The BMW 3 Series has emerged as Auto Trader’s most searched for car of 2016 as the online marketplace revealed its top 10 attractors of online traffic.

It was the sixth consecutive year that the German saloon has secured the top spot as it topped a list that was dominated by premium vehicles.

The Volkswagen Golf claimed second spot with the Mercedes-Bez C-Class in third and the Ford Focus beating the BMW 5-Series and 1 Series to fourth spot.

Jon Quirk, Auto Trader’s editor-in-chief, said: “The BMW 3 Series continues its dominance as the most searched for car on Auto Trader, while the overall popularity for premium vehicles continues.

“This is due, in part, to an expansive new car portfolio and the availability of low rate finance.

“Small family cars have been big news in 2016 too, as they can provide superb levels of in-car technology, safety and refinement in more compact, more efficient and cost effective packages.”

Quirk predicted that 2017 could be the year of the small car, however.

He said: “The small car league table will see a host of new competition. The Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Citroen C3 and Seat Ibiza will all have brand new models in 2017, not to mention the totally reinvented Nissan Micra.”

Auto Trader claims to attract more than 60 million monthly visitors and currently has around half a million cars listed for sale. 

Its complete top ten most popular car searches of 2016 were:

1              BMW 3 Series

2              Volkswagen Golf

3              Mercedes-Benz C-Class

4              Ford Focus

5              BMW 5 Series

6              BMW 1 Series

7              Ford Fiesta

8              Audi A3

9              Mercedes-Benz E-Class

10           Vauxhall Astra