Ok, we all know that buying used cars offers incredible bang for our buck but when the topic goes to lightly used vehicles, then there are more parameters to consider before you put your name on the title.
According to a study from automotive research firm iSeeCars, the average new car costs 30.2 percent more than the one-year-old used version of the same model. However, certain models have been found to have a much closer price gap between new and lightly used in the market.
The study analyzed data from over 7 million new and used cars sold between August 2018 and January 2019, comparing the prices of new models to those of their lightly used equivalents.
The list with the top 10 cars to buy new instead of used includes seven SUVs, which thanks to their all-time high popularity scored a below-average price difference betwen new and lightly used examples.
The top spot goes to the Honda HR-V, which is just 10.5 percent more expensive new than an one-year old used example, at $2.260. The BMW X1 is ranked second with a 11.7 percent difference, followed by the Subaru Crosstrek with a 12.2 percent difference.
“Subcompacts are a rapidly growing segment because they strike the right balance of cargo room and other SUV perks while maintaining a price tag that is comparable to sedans,” said iSeeCars CEO Phong Ly. “Each are among the top models in their class,, and the demand could be driving up prices for lightly used versions of these subcompact SUVs.”
The Toyota Tacoma shined as the best-performing truck in the study, ranked at fifth place with a 12.3 percent difference, at $3,891. “The Toyota Tacoma is known for its reliability and durability, and because of the high demand for lightly-used pickups, it maintains most of its value in the used car marketplace,” said Ly.
The only passenger cars in the list are the sixth-ranked Honda Civic and the tenth-ranked Subaru Impreza. Despite the sales decline in the segment, demand for compact sedans is still there, especially from customers looking a more affordable vehicle.