Electric, hybrid, diesel, or gasoline: this is the car that depreciates the least three years after its first registration.

At Automobile 2025 , the Barcelona Motor Show, many visitors were as fascinated by the new models presented by manufacturers as they were bewildered by the variety of technologies currently on the market. The range of technologies available to drivers continues to grow. While years ago, the choice was limited to gasoline or diesel, today the offer is so wide that many drivers confess to being unsure of which engine type is best for them.

Much of the discussion at the stands revolved around which type of vehicle is "most convenient," not only in terms of fuel consumption or environmental performance , but also its long-term value. While the old saying that a car begins to depreciate as soon as it leaves the dealership is true, some engine variants hold their value surprisingly well over the years.

But how do you know which type of car best withstands the test of time in economic terms? Beyond intuition or personal opinions, there are tools that allow you to objectively measure a vehicle's depreciation. One of the most widely used in the sector is the GANVAM-DAT index, the official benchmark used by sellers, finance companies, insurers, and public administrations to calculate the value of used vehicles.

The GANVAM-DAT index is the official reference for calculating the value of used vehicles.

Based on this, GANVAM (National Association of Dealers and Repairers) has prepared a report comparing the loss in value of major motor vehicles three years after registration.

According to the analysis, non-plug-in hybrids are currently the vehicles that best retain their value over time. This engine, which has gained prominence in the market and already accounts for 37% of registrations in the first quarter (six points more than a year ago), is experiencing more moderate depreciation than the rest.

Gasoline cars are still the most popular choice, but they are not the ones that best resist depreciation over time.

With an estimated 60,000 kilometers of use after three years of use, these models retain more than 70% of their original price. In comparison, gasoline-powered models—which remain a popular choice—retain 67% of their original value, with an average price of around €16,200 on the used market.

Diesel, which has been losing ground in dealerships and accounts for only 18.5% of recent registrations, suffers a slightly greater loss of value. After three years and 90,000 kilometers, its residual value stands at 65%.

Electrified vehicles

As for electrified options, the results are mixed. Although their resale price has not yet matched that of conventional engines, the trend is upward. Plug-in hybrids , for example, retain 61% of their value 36 months after leaving the dealership.

In pure electric vehicles, the percentage drops to 50%, although the battery warranty helps contain depreciation in a segment where technological advances are occurring at a rapid pace.

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For Fernando Miguélez, CEO of GANVAM, the fact that electrified electric vehicles are holding their value better than expected "turns the secondhand market into a lever for accelerating fleet decarbonization." According to the executive, this circumstance is opening the door for "those with tighter budgets to access a modern electric model from fleets with all the guarantees."