A reliable car is important. Nobody likes breakdowns, and the cost of fixing problems quickly adds up. But if you’re planning to keep your car for the long haul, reliability is just one factor you need to consider. Depreciation can also hit your wallet if you decide to sell your car and find that its resale value is lower than that of a competitor model.

With that in mind, we compiled this list of the brands with both excellent predicted reliability and high resale value. We combined our analysis of resale values—based on millions of car listings and other data points—with the latest Consumer Reports reliability rankings for new and used cars for 2026.

Toyota has the best resale value

If you want high reliability and low depreciation, Toyota is the safest bet. It’s our top-ranked popular brand for resale value over three-year, five-year, and seven-year periods. Consumer Reports also ranked it number one for predicted new-car reliability with a score of 66 out of 100. Toyota was also ranked second for used-car reliability, behind only its Lexus luxury brand. The 4Runner was the highest-ranked Toyota model for new-car reliability, and also ranks in our top 10 for resale value after five years. If you’re buying used, this sterling resume will mean higher prices. But you’ll be getting a dependable car that holds its value.

Lexus leads the luxury market

Lexus is our top-ranked luxury for resale value after three, five, and seven years. It is also the top-ranked brand in Consumer Report’s used-car reliability rankings, and third in predicted reliability for new cars. In the latter ranking, it’s just six points behind parent brand Toyota. The highest-volume Lexus models share a lot of components with Toyota models, helping to imbue the luxury models with a similar level of reliability that in turn helps them hold their value better than rivals.

Honda is a close second

Honda shows strong resistance to depreciation with a bronze medal after three years and five years, and second place after seven years. Consumer Reports ranked it fourth in both used-car reliability and predicted reliability for new cars. That consistent performance came despite the new Honda Prologue scoring below average. More traditional Honda models like the Accord and Civic have long been go-to options for simple, reliable transportation while providing a little something extra for those who really care about driving.

Mazda resale values show improvement

Mazda resale values have improved recently, to the point where this Japanese automaker now ranks fourth over all three periods we analyze. Its performance in the Consumer Reports reliability rankings has been less consistent. Mazda placed third in the most recent used-car rankings, but dropped eight spots in new-car predicted reliability, from sixth to 14^th. That’s largely due to a split in predicted reliability between models that have been in production longer, like the Mazda 3 compact, and the newer CX-70 and CX-90 SUVs. Mazda still has a lot to offer if you avoid those models.

Subaru wins on total ownership costs

Subaru is our second-ranked brand for resale value after three years and five years, and the third-best after seven years. It did drop one spot in Consumer Reports’ predicted new-car reliability rankings this year, meaning it had to settle for second place behind Toyota. Predicted reliability does vary a bit by model, with the Impreza and Crosstrek getting high marks and the Forester and Ascent scoring just average. That might explain Subaru’s lower position (12^th) in Consumer Reports’ used-car rankings. If you live in an area where Subarus are popular—the Northeast, Northwest, or Colorado—resale values will be higher regardless of model.

Among popular car brands, Subaru has the overall lowest cost of ownership according to CarEdge. Only Fiat and Mitsubishi, which sell in much lower volumes, fare better.

Always Compare Total Cost of Ownership

Reliability and depreciation don’t always go together. For example, Ram does well compared to other mainstream brands in our resale-value rankings, but it’s near the bottom in Consumer Reports’ reliability rankings for 2026. Ideally, your next car purchase will embody both qualities. 

High resale value doesn’t make a trouble-prone vehicle any easier to live with, and steep depreciation can hurt the ownership-cost calculation even if a car is reliable. As this list shows, though, there’s plenty of crossover between reliability and value retention among popular and luxury car brands for 2026.

Whatever brand you choose, CarEdge can also help you get the best possible price with our buying tools. CarEdge Concierge handles the entire process for you, from finding the right vehicle to negotiating the best price. Prefer to do it yourself? CarEdge Pro gives you insider data and an AI agent to negotiate on your behalf. Either way, you’ll get a great deal on your next vehicle.