If you are in the market for a KIA SUV, resale value is likely to be a major topic of discussion.
After all, no one wants to be left holding the bag for a vehicle that rapidly depreciates in value.
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That’s why this guide is here to help. To learn more about whether KIA SUVs hold their value well, please be sure to check out all of the information that we have to provide.
The 10 Kia SUV Models: A Closer Examination
With a whopping 10 KIA SUV models to choose from, there is no shortage of questions that are going to be asked.
Fortunately, we are here to help our readers make sense of it all.
The time has come for us to take a closer look at each of them, so that prospective buyers are able to make the most informed decision possible.
Kia Telluride
The KIA Telluride is an astonishing model, as it holds it value incredibly well over the course of time.
In fact, motorists are regularly stunned to learn that a used KIA Telluride can hold as much value as a new one, if not more.
So why is this the case?
The reason is a simple one: there is a very high demand for these vehicles at all times. Also, the Kia Telluride is known for lasting a long time.
It does not seem to be subsiding anytime soon, either. The Telluride is not necessarily known for its reliability but that does not make it any less popular with today’s consumer.
For the time being, the Telluride is expected to maintain a high resale value, so there should be no concerns for those who are making a purchase in the near future.
Kia Seltos
Studies have shown that the KIA Seltos holds its resale value very well.
The primary reasons probably being that the Kia Seltos models last a long time.
As one of the most successful Kia products, the demand is quite high.
Since the waiting period for Seltos ownership is currently very long and there have been numerous price hikes, this has allowed the market for pre-owned KIA Seltos to thrive.
Even in the used market, the demand for these vehicles remains high. Currently, these SUVs are expected to retain a high resale value and owners do not have to worry about a high level of depreciation over the long haul.
In fact, some owners have been able to ask for a premium rate, even when they are selling a used KIA Seltos.
KIA XCeed
While the Xceed is considered to be more of a pseudo-SUV than many of the other options, that has not stopped this model from gaining in popularity.
The Xceed comes at a much higher price than the standard Ceed, which has a number of motorists wondering if these vehicles will retain a high resale value over the long haul.
With a lengthy warranty (seven years/100,000 miles) and a high safety rating, it is easy to see why the Xceed is able to maintain such a high resale value. Their sterling reputation as a family-oriented vehicle also contributes to their added popularity.
All it takes is a quick search of any used car sales site to see how well its value holds up.
KIA Sportage
The KIA Sportage will hold onto the vast majority of its value, as you can project that this SUV model will still retain over 70% of its original value after five years of ownership.
Assuming a selling price of roughly $33,000 when new, the Sportage should be able to fetch a price of at least $23,000 for an owner who attempts to sell after five years.
Meanwhile, the Sportage is known for retaining nearly half of its resale value even after the ten-year mark.
The Kia Sportage models last long which is also why they are popular on the used car market.
Assuming the same selling price as above, the Sportage can still be sold for a price of at least $15,795 after a decade of ownership, providing great value for owners who are looking to cash in their chips eventually.
KIA Sorento
While the KIA Sorento may not maintain the same resale value as some of the other models on this list, that does not make it a lesser investment.
After 5 years, the KIA Sorento will have retained roughly 60% of its original value. The five-year resale value is pegged at $24,500, which assumes an asking price of around $40,000 if it is purchased brand new.
These prices also assume that the vehicle is in good condition and that it has been driven a typical amount.
Like the other Kia SUVs, the Kia Sorento is very durable and lasts long.
If the vehicle is being driven more than 12,000 miles per year, this can have an adverse effect on the Sportage’s resale value.
KIA Niro
The KIA Niro is expected to hold onto a significant chunk of its resale value, according to the projections of the experts.
Many vehicles depreciate greatly within the first year and the KIA Niro loses only around 5-7% of its resale value during the same time period.
These projections hold up over the following years as well.
After 5 years, the KIA Niro will only have depreciated by 35% in total.
We have numbers here on how long the Kia Niro is expected to last.
