If Corvette fans needed one more reason to justify bringing home a new C8, Kelley Blue Book just handed them a big one.
The 2026 Chevrolet Corvette has again been named one of KBB’s Top 10 Best Resale Value Award winners, cementing its status as one of the smartest performance car purchases on the market.
According to Kelley Blue Book’s projections, the 2026 Corvette is expected to retain 54 percent of its original MSRP after five years — a figure that doesn’t just edge out the industry average of 45 percent, but crushes it. In a world where depreciation is often the single biggest cost of owning a new vehicle, the Corvette continues to defy the curve.
This latest honor extends a remarkable run for the C8 generation. Since its debut for the 2020 model year, the mid engine Corvette has earned a Best Resale Value Award every year. That consistency is rare in the sports car world, where rapid tech changes and niche demand can send long term values swinging wildly.
But as we all know, the Corvette isn’t just any sports car. It’s a cultural fixture, a performance benchmark, and now — year after year — a resale value powerhouse.
Kelley Blue Book emphasizes that depreciation is often the largest expense a new car owner will face. Even a small difference in retained value can mean thousands of dollars saved over a five year period. Their projections are based on millions of real world transactions and assume roughly 75,000 miles of use.
In that context, the Corvette’s 54 percent retention stands tall. For comparison, the average 2026 vehicle will be worth only about 45 percent of its original price after five years — meaning a $50,000 car today might fetch around $22,500 in 2031. Vehicles in KBB’s Top 10, including the Corvette, are projected to hold 55 percent or more.
While the Corvette shines in the sports car category, Toyota and Lexus continue their dominance across the broader market. Toyota earned Best Resale Value Brand for the sixth straight year with an average retention of 53 percent, while Lexus topped the luxury category at 47 percent. Toyota models also filled a large portion of the category specific awards, from the Camry to the Tacoma to the 4Runner.
GM did score another notable win: the Cadillac Vistiq took top honors in the Luxury Electric SUV segment.
Source:
Kelley Blue Blook
Related:
The Corvette E-Ray is One of Three Finalists in the Performance Category for the World Car Award
2026 Corvette Wins J.D. Power’s U.S. ALG Residual Value Award
C8 Corvette ZR1 Named Road & Track’s 2026 Performance Car of the Year
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History shows that Americans cut back sharply on buying cars when wars, invasions, and oil embargoes occur. While we don’t know how long this war will last or what effects will be, at least six times since the 1970s, an event such as this has caused a sharp drop in auto sales.
*1973-74 Arab oil embargo: Auto sales dropped by 44.7%.
*1979-80 Iranian Revolution and second oil shock: Auto sales dropped by 40.9%
*1990-91 Gulf crisis (Iraq invades Kuwait): Auto sales dropped by 18.6%.
*2008 Oil spike and Global Financial Crisis: Auto sales dropped by 45.5%.
*2011 Arab Spring and Libya supply shock: Auto sales dropped by 19%.
*2022 Russia and Ukraine oil price spike: Auto sales dropped by 12.7%.
By Patrick Anderson, CEO at Anderson Economic Group. Mr. Anderson drew the historical data from auto sales figures from the Federal Reserve Bank in St. Louis. Thanks, Ray
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