Will the Peugeot Landtrek have good resale value?

The upcoming Peugeot Landtrek might just have enough going for it to be a car with good resale value.

Resale value is undoubtedly high on the priority list of every new car buyer. This consideration is especially true for those thinking of purchasing obscure vehicles from continental auto manufacturers.

When we say obscure, we don't mean rare, but rather vehicles that have just only recently been heard of and have no pedigree or history behind their name, like the Peugeot Landtrek.

As we know, strong residual values favour only a handful of brands. It is for this reason Honda and Toyota will always have better second-hand value than, let's say, a BMW or a Peugeot. 

Yes, demand, reliability and aftersales all play a role, but buyer perception also affects some of these vehicles more than others.

It's not much different when it comes to pickup trucks, particularly when they are starting to be considered as an alternative to family SUVs and sedans.

Actually, since modern pickup trucks are being utilised beyond their original purpose, which is to tackle the rough stuff and carry cargo, the value retention of these utilitarian vehicles is quite high - in fact, some of the highest we've ever seen on iCarData. 

Most popular top-of-the-line pickup trucks retain more than 60 per cent value after five years meaning trucks have amongst the strongest resale values in our market, certainly much better than most passenger sedans and SUVs. 

But those are tried and tested pickups from brands with heritage in making trucks, such as Isuzu, Ford, Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubishi. 

For a Peugeot Landtrek however, we can't really be precise and predict what will happen since it's a new vehicle and model from Peugeot - but we can say however that the Landtrek might just be the first Peugeot in Malaysia to have high-value retention, just because it's a pickup truck.

Yes, Peugeot sedans normally only retain 68% of their value in the first year, but this is uncharted territory for the brand in an age where pickup trucks are one of the most in-demand vehicles in the country. 

Besides, the Landtrek's exterior has the French brand's 'alluring' design DNA that is both stylish and modern, whereas the inside is just as stylish as some of Peugeot's latest SUV offerings with features like the 10-inch HD screen and Peugeot's signature piano key toggle switches.

There is a possibility that it might depreciate badly, but then again, in an age where most people have bought a pickup truck because they've gone down the lifestyle route, there might just be some space for a very lifestyle Peugeot truck, which might see it retain its value very well.