Several 2010s luxury cars lost more than two-thirds of their value within five years. The clearest documented example is a specific historical cohort: 2014 model-year cars sold new in 2014 and traded as used vehicles in 2019. In that comparison, the Maserati Quattroporte lost 72.2% of its inflation-adjusted new price, while the BMW 7 Series lost 71.3%.
Those figures explain why a former six-figure sedan could have a used-market average near $30,000–$37,000 in 2019. They do not tell you what a particular 2010s car costs in 2026. Mileage, trim, condition, service history, region and accident record can move an individual listing far above or below a historical average, so use this list to identify depreciation patterns—not as a current price guide.
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What the historical list actually measures
The ranking below comes from a 2019 24/7 Wall St. report that used iSeeCars data. iSeeCars compared nearly 7 million 2014 model-year vehicles sold new in 2014 with more than 800,000 used examples of those same model years sold from January through October 2019. New-vehicle prices were adjusted to 2019 dollars using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The resulting percentages describe average depreciation over that five-year interval.
In other words, the table compares a group of cars, not an appraisal of one vehicle. The 2019 used prices are historical averages, not current asking prices. They are useful for showing which nameplates shed value quickly and how percentage loss differs from dollar loss.
The underlying value-retention study is available from iSeeCars. Body-style descriptions are included only to make the vehicles easier to place in the market.
The 10 high-end cars with the sharpest documented losses
| Model | Body style and market position | Five-year depreciation (2014–2019 cohort) |
Average dollar loss | Average used price in 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maserati Quattroporte | Full-size luxury sedan | 72.2% | $97,178 | $37,404 |
| BMW 7 Series | Full-size luxury sedan | 71.3% | $75,550 | $30,465 |
| Jaguar XJL | Long-wheelbase luxury sedan | 68.9% | $66,879 | $30,139 |
| BMW 6 Series | Grand-touring coupe or convertible | 69.0% | $69,524 | $31,260 |
| BMW 5 Series | Midsize executive sedan | 69.2% | $44,673 | $19,902 |
| Acura RLX | Large luxury sedan | 69.2% | $42,913 | $19,090 |
| Mercedes-Benz CLS | Four-door luxury coupe | 66.6% | $59,369 | $29,732 |
| Cadillac CTS | Executive sedan | 66.8% | $40,031 | $19,862 |
| Audi A6 | Executive sedan | 66.8% | $42,187 | $20,976 |
| Jaguar XF | Executive sedan | 67.8% | $43,084 | $20,434 |
Source and scope: averages for 2014 model-year vehicles sold new in 2014 and sold used during January–October 2019. Prices are 2019 dollars and should not be read as 2026 values.
What each model’s depreciation profile tells a buyer
Maserati Quattroporte
The Quattroporte recorded the largest percentage and dollar loss in this cohort. A full-size Italian luxury sedan starts with a high original transaction price, so even a similar percentage decline produces an unusually large cash loss. The historical used average shows how quickly a prestige flagship can move into the price range of ordinary newer cars.
BMW 7 Series
The 7 Series is the classic example of a flagship sedan becoming attainable after its first owner absorbs the steepest drop. Its historical loss exceeded 70%, yet the used average was far below the new-car price. Buyers should distinguish that purchase discount from ownership affordability: a lower entry price does not erase the cost of maintaining a complex flagship.
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Jaguar XJL
The long-wheelbase XJL offered limousine-like rear-seat space and premium equipment. Its position near the top of the list indicates that buyers of an older example may obtain substantial size and luxury for relatively little upfront money, provided they verify condition and documentation carefully.
BMW 6 Series
The 6 Series occupied a more specialized grand-touring niche than the 5 or 7 Series. Coupes and convertibles can have narrower used-buyer demand than mainstream sedans, which helps explain why an expensive new car can become a comparatively inexpensive used one. Equipment, body configuration and drivetrain should be matched closely when comparing listings.
BMW 5 Series
The 5 Series lost a similar percentage to several larger cars but a smaller dollar amount because it began at a lower price point. That combination made it one of the least expensive entries in the historical table while retaining the technology and performance expectations of an executive sedan.
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Acura RLX
The RLX demonstrates that heavy depreciation was not limited to European or Italian badges. Its large-sedan format and lower original price produced a smaller dollar loss than the flagships, while the percentage decline still approached 70%. A buyer should compare the exact powertrain, safety equipment and service records rather than assume every RLX has the same value.
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Mercedes-Benz CLS
The CLS blended sedan practicality with a coupe-like roofline and premium positioning. Its historical loss was less severe in percentage terms than the first six entries but still large enough to put a high-end four-door within reach of used-car shoppers. A thorough inspection is especially important for expensive body and interior components.
Cadillac CTS
The CTS shows how quickly an American executive sedan could depreciate alongside imported rivals. Its historical used average fell below $20,000, illustrating the difference between a luxury car’s original market position and its later transaction price.
Audi A6
The A6 was another midsize executive sedan whose technology and premium equipment depreciated rapidly. The historical average sits close to the other sub-$21,000 entries, but individual cars can differ materially by engine, all-wheel-drive configuration, options and maintenance records.
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The XF rounded out the list with a loss above two-thirds of its original value. It offers a way to enter a distinctive luxury sedan at a historically low fraction of its new price, but the same due-diligence rules apply as with every older premium vehicle: document the service history and budget for specialist repairs before buying.
