota | RAV4 Hybrid | -8.84% | -$2,989 |
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/advice/cars-with-the-slowest-depreciation?onepage
How This Data Affects North Carolina Drivers
Depreciation isn’t just a financial curiosity, it plays a major role in post-accident loss calculations.
As an appraiser, here’s what I want North Carolina drivers to take away:
1. Strong resale vehicles experience higher diminished value after a crash.
Cars like the Corolla Cross, 4Runner, Tacoma, and Civic have tremendous resale demand in our state. But because buyers pay premiums for clean-history examples, any accident, even a “minor” one, causes a steeper financial hit.
This is why owners of high-retention vehicles often recover more in DV claims.
2. Hybrid and small-SUV markets are extremely competitive in NC.
Hybrids and compact SUVs sell fast in Charlotte, Raleigh, Wilmington, and the Triad. With strong market pressure, an accident on these models is more likely to scare buyers away, making the diminished value more measurable (and often higher).
3. Trucks in NC behave differently than trucks elsewhere.
The Toyota Tacoma’s strong ranking is no surprise. In the Carolinas, trucks suffer some of the highest DV percentages because truck buyers pay a premium for “clean, never damaged” vehicles.
When a truck has a collision history, we routinely see a 10–19% market deduction, even when repairs are perfect.
Final Thoughts from a Carolina Appraiser
This report confirms what we see every day in the North Carolina market:
- Toyotas dominate resale value
- Accident history always reduces equity
- High-retention vehicles lose the most when damaged
- And insurers rarely calculate that loss accurately without a formal appraisal
If your vehicle is on this list, or even if it isn’t, and you’ve been in an accident in NC, you almost certainly qualify for a diminished value claim.
And the sooner you act, the easier it is to document and prove that loss.
Get a Free Diminished Value Estimate (North Carolina Specialized)
Your insurance company won’t tell you how much value your car really lost, but we will.
Get a free, no-obligation diminished value estimate from a certified North Carolina appraiser with more than 20 years of experience:
👉 Start your free estimate here!
We’ll review your accident, your repairs, and your vehicle’s market position in North Carolina, and tell you exactly what your claim is worth before you negotiate.
