In a shifting market, hybrids and plug-ins hold their value best

Canadian Black Book has unveiled the winners of its 2025 Best Retained Value Awards, expanding the program’s reach to better reflect Canada’s rapidly evolving electrified vehicle market.

For the first time, the awards separate honours for plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery electric vehicles (BEV) across both mainstream and premium segments — a move that acknowledges the industry’s diversification and the growing consumer interest in electrified options.

Electrified Expansion Highlights Market Trends

Among the key winners, the Chevrolet Bolt EV earned top honours as BEV Car: Main, while the Kia EV6 captured BEV SUV: Main. In the premium categories, the Porsche Taycan and BMW iX continued to showcase the strength of luxury electrification, leading their respective segments.

This year’s results come amid another year of uncertainty in the car market. Analysts had anticipated a downward trend in four-year value retention for 2025, but shifting market forces have once again pushed values higher. 

Expanding the awards into more electrified categories, the organization noted, has offered a clearer picture of the contrasting dynamics between supply and demand. Brands with a diverse mix of hybrid and plug-in hybrid models fared better overall, while those focused solely on battery electrics felt the impact of tightening inventories and changing consumer preferences.

“As a result, our year-over-year comparisons identify consistent strength behind mainstream gas-driven vehicles, especially for hybrids and plug-ins as our market gets only more convoluted for consumers,” said CBB in a news release.

Toyota and Porsche Continue Their Dominance

As in previous years, Toyota maintained its leadership across multiple categories, securing wins for the Corolla, Tundra, C-HR, 4Runner, and RAV4 Prime. The Toyota Tacoma extended its record-setting streak as Small/Mid Pickup winner — now holding the title for an unprecedented 17 consecutive years.

In the premium segment, Porsche once again demonstrated its dominance, taking home multiple awards including for the 911, Macan, and Panamera PHEV. The Porsche Taycan also repeated as BEV Car: Premium, underscoring its enduring appeal in the luxury EV space.

Meanwhile, BMW emerged as the Overall Brand: Electric winner, reflecting the continued expansion and consumer confidence in its electric lineup. And Buick became the winner for Overall Brand: Most Improved. 

The winners for the 18thth Annual CBB Best Retained Value Awards are:

CBB said all vehicles retained an average of 67.5 per cent of their original MSRP after four years, which is slightly more than last year’s average of 67 per cent.  

The company will announce its 2026 Best Residual Value Awards in February 2026.