Better fuel efficiency has been named as one of the reasons why certain cars hang on to their original list price more than others.

According to a new report from Eurotaxglass’s, seven out of the top ten vehicles for residual value are superminis and city cars.

The company said this is partly because they have lower road tax, are initially priced lower than other motors and have high levels of fuel efficiency.

Buyers see these as "key considerations", it added.

The Peugeot 107 was named as the best for fending off depreciation, keeping 60.9 per cent of its value. All of the autos investigated by Eurotaxglass’s were 06-plated and had 39,000 miles on the clock.

"While high performance and a prestige badge might seem highly desirable characteristics in a car, these results demonstrate … what really makes a difference to consumers," explained managing editor Adrian Rushmore, going on to cite purchase cost and running cost as such deciding factors.

Specific car care and maintenance may also help a motor to stay in tip-top condition and keep its worth.

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