Rank #4
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Percentage loss and dollar loss answer different questions
Depreciation percentage measures how much of the original value disappeared. Dollar loss measures the cash amount lost. The Quattroporte ranked first on both measures in the historical comparison, but that will not always happen. A less expensive luxury sedan can lose nearly the same percentage while costing its first owner fewer dollars.
For a used buyer, the percentage is a warning about resale risk and market demand. The dollar loss explains why high-end cars can become affordable so quickly. Neither figure predicts a specific vehicle’s current selling price. To estimate that, compare cars with the same model year, engine, drivetrain, trim, mileage, condition, location and documentation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What newer data says—and why it must stay separate
A separate iSeeCars analysis of more than 800,000 five-year-old used cars sold from March 2024 through February 2025 found average five-year depreciation of 45.6% across all vehicles. Its newer high-depreciation list put the BMW 7 Series at 67.1% depreciation and a $65,249 average loss, while the Maserati Ghibli recorded 64.7% and a $70,874 average loss. Those are results for a different, newer vehicle cohort; they are not 2010s model-year asking prices.
AAA’s summary of that study reported that luxury SUVs lost nearly 56% and luxury sedans nearly 55% over five years. iSeeCars executive analyst Karl Brauer explained the demand side this way: “Used buyers are much more bottom-line practical. They don’t have the means or mentality to waste that kind of money.” The implication is that expensive luxury features may be valuable when new but less valuable to secondhand shoppers who prioritize total cost.
Best Value
- Used luxury sedans suffer from some of the harshest depreciation on the automotive searching for an affordable second-hand premium car.
- View the best used luxury large cars priced under .Then read our used car reviews, compare specs and features, and find used luxury large cars.
Model-level estimates provide additional long-term context, but they are not guarantees for a specific car. iSeeCars currently estimates BMW 7 Series depreciation at 60.6% after five years, 72.1% after seven years and 81.8% after ten years on its BMW 7 Series resale-value page. Comparable estimates are 57.7%, 68.4% and 81.2% for the Audi A8 L on its Audi A8 L page, and 55.3%, 67.3% and 78.9% for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class on its Mercedes-Benz S-Class page. Treat these as broad model estimates, not a valuation of a particular 2010s example.
Why a low purchase price is not a low ownership cost
Depreciation tells you what the market is willing to pay, not what it costs to keep the car on the road. A former flagship can still have complex electronics, adaptive suspension, powerful engines, specialized tires and expensive body or interior parts. The sources identify maintenance expense as a factor in resale decisions, but they do not establish a comparable present-day repair-cost ranking for these ten models.
Before treating any listing as a bargain, price routine service, likely wear items, insurance, registration and an emergency repair reserve. Ask whether an independent specialist near you can diagnose the vehicle and obtain parts. A purchase that consumes the entire budget leaves no margin for the ownership costs that helped drive depreciation in the first place.
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- Set a total-cost ceiling. Decide how much cash must remain after purchase for inspection, taxes, registration, insurance and repairs. Do not use the historical 2019 averages as your ceiling.
- Filter comparable listings. Search by exact model year, trim, engine, drivetrain, body style and mileage. Compare at least several vehicles in the same region because supply and local demand affect prices.
- Demand documentation. Look for complete maintenance invoices, title history, inspection records and evidence that scheduled services were performed. Gaps are a reason to reduce your offer or walk away.
- Order a vehicle-history report. A history report can reveal reported accidents, title events, mileage discrepancies and ownership changes. iSeeCars provides a vehicle-history report service at iseecars.com/car-history-report; verify the report’s coverage and terms before purchasing.
- Arrange an independent pre-purchase inspection. Use a shop that knows the make and can scan electronic systems, inspect suspension and drivetrain components, check for leaks and assess tires and brakes. A seller’s inspection is not a substitute for an independent one.
- Verify expensive systems in operation. Test climate control, navigation, cameras, seat functions, windows, lighting, driver-assistance features and every warning-light cycle. Repairing a single luxury feature can change the economics of a cheap car.
- Get written repair estimates. If the inspection identifies deferred work, obtain parts-and-labor prices before negotiating. Subtract immediate repairs from the maximum price you are willing to pay.
- Plan the exit. Keep service records and address problems promptly. A well-documented car is easier to sell than one with an unexplained history, even in a model known for rapid depreciation.
A practical decision framework
- Choose the sedan that fits your budget. The 5 Series, RLX, CTS and XF had the lowest historical used averages in this group, but a lower sticker price does not guarantee lower repair bills.
- Choose the flagship experience deliberately. The Quattroporte, 7 Series, XJL and CLS deliver larger-car presence or specialized styling at a historically steep discount, while exposing you to more complex systems and potentially higher running costs.
- Choose the 6 Series for its body style, not its discount alone. A grand-touring coupe or convertible has different practicality, insurance and demand characteristics from a sedan.
- Reject the cheapest bad example. A documented, inspected car with a higher asking price can be less expensive than a neglected bargain after immediate repairs.
What “affordable” means in this list
Here, affordable means that depreciation historically pushed a high-end car into a much lower used-price bracket than its original status would suggest. It does not mean the car is inexpensive to service, insure or resell. Because the documented prices stop in 2019, anyone shopping now must check live listings and adjust for model year, mileage, trim, condition and region.
Quick Recap
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