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Chevrolet Sonic vs Ford Fiesta
Depreciation, used prices, ownership costs and model-year data compared
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Ford Fiesta Depreciation & Resale Value
Buying a 2016 model instead of new saves roughly $8,748 off the original sticker.
The Ford Fiesta is a subcompact car sold in sedan and hatchback forms, ranging from economical S and SE trims to the turbocharged ST performance hatchback.
Market context: Five indexable cohorts cover 2015 through the Fiesta's final 2019 U.S. model year; hatchback, sedan, and ST mix should be considered when comparing asking prices.
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Open a side-by-side comparison of five-year value retention, depreciation by model year, used asking prices, repair costs, MPG and safety data.
At a glance
Key takeaways
Biggest drop
2017→2016
+6.3% in one year
Smart-buy year
2016
~$7,062 median
Depreciation by Model Year
| Model year | Depreciation from MSRP |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 45.0% |
| 2018 | 50.4% |
| 2017 | 55.5% |
| 2016 | 61.8% |
| 2015 | 64.7% |
Based on 577 real used-car listings. Each listing's price is adjusted to a standard 12,000 mi/year for its age and compared to the vehicle's original MSRP; figures reflect a 5% asking-to-sale estimate.
Resale Value by Age
Estimated value of a typical Ford Fiesta as it ages, from a ~$15,490 new price.
| Age | Retained | Est. value | Lost that year | Total lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 yr | 100% | $15,490 | — | −$0 |
| 2 yrs | 92% | $14,298 | −$1,192 | −$1,192 |
| 3 yrs | 83% | $12,844 | −$1,454 | −$2,646 |
| 4 yrs | 75% | $11,538 | −$1,306 | −$3,952 |
| 5 yrs | 67% | $10,365 | −$1,173 | −$5,125 |
| 6 yrs | 60% | $9,311 | −$1,054 | −$6,179 |
| 7 yrs | 54% | $8,365 | −$946 | −$7,125 |
| 8 yrs | 49% | $7,514 | −$851 | −$7,976 |
Interactive tool
What's your Fiesta worth?
Estimate a used Fiesta's value from its year and mileage, using our depreciation model.
Estimated value
$6,050
about typical mileage
At 120,000 miles (about typical for a 10-year-old car, ~120,000 mi). Estimate only — actual value depends on condition, trim, options, and local demand.
Should You Buy a Used Ford Fiesta?
Thinking about a Ford Fiesta? It's an average bet for resale. The smartest pick is a 2016 (around $7,062) — it sits just past the steepest depreciation, so the first owner already absorbed the biggest loss. Favor the ST Line trim for the best resale, and always pull a vehicle-history report before buying.
Pros
- Proven longevity — examples regularly list past 150,000 miles and still sell for around $6,029.
- The ST Line trim holds its value best if resale matters to you.
Watch-outs
- The steepest single-year drop hits between 2017 and 2016 — buying brand-new costs you that loss.
What Affects Ford Fiesta Resale Value
The 2017-to-2016 transition is where the Fiesta bleeds the most value, dropping 6.3% points in one year. That makes the 2016 Fiesta a value sweet spot — the previous owner absorbs the worst of the drop, and you still get a relatively recent car.
Not all trims age alike — the ST Line retains the most value (~40.7% depreciation) and the Titanium the least (~68.5%), a gap worth thousands when you resell.
Which Ford Fiesta Trims Hold Value Best
Share of original MSRP retained, averaged across model years.
ST Line
59.3% kept· 19 listings
ST
49% kept· 39 listings
SE
45.7% kept· 422 listings
S
43.9% kept· 76 listings
Titanium
31.5% kept· 14 listings
How Long Does the Ford Fiesta Last?
Mileage profile across 577 listings.
Over 100k mi
41%
Over 150k mi
3.7%
Highest mileage
204,916 mi
Price at 120k+ mi
$6,029
Roughly 41% of listed Ford Fiestas have already crossed 100,000 miles, and 3.7% are past 150,000 — a sign these go the distance with maintenance.
Smartest Year to Buy
The 2016 Ford Fiesta sits just past the steepest depreciation drop, with a typical asking price around $7,062 — about $8,748 off its original MSRP.
View 2016 details →Price & Depreciation by Year
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year to buy a used Ford Fiesta?
The 2016 Fiesta is the value sweet spot: it sits just past the model's steepest one-year depreciation drop, so the first owner has already absorbed the biggest loss. Expect to pay around $7,062 for a typical example, and the ST Line trim will hold its value best from there. As always, a well-maintained, accident-free example with average mileage for its age is worth paying a little more for than a cheap car with a questionable history. Whatever year you settle on, budget for a pre-purchase inspection — at a couple hundred dollars, it's the cheapest insurance against an expensive surprise down the road.
Which Ford Fiesta trim holds its value best?
The ST Line retains the most value, depreciating about 40.7% on average across model years in our data. Trim choice can swing resale by thousands of dollars over a few years, because desirable trims stay in demand on the used market while stripped-down or niche trims sell at a discount. It's also worth comparing the trim premium new versus used — a pricier trim sometimes depreciates enough to become the smarter used buy. If you expect to resell, the ST Line is the safer bet; if you're keeping the car long-term, buy the trim with the features you actually want and worry less about resale.
Methodology
Depreciation is computed from 577 real used-car listings. Each listing's asking price is normalized to a standard 12,000 miles per year for the vehicle's age, adjusted by a 5% asking-to-sale estimate, and compared against the original base MSRP for that VIN's trim. Headline 1/3/5-year figures reflect a smoothed retention curve fitted across all model years (the typical trajectory); individual years in the table above can run above or below it with market conditions. Full methodology. Updated August 2026.