BMW leads retail margin race as Nissan Qashqai gains momentum

BMW has once again demonstrated its dominance in the used car market, topping Dealer Auction’s Retail Margin Monitor for March and cementing its position as a leader in retail profitability.

The brand recorded the highest average retail margin for vehicles under £10,000 for the third consecutive month, with dealers earning an average of £2,200 sold in this category.

BMW also claimed third place in the over-£10,000 chart, reflecting a strong showing across both budget-conscious and premium market segments.

The sub-£10,000 chart saw BMW’s 1 Series and 3 Series make the top five, with average margins of £2,150 and £2,125, respectively.

However, it was the Ford Kuga that took the top spot in this bracket for the first time in 2025, delivering an impressive average retail margin of £2,225. The versatile SUV continues to appeal to a broad range of buyers, featuring in both pricing tiers.

While the Qashqai ranked tenth by margin, it stood out for its speed to sell (just 26 days) and retail rating (91), indicating a high level of demand and strong buyer confidence.

“BMW has registered an emphatic performance so far in 2025,” said Kieran TeeBoon, marketplace director at Dealer Auction. “It’s been a highly competitive year - in March, only £325 separated first and tenth place in the top 10 sub-£10,000 profit-making models.”

In the over-£10,000 bracket, Land Rover models remained strong, with the Discovery Sport topping the chart at an average margin of £4,325, followed by the Range Rover Evoque at £3,750.

TeeBoon also highlighted the role of digital platforms in enabling quick and profitable transactions. “Used cars are moving quickly on our platform and across the market. With hot competition for quality stock, dealers are increasingly relying on digital auctions to source profitable vehicles and keep up with consumer demand.”