As with the Sportage, these figures are based on the idea that the vehicle will be kept in good condition for the duration of its lifespan. The Niro will also maintain these resale value figures as long as the vehicle is not being driven over 12,000 miles per year.
You should also find out why the Kia Niro is among the compact hybrid SUVs people really love.
KIA EV6
As KIA’s entry into the world of electric-powered SUVs, the EV6 is already at the forefront of the resale value conversation.
Unlike the other SUVs on this list, the EV6 shows potential for more depreciation and there is a wide range of reasons for this issue.
While no one has a crystal ball that allows them to make exact predictions, there are reasons to be less than bullish on EVs in general.
Early on, the EV was almost guaranteed to hold onto its resale value. That’s because availability was nowhere near where it is today. As availability increases, the EV6 and other vehicles of its kind will depreciate even more rapidly, so this is something to bear in mind before making any final decisions.
We have more here on why electric cars depreciate more quickly.
KIA Stonic
The depreciation of the KIA Stonic is a bit more noteworthy than some of the other SUVs on this list, as many buyers will simply opt for a new or pre-registered model to avoid these types of concerns.
That does not mean that the Stonic struggles to attract used buyers, though.
KIA’s long-term warranties make the Stonic an especially good buy for those who are looking for a certain level of reliability.
In many instances, used buyers will still be able to take full advantage of the original seven-year warranty that KIA has to offer.
KIA Borrego
There is less to be said about these vehicles from a resale value standpoint because they are not being offered too many places in the United States at the moment.
Unless you are currently residing in South Korea, the Borrego (konwn as “Mohave” too) is not going to be made available to you.
To learn more about these vehicles and why they are so desired by drivers on the side of the pond, this primer is here to help.
KIA Stonic GT-Line
The depreciation of the Stonic GT-Line echoes the same concerns as the Stonic itself, but that does not make the used market any less robust.
The seven-year warranty is a major plus that provides peace of mind for Stonic GT-Line buyers.
New and pre-registered models also remain popular, as there is less to be gained by waiting a few years.
How Do Kia SUVs Depreciate Compared To Other Car Brands?
We previously looked at how fast Ford SUVs depreciate and we’ve also touched on how fast Hyundai SUVs start losing value.
Overall, these big car brands hold their value well – also as SUVs are becoming more and more popular among the general population.
It’s easy to get a good deal on a used SUV nowadays as new vehicles are in short supply.
3 Helpful Pointers For Reducing Depreciation
As one of the largest costs that are associated with vehicle ownership, it is easy to see why motorists would want to reduce the level of depreciation that they experience.
An oft-cited statistic claims that vehicles lose at least 20% of their value as soon as they are driven off the lot.
Let’s take a closer look at how we can stem the tide.
#1 Lease or Buy Used
One of the easiest ways to steer clear of depreciation is by purchasing used vehicles or leasing instead.
Many vehicles will lose up to 30% of their value within the first year that they are purchased.
By taking the time to make this type of purchase instead, you are passing off the costs of inflation onto the previous owner, as opposed to taking them on yourself.
Those who choose to lease will often end up with a great deal when the vehicle’s resale value is higher than the price of the buyout when it comes time to turn it in.
#2 Do Your Homework
Resale values are not something that is decided on overnight.
If you take the time to research previous resale values, it is much easier to figure out what the vehicle is going to be worth within three years or even five.
Kelly Blue Book can give you a great idea of what the vehicle in question will fetch from a resale standpoint. With their help, you can avoid all of the usual pitfalls as far as low resale values are concerned.
#3 Choose The Best Make and Model
There are certain makes and models that should be avoided.
If you do not take the time to choose a model that will retain its value, you are placing yourself in a more difficult position when it comes time to resell.
In most instances, models that are known for high gas mileage, overall reliability and decreased running costs are always going to age well from a resale point of view.
The same goes for makes and models that are given high safety ratings. All of these factors allow for a much higher resale value over the long haul.
