The 4x4 segment showed the strongest performance with used sales of large and small 4x4s growing by 9.1% year on year in Q3.

According to the latest DVLA statistics obtained by Auto Trader used car transactions have grown by 3% year on year during the July to September period for 2015. Year to date used car transactions have also increased, by 4.2% and 225,000 units year-on-year.

Karolina Edwards-Smajda, Auto Trader retailer and consumer products director, said: “The current increasing levels of used car transactions are a bi-product of the strong new car registrations that have been experienced over the last few years, with these vehicles now re-entering the used car market.

“Transactions for nearly new cars less than one year old and cars between one and three years old are fuelling the growth, showing an increase of 8% and 15% year-on-year respectively.”

Auto Trader's top 10 most searched for 4x4s for July to September 2015:

1.      BMW X5

2.      Land Rover Range Rover

3.      Land Rover Range Rover Sport

4.      BMW X3

5.      Mercedes-Benz M-Class

6.      Honda CR-V

7.      VW Touareg

8.      Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

9.      Toyota RAV4

10.   Audi Q5