The Honda Premium Comes Back to You — When It's Time to Sell

© A. Krivonosov

Honda remains one of the strongest brands when it comes to retained value. According to CarEdge, the brand's cars keep an average of 60.5% of their original price after five years. That places Honda third among all brands, right alongside Toyota and Subaru.

The best performers among popular models are the Civic and CR-V: both shed only about 29% of their value over five years. The Civic's projected resale price is $19,528, and the CR-V's is $27,069. For mainstream cars that's an impressive result — over the same period most vehicles typically lose 50–60% of their value.

The HR-V also holds firm: down 31% over five years, with a residual value of around $20,988. The Accord and Ridgeline each lose 36%, yet they stay appealing on the used market thanks to their practicality, dependable engineering and straightforward servicing.

The reason is simple: people buy Honda not for rarity but for trouble-free ownership. The Civic is chosen as an affordable, economical everyday car, the CR-V as a family crossover, the HR-V as an accessible urban SUV, and the Accord as an alternative to crossovers for those who want better handling. The Ridgeline holds up thanks to its unusual format: a pickup with the comfort of a passenger car.

For the buyer, the key takeaway is practical. A Honda may not be cheaper than its rivals at purchase, but part of that premium comes back when you sell. In a market where new-car prices keep rising, that's no longer a trifle — it's real savings on ownership.