Depreciation is just part of car ownership. Horsepower sells. Big screens are very “in” right now. Zero-to-sixty times make for great headlines. But depreciation is the ever-present menace that robs joy from new car buyers. It’s the difference between a vehicle that feels expensive forever and one that ages into regret far faster than expected.
Most vehicles lose value as the ink dries on the paperwork. Five years later, many are worth half of what you paid, sometimes less. That’s normal. Expected, even. But a small group of vehicles is simply less affected. They bend the depreciation curve so hard it almost snaps, holding value with a stubbornness that feels unfair to those who bought something else. And sitting right there in plain sight, unbothered by trends or competition, is the Toyota Tacoma.
Not the flashiest truck. Not the biggest. Not the most powerful. And certainly not the most luxurious. It’s just a midsize pickup that holds its value better than anything else on the road.
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The Toyota Tacoma’s Resale Value, By the Numbers
Resale value is where Tacoma buyers can sit very assured that they made a good call. Look at five-year and ten-year depreciation data across the industry, and the pattern is plain. The Toyota Tacoma consistently ranks among the best vehicles in America for retained value, often losing less than 30 percent of its original MSRP after five years. Many competitors aren’t even close to numbers like that.
For instance, rivals like the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Frontier are all capable midsize trucks with similar performance numbers and comparable technology. Yet they depreciate faster, often much more of their value is lost over the same period. iSeeCars offers this list of the midsize trucks with the best resale value for 2025. Percentages represent the amount of value retained after five years with respect to the original MSRP.
- Toyota Tacoma: 73.7%
- Ford Ranger: 65.1%
- Jeep Gladiator: 64.6%
- GMC Canyon: 61.8%
- Nissan Frontier: 60.4%
- Chevrolet Colorado: 57.7%
- Honda Ridgline: 57.7%
These numbers reflect what anyone looking for a used Tacoma has seen in real life; that lightly used Tacomas sell for shockingly close to their original sticker price. It’s not uncommon to see three-year-old examples listed just a few thousand dollars below MSRP, especially in high-demand trims like TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro with low mileage. That kind of value retention is the result of demand that never lets up.
Demand Never Cools, Even When Supply Does
- Base Trim Engine
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2.4L I-FORCE I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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228 HP @6000 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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243 lb.-ft. @ 1600 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
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20/26/23 MPG
- Make
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Toyota
- Model
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Tacoma
- Segment
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Midsize Pickup Truck
The Tacoma’s resale strength starts with demand, and demand for this truck doesn’t behave normally. It stays hot in good economies and bad ones. It doesn’t dip when fuel prices spike. It doesn’t collapse when new generations arrive. New or used, there’s always a Tacoma buyer.
Part of that is the truck’s flexibility. A Tacoma can be a work truck on Monday, an overlanding rig on Friday, and a daily driver every day in between. It fits into city parking spots but still looks good caked in mud. That lifestyle versatility keeps buyers coming back, even when prices climb.
Regional demand plays a huge role too. In the West, Southwest, and Pacific Northwest, Tacomas are practically a cultural symbol. Off-road communities, outdoor recreation, and year-round truck-friendly weather keep resale prices elevated. But even in urban markets, the Tacoma is a major force on the used market because it’s one of the few trucks that doesn’t feel oversized or silly in the city.
Supply never quite seems to catch up either. Toyota intentionally doesn’t flood the market with incentives or fleet sales, which keeps used prices healthy. When buyers want a Tacoma, they usually have to pay for it. And they do.
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The Tacoma vs. Every Other Midsize Truck
On paper, the Tacoma shouldn’t dominate the resale conversation this completely. Many rivals offer more horsepower, smoother rides, higher towing capacity or newer technology. Some even undercut Toyota on price. But depreciation doesn’t really work like that.
Competitors depreciate faster for a few key reasons. Heavy incentives and aggressive lease deals push down resale values almost immediately. Fleet sales introduce large numbers of used trucks into the market at once, softening demand. Overproduction makes it easier for buyers to wait for discounts, which hurts long-term value. Not to discredit the Tacoma’s well-earned fanbase, but at least, this part of the equation is simple supply and demand.
The Tacoma’s production is controlled, incentives are modest, and fleet presence is minimal. That scarcity keeps values high, but brand equity does the real heavy lifting. Buyers trust the Tacoma nameplate in a way that few vehicles enjoy. It exists outside of marketing and hype; the Tacoma’s reputation speaks for itself. When shoppers compare midsize trucks on the used market, the Tacoma often becomes the default choice, even if it costs more. That willingness to pay a premium is what keeps depreciation in check year after year.
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Even High-Mileage Tacomas Hold Their Ground
Here’s where the Tacoma really separates itself. Mileage scares buyers away from most vehicles. Cross 100,000 miles, and values tend to fall off a cliff. Hit 150,000, and the market usually turns cold. Not with a Tacoma.
High-mileage Tacomas regularly command prices that seem unreasonable until you remember their reputation. A well-maintained Tacoma with 150,000 miles is still viewed as dependable transportation, not a gamble. Many buyers assume it has another 100,000 miles left in it, and, most of the time, they’re right. A 2015 Tacoma with $200k miles will still trade for around $10,000-$13,000 depending on trim and condition, according to KBB. This is insane when you consider this is a 10-year-old truck whose original MSRP started at $21,865 and topped out at $35,515, according to MotorTrend. Completely insane.
Owner behavior helps reinforce that confidence. This might seem a bit general, and kind of is, but it’s more common than not that Tacoma owners tend to maintain their trucks well. Oil changes happen on time. Repairs are done properly. Modifications, when they exist, are often functional rather than cosmetic, things like suspension upgrades, skid plates, or off-road tires. That kind of ownership culture matters when it’s time to resell, and I’d argue that culture comes from the knowledge that if this truck is taken care of, it will always have value.
As a result of all these little things, the Tacoma behaves less like a classically depreciating asset like most cars and trucks, and more like a long-term investment. It’s something people buy with the intention of keeping, which only strengthens its resale position when they eventually let go.
The New Tacoma Didn’t Break the Formula
Generational redesigns can be dangerous for resale value. Change too much, and buyers lose trust. Play it too safe, and the truck feels outdated. Toyota had a narrow path to walk with the latest Tacoma, and somehow, it stayed on it.
Before y’all get too crazy in the comments; yes, the new Tacoma offers turbocharged and hybrid models now with way more modern infotainment, and updated interiors. The lack of all of those things is in part why the Tacoma enjoys its value retention. But I’d still say the core philosophy hasn’t changed. While these new models are obviously fairly unproven on the used market on a mass scale, early resale data suggests the new generation hasn’t disrupted the Tacoma’s value equation at all. If anything, as of now, it reinforced it. Buyers see evolution without *much* risk.
The new Tacoma is a bit trendier than previous models, I’ll admit. But, generally speaking, Toyota is still slower to chase trends, especially with trucks, than many competitors. Toyota modernizes pretty carefully, keeping long-term ownership the focus. That restraint is exactly why the Tacoma continues to hold its value better than competitors that swing harder and miss.
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The Least Surprising Answer Is Still the Right One
If you’re searching for a truck that holds its value longer than any competitor, the answer is boring. It’s the Tacoma, and it has been for years. Not because it’s perfect, but because it’s consistent. Other midsize trucks come close in certain areas, but none match the full package. They depreciate faster. They rely more heavily on incentives. They don’t inspire the same long-term confidence. Long live the Toyota Tacoma.
Sources: Kelly Blue Book, iSeeCars, MotorTrend