Kia Sportage (lexan/Bigstock.com)

What factors do you consider most important about a potential new car? If you’re like most motorists, initial cost, finance options and running costs are three big concerns. But while these areas are undeniably important when choosing a new vehicle, you should also be thinking about how much you can sell it for when the time comes. Some cars depreciate slowly, others rapidly. Factoring in value depreciation rates will give you a better idea of the whole-life running cost of your car. It may also give you a good reason to purchase a more costly but higher specification car – if it holds its value particularly well.

The following ten cars have been ranked by CAP as regards how well they kept their value three years after being purchased new – or after 30,000 miles. The figures were arrived at by subtracting the purchase price from the average resale price.

1. Porsche Cayenne diesel (2010-)

84.2% of retained value after three years/30,000 miles

Porsche Cayenne (Patrick Poendl/Bigstock.com)

2. Toyota Land Cruiser V8 diesel SW (2008-2011)

72.4% of retained value after three years/30,000 miles

Toyota Land Cruiser (DDCoral/Bigstock.com)

3. Porsche 911 GT Coupé (2009-2012)

72.1% of retained value after three years/30,000 miles

Porsche 911 GT Coupe (Artzzz/Bigstock.com)

4. BMW X3 diesel (2010-)

70.3% of retained value after three years/30,000 miles

5. Skoda Yeti diesel (2009-)

69.9% of retained value after three years/30,000 miles

Skoda Yeti (Artzzz/Bigstock.com)

6. Land Rover Discovery 4 diesel (2009-)

69.2% of retained value after three years/30,000 miles

Land Rover Discovery 4 (Snap2Art/Bigstock.com)

7. Audi Q5 diesel (2008-2012)

69.1% of retained value after three years/30,000 miles

8. Kia Sportage (2010-)

68.2% of retained value after three years/30,000 miles

Kia Sportage (lexan/Bigstock.com)

9. Mercedes-Benz Viano diesel (2004-2010)

66.2% of retained value after three years/30,000 miles

Mercedes-Benz Viano (Artzzz/Bigstock.com)

10. Corvette Z06 Coupé (2005-2010)

65.6% of retained value after three years/30,000 miles