Which Midsize Sedan Has the Best Resale Value?

Anonymous

Residuals are primarily used by the leasing industry to predict resale value for use in determining lease costs, but they also closely align with actual resale values. The biggest chunk of what you pay for a lease is the difference between a vehicle’s value when it is new and what it is projected to be worth at the lease’s end.

The Subaru Legacy sedan came in second among 2013 midsize cars, and the Nissan Altima was third.

Residuals vary by specific model, but ALG predicts that a 2013 Accord LX sedan will retain 56 percent of its original value after three years and 48 percent after four years. The residuals for a Legacy 2.5i sedan are 55 percent after three years and 46 percent after four. For an Altima SV they are 54 percent after three years and 47 percent after four.

It’s no surprise that the Accord and Altima were among the top three; both were redesigned for 2013, and the freshest products tend to rank higher in ALG’s residual ratings. The Legacy’s second-place showing is surprising given that it was last redesigned for the 2010 model year. The Legacy placed ahead of fresher midsize cars such as the Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu (both redesigned for 2013) and the Toyota Camry and Volkswagen Passat (redesigned for 2012).

Related
Find Residual Values
What’s the Most Affordable Midsize Sedan?
Find the Right New Sedan