Well, according to Cartell.ie, the short answer is Toyota. Its models (especially the Corolla) come top in terms of retained value after three years in most of the major categories. In fact the Corolla seems to be able to retain as much as 58 per cent of its original value after three years, a figure unheard of in most other segments. 

 

The other side of the equation is what people most look for when shopping second hand. Generally speaking, when it comes to second hand searches it's the Volkswagen Golf and BMW 3 Series that top the charts, so clearly there's always going to be a strong demand for them.