A Year Can Make a Big Difference: Vehicle Generations and Why They Matter For Used Car Shoppers

Understanding how cars change over time can help you get the car and features you want.

Article Summary:

• Vehicle generations signify major redesigns, introducing new looks, engines, and technologies, often resulting in a more evolved vehicle. 

• Recognizing these generational changes—Edmunds’ research shows they happen every 5 to 10 years—can help you choose between features and styles from different years. 

• Exterior and interior changes often indicate a new generation, bringing potential changes to the vehicle's structure and safety improvements. 

• A previous generation vehicle may offer desired features at a lower price; newer models aren't always the best choice for everyone. 

• Refreshes, which occur midway through a generation, add new features without altering the car's core structure, unlike complete redesigns. 

With thousands of vehicles in our inventory, we’re here to help make car research easier for you. We’ve partnered with car-review experts from Edmunds to weigh in on what matters most when you’re looking to buy a truck or car. 

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Here’s everything you need to know about how (and why) vehicles change from one generation to the next. As you shop for your next car, you may notice that certain models change a lot in certain years. They may have a restyled exterior and interior, new engines, and offer new features and technology. Those big changes are hallmarks of a new vehicle generation. Knowing what generations are, why they exist, and how they work can help you get the car and features you want when you're shopping for a used car. 

What is a vehicle generation? 

A vehicle generation is a way of talking about major redesigns. We’ve all seen it: One year your favorite car looks one way, and the very next year (and for a few years after) it suddenly has a new look inside and out, new engines, and you hear “all new” in ads. 

You might also find that the automaker has introduced new technologies and even increased the size to make more room for passengers and cargo. What you can’t see is how automakers change the underlying structure of the vehicle, helping improve crash test scores from evaluators like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). What’s important is that this kind of generational redesign is more than superficial—it usually evolves the vehicle in a meaningful way. 

The launch of a new model kicks off a vehicle's first generation. Toyota’s model history shows the RAV4 launched in 1996, and the first generation lasted through 2000. The RAV4 received its first major redesign in 2001, launching the restyled, more powerful, and better-equipped second generation that lasted through 2005. Fast-forward to now, and you get to the sixth-generation RAV4, which debuted for the 2025 model year. 

Vehicle generations are marked by a span of model years, so you could also describe the fifth-generation Toyota RAV4 as the 2019-2025 Toyota RAV4. Generations usually last five to 10 years, and it's common for manufacturers to refresh a vehicle about midway through that cycle.

How can you tell when there's a new generation? 

There are a couple of telltale signs. The first is exterior styling. As you look at a particular nameplate, you might notice that, as the years progress, you see a radical change in the styling. Most of the time this is an indication of a generational change, and when you see it there's a good chance there's a lot more change under the skin as well. 

Another way to tell is to look at the vehicle's interior. Generational changes allow manufacturers to overhaul a vehicle's interior styling to incorporate new technology and new styling trends, such as larger touchscreens and the replacement of physical gauges with digital ones. If a make and model you're familiar with has undergone a generational shift, a test drive can help you get a feel for what's changed. 

Should you buy the older or newer generation?

Identifying the model years for a generation and researching each generation can help you decide whether you should buy the newer or older vehicle. At the beginning of your shopping journey, a little extra research could save you time and money down the road.

1. Identify a few vehicles that interest you. 
Be sure to get the year, along with the make and model. 

2. Find out what generation your vehicles are in. 
We have a great guide to this, but searching for the make and model on Wikipedia can also help. Just make sure you're looking at the U.S. version of the car. 

3. See what other years are in the same generation that you're looking for. 
You might find that a slightly older vehicle is in the same generation and offers the same features for a little less money. 

4. Compare older and newer generations. 
If the older generation car doesn't have the features you want, a newer one might. On the other hand, you might find that an older-generation car has everything you need, at a lower price. 

Not every generation introduces radical changes. As a shopper, it's easy to think that the newest generation will be the best one to purchase, but depending on what was changed and what your needs are, that may not be the case. 

If you do your research, you might find that a previous-generation vehicle offers the same technology features and receives similar or equal safety ratings. While an older car may have a smaller or lower-resolution touchscreen, it may still have the features you want like smartphone connectivity, in-car Wi-Fi, or satellite radio. In other words, if you look for the features  you want rather than a particular model year, you might be pleasantly surprised to find an older, low mileage vehicle that is a more budget-friendly way to fit your needs. 

Sometimes a feature you want may only be available in older generations. According to J.D. Power, manual transmissions made up just 1.7% of new vehicle sales in 2023, and most manufacturers are dropping them altogether as an option. Selecting a higher trim from an older generation can also be a way to find the features you want at a price point that works for you. 

In addition, in the quest for better fuel economy, larger V6 and V8 engines are being replaced with smaller turbocharged four-cylinder engines and hybrid variants. Based on Ford’s model history, if you want a Ford Expedition with a V8, you'd have to look at models made in 2014 or earlier. The big Ford SUV switched to a more efficient twin-turbo V6 midway through the third-generation Expedition in 2015. You also might like the styling of the older generation, an important consideration for a car you're likely to own for years. 

The newer generation of a vehicle will usually carry higher prices on the used market, although some highly desirable older-generation vehicles might continue to command a premium due to their scarcity or popularity with enthusiasts. 

What’s the difference between a redesign and a refresh?

Usually about halfway through a generation, automakers will update the existing car with a few tweaks to keep it competitive before the next generation comes out. These refreshes are different than a redesign because usually the underlying structure of the vehicle doesn’t change. Instead, you might see slightly different designs to the front and rear bumpers, the headlights and taillights might get a tweak, and you might find a new technology feature or two. Otherwise, the car is usually the same as it was when that generation debuted. Think of it like this: A new generation rebakes the whole cake, while a refresh just adds a bit more frosting. 

Frequently asked questions 

Does a mid-cycle refresh affect a vehicle’s resale value the same way a full redesign does? 

Usually not as much. Because a refresh doesn’t change the vehicle’s core structure, resale value on a refreshed model tends to track closely with the rest of its generation. A full redesign resets the comparison since it’s essentially a different vehicle underneath the same nameplate. 

Is it better to buy a car right before or right after a generational redesign? 

Buying right after a redesign gets you the newest features and styling, but usually at a higher price. Buying right before a redesign can mean picking up the outgoing generation at a discount, especially once the redesigned version reaches dealers and used-car lots. 

Edmunds says 

As always, when shopping for a vehicle, it’s important to know your must-haves and your budget. You may find that a previous-generation vehicle has everything you need for less money than the newest generation. On the other hand, you might find that your must-have feature is only available on the most recent generation of the vehicle you desire. To help you decide on the right vehicle for you, look for the model years when redesigns and refreshes occurred and research what's changed and what hasn't.