With all the ups and downs car buyers have been through in recent years, a new dynamic is at play: some used cars are now costing more than they do brand new.
As previously reported in The Dallas Express, the United States has been going through somewhat of a car shortage as a result of global logistical disruptions and production shutdowns in China due to the country’s “zero-COVID” policy. This drove up used car prices by significant margins.
Late last year, those prices finally started to fall, causing some damage to companies like Carvana, The Dallas Express reported. Still, some of the fluctuations in the market have made sticker price look like a pretty fair deal.
A study conducted by iSeeCars identified the “top 14” automobiles that are more expensive when slightly used than new off the lot, noting that the price differential nationwide is roughly 8.1% on average, amounting to about $3,701.
| Top 14 Cars More Expensive Lightly Used vs. New – iSeeCars Study | ||||
| Rank (by Percentage) | Model | % Difference Used Over New | $ Difference Used Over New | Used Price |
| 1 | Ford Maverick | 12.3% | $4,038 | $36,777 |
| 2 | Toyota Corolla Hybrid | 7.9% | $2,038 | $27,809 |
| 3 | Mercedes-Benz G-Class | 4.6% | $8,633 | $196,228 |
| 4 | Toyota Sienna | 3.7% | $1,806 | $50,978 |
| 5 | Toyota RAV4 Prime | 3.5% | $1,726 | $51,298 |
| 6 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 2.9% | $853 | $30,636 |
| 7 | Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | 2.4% | $953 | $40,045 |
| 8 | Kia Carnival | 2.2% | $916 | $42,025 |
| 9 | Ford Bronco | 1.7% | $901 | $55,372 |
| 10 | Honda Civic (hatchback) | 1.0% | $297 | $29,683 |
| 11 | Honda Accord Hybrid | 0.4% | $152 | $34,704 |
| 12 | Chevrolet Corvette | 0.4% | $324 | $84,827 |
| 13 | Kia Rio | 0.1% | $27 | $20,135 |
| 14 | Honda Accord | 0.1% | $16 | $30,404 |
| Overall Average | -8.1% | -$3,701 | $41,812 | |
No.1 on iSeeCars’ top 14 is the Ford Maverick, which costs consumers on average $4,038 more when it is slightly used, a 12.3% bump that brings the used car’s average price to $36,777.
The Ford Maverick also tops the charts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for the greatest markup from its brand new price to its used price, with a price differential of $4,430, costing about 13.3% more used.
According to the study, the Ford Maverick is also the top car in Houston and San Antonio. Austin’s, however, is the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, which costs 15.4% more slightly used than new, an increase of roughly $5,748.
iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer made some observations regarding the 14 vehicles the study spotlighted, saying, “All of these models have been on the market for over [two] years, and are facing a growing list of newer EVs that offer improved features or longer ranges.”
Still, these cars appear to be more of an exception in terms of the used car market, with the study noting:
“Used car prices have consistently moved lower over the past year, representing a growing opportunity for shoppers who have been waiting for values to drop. While average used car prices remain well above pre-pandemic levels, some models have declined far enough to represent a solid value and excellent buying opportunities.”