McLEAN, Va. -

Last month, NADA Used Car Guide kicked off a two-part series on vehicle value retention in its NADA Perspective report with a close look at passenger car segments. On Friday, NADA UCG followed that up by diving into value retention for light-duty trucks and SUVs.

According to its analysis, the truck segment with the strongest retention was the large pickup at 62.5 percent and the individual model with the best retention was the Toyota Tacoma at 80.7 percent.

Here’s how NADA UCG went about determining retention levels, as noted in the report:

Retention figures were calculated for the most prevalent trim level of 3-year-old light duty trucks and SUVs (2011 model year), with results ranked in descending order within a given segment. For the purposes of this review, retention is a function of a three-month average (Jan. 2014 – Mar. 2014) of NADA’s average trade-in value divided by a vehicle’s typically-equipped Manufacturer Suggest Retail Price (MSRP). Note that a given vehicle’s rate of depreciation, and thus retention, is in part a product of the level of discounting at the time of new sale. As such, the MSRP does not include any incentives or rebates available at the time of purchase.

Starting off with the leader, large pickups (half-ton) haul in “tremendous demand” and the strongest retention of any truck segment. They are led by the Toyota Tundra with 71.6 percent retention.

“Large pickups have continued as a staple of the automotive diet in the United States for decades as many Americans have a penchant for vehicles with size, power and off-road capability, offering greater utility than other products on the market,” NADA indicated.

“As their fuel economy improves and the numbers of trim levels increases, including the expansion of option choices that now reach luxury territory, large pickups are currently available with more variety than ever, which has led to ever-growing sales,” the analysis continued.

As for compact utility vehicles, the analysis found these models retained 56.6 percent of their value on average. This was a better rate than all of the car segments, NADA indicated.

“Asian compact utilities, similar to many of the car segments, have the highest retention levels with the top seven models all either Japanese or Korean,” the report stated. “What stands out for compact utility vehicles as opposed to the car segments, however, is the highest retaining compact utilities are largely different from the biggest sellers.”

The midsize utility segment commanded 55.5 percent retention, which was also better than any of the car segments, NADA said. 

Several of the top-selling midsize utilities also had the some of the best retention scores within the segment: the Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot are among the top five best-selling midsize utilities and all four are also rank in the top six of this segment for retention, according to NADA.

Continuing on, the midsize pickup segment had the second-best score among the truck segments with 61.1 percent average retention.  The segment boasts the aforementioned Tacoma, which leads all trucks in maintaining its value.

Meanwhile, average retention for large SUVs is at 57 percent and midsize vans are at 49.2 percent.

Moving over to the luxury side of the truck market, both the luxury compact utility segment and the luxury large SUV segment took 59.6 percent retention scores.

Luxury compacts were led by the Audi Q5 (67.8 percent) and the top luxury large SUV was the Toyota Land Cruiser (69.9 percent).

“Since Toyota is not a luxury brand, some may question why the Land Cruiser is placed in the luxury large SUV segment, but its 2011 MSRP of $69,120, not including destination, makes it a direct competitor to other models in the luxury sector,” the analysis explained.

“Since its creation back in 1951, the Land Cruiser has been a symbol of utility and ruggedness for the brand and is currently the longest running series in Toyota history.”

As for the luxury midsize utility segment, retention is at 55.7 percent.

Lastly, hybrid truck and SUV retention was at 54.3 percent on average. Two of the three leaders here are from Toyota: the Highlander (64.4 percent) in first and the Lexus RX in third (58 percent).

“Similar to what we have observed in other SUV and truck segments, Toyota’s vehicles have generally performed very well because of their composition of build quality, efficiency and overall value,” analysts said. “Toyota has been a significant player in the hybrid sector for a long time, and the Highlander hybrid is no exception.”

The complete report can be read here.