10 Electric Vehicles with the Best Resale Value

2018 Tesla Model S ・ Photo by Tesla

The electric vehicles with the best resale value have much in common with their gas-powered counterparts. In both cases, popular and reliable cars with more premium content will be worth more money in the used-car marketplace than vehicles with less demand, worse dependability ratings, and fewer features. So all that goes into today’s gallery.

But EVs add exclusive efficiency benefits that set them apart from traditional cars and hybrids alike. We’ve got some serious long-distance runners as well, with the leader providing more than three times the range you get from the EV here with the shortest driving limit. Needless to say, there’s a positive correlation between range and retained value. You can probably guess the brand leading the way, too. Here are 10 electric vehicles with the best resale value.

2019 Tesla Model S

Tesla is the EV leader in a lot of departments, so it should be no surprise that the brand offers the most electric vehicles with the best resale value. Consider the Tesla Model S: It’s packed with advanced technologies that people are willing to pay for in the pre-owned marketplace, from a 17-inch touchscreen to the AutoPilot driver-assistance package.

The Model S also takes advantage of its advanced connectivity so that Tesla can make running updates to key vehicle systems using Wi-Fi. That way, you can keep getting those updates even with a pre-owned model. The car’s robust all-electric driving range is another important factor that drives up resale value. Some models can go up to 335 miles on a single charge.

Photo by Tesla

2019 Tesla Model X

Tesla’s electric vehicles with the best resale value also include the 2019 Tesla Model X. In fact, there’s reason to believe the Model X may retain its value even better than the Model S. This is because the Model X taps into the increasing demand for SUVs. Just remember that the rising tide of resale value for SUVs doesn’t lift all boats to the same heights.

A recent study showed the Model X held up better against depreciation than sport-utility vehicles like the Cadillac Escalade or Mercedes-Benz GLS. Speaking of boats, the Model X also is SUV enough to pull a small one, thanks to a 5,000-pound tow rating. You also can cruise for an EPA-certified 295 miles before needing to charge up the Model X.

Photo by Tesla

2019 Tesla Model 3

If you’re shopping for the compact electric vehicles with the best resale value, Tesla can deliver one of those, too. The 2019 Tesla Model 3 also has been recognized for its low depreciation rates, and its sky-high efficiency ratings. Indeed, the Model 3 literally is the most efficient Tesla for 2019. It boasts EPA ratings of up to 136 MPGe city/123 MPGe highway/130 MPGe combined, and this is complemented by a single-charge driving range of 310 miles.

And as with our earlier Tesla entries, the demand for the Model 3 isn’t likely to be a passing fancy. The car offers too many of Tesla’s additional benefits for that, starting with the ability for second owners (and successive buyers) to continue receiving wireless system updates.

Photo by Tesla

2019 Jaguar I-Pace

You might be surprised to see a Jaguar among our electric vehicles with the best resale value. After all, Jaguars in general are known for their quick rates of depreciation. The 2019 Jaguar I-PACE, however, starts at nearly $70,000. That means even if the I-Pace loses a relatively high percentage of its value, it can still be worth more than pre-owned EVs from the mainstream brands.

Further, you'll enjoy plenty of premium features for the Jaguar’s premium MSRP. The I-Pace comes standard with a dual-touchscreen infotainment system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, and mobile Wi-Fi, while a luxurious leather cabin is optional. The electric Jag also blends a 234-mile range with a jolt of performance: It can sprint from 0-60 in 4.5 seconds.

Photo by Jaguar

2019 Chevrolet Bolt

The mainstream electric vehicles with the best resale value include the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt. Alphabetically speaking, the Bolt actually leads a series of four consecutive EVs with similar pricing, similar ranges, and similar reliability scores in the most recent J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability study.

The Bolt also boasts standard technology like a 10.2-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. Options range from mobile Wi-Fi to a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features. The Bolt’s powertrain, which produces 200 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, is both efficient and fun for driving. The setup is good for up to 238 miles of all-electric driving in normal conditions. When you feel the need for speed, the Bolt can reach 60 mph in a mere 6.5 seconds.

Photo by General Motors

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric

The 2019 Hyundai Kona comes next on our list of electric vehicles with the best resale value. If you’re shopping for one, though, you will have to specify that you’re interested in the Kona Electric. Hyundai also sells gas-powered Kona models that share many of the EV’s advantages, but not the most important one: The Kona Electric can supply 258 miles of driving on a full charge.

Beyond that range, Hyundai helps its cause for resale value with a lifetime battery warranty and the company’s continued strong showings in third-party dependability studies. Nor is there any shortage of content, since the car brings many standard technologies that will remain popular with used-car buyers. Leading the way are automatic forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and pedestrian detection.

Photo by Hyundai

2019 Kia Niro EV

True, the Hyundai and Kia brands are owned by the same company, and their vehicles can be quite similar under the skin. Yet Kia has had an even better record of reliability in recent years, earning top ratings from the likes of CNN, J.D. Power, and the UK’s Daily Telegraph. This helps explain why the 2019 Kia Niro EV has a spot in our gallery of electric vehicles with the best resale value.

Kia also provides the kind of range and equipment that customers are looking for in a pre-owned electric vehicle. The Niro EV allows you to travel up to 239 miles on a full battery, and it’s available with a pretty impressive array of luxury features, like Harman Kardon audio and LED headlights.

Photo by Kia

2019 Nissan Leaf

The electric vehicles with the best resale value have to combine reliability, range, and other relevant technologies, just like the 2019 Nissan LEAF. First off, Nissan has been successfully selling its EVs for nearly a decade now, which means the company has had plenty of time to get things right. The 2019 Leaf also checks in with a single-charge driving range of up 226 miles.

Nissan then advances that driving experience with its cutting-edge ProPILOT Assist package. With this technology, the Leaf offers the sort of highway-based driver assistance you’d expect from much more expensive EVs. Nissan seals the deal with its innovative e-Pedal system that lets you drive using only the gas pedal. When you want to stop, merely lifting your foot off the accelerator activates the brakes.

Photo by Nissan

2019 BMW i3

We put a major focus on range when determining the electric vehicles with the best resale value, so the 2019 BMW i3 is down toward the bottom of our rankings despite its many upscale touches. We certainly love the i3’s exotic cabin, which is available with unbleached eucalyptus-wood trim and supple leather upholstery. The car also lives up to BMW’s reputation for both leading-edge technology and rear-wheel-drive performance. Highlights include mobile Wi-Fi, LED exterior lighting, the company’s Active Driving Assistant, and a 0-60 time as low as 6.8 seconds.

The thing is, the i3’s range tops out at 153 miles. It’s more than enough for typical daily driving, but well behind what you get from many of the previous EVs we discussed.

Photo by BMW

2019 Volkswagen e-Golf

The same range concerns affect our last entry. Per the EPA, the range of the 2019 Volkswagen e-Golf is 125 miles. That’s fairly low if you’re interested in the electric vehicles with the best resale value. The good news is the car can out-distance rivals such as the Honda Clarity Electric, Hyundai Ioniq Electric, and Kia Soul EV. The e-Golf also borrows the XDS Cross Differential System from the GTI hot hatch, so it’s like an electric carving knife that’s meant for carving corners.

On the premium front, the e-Golf can be equipped with the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit that replaces the car’s conventional instrument panel with a high-resolution 12.3-inch reconfigurable display screen. Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and heated front seats are just a few of its standard features.

Photo by Volkswagen