VW Golf is most searched for used car in 2018, says Auto Trader

The Volkswagen Golf was the most popular car searched for on Auto Trader in 2018, overtaking the BMW 3 Series after an eight-year reign.

More than 42 million searches took place for a Golf last year, eclipsing the 40 million searches for the 3 Series.

As of December 2017, searches for the Volkswagen Golf have surpassed the BMW 3 Series every single month, according to Auto Trader.

The tight contest between the two German models highlights a bigger trend seen within Auto Trader’s most searched for cars, which is an increasing dominance of German premium cars that now make up eight out of Auto Trader’s top ten most searched for cars of the year.

Mercedes-Benz, which features three models in the top the ten, held on to third place for the second year running with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

The Audi A3 also held on to the same spot at number eight for the second year running but remains the only model from the Audi brand to feature in the top 10.

“The results show that premium models continue to be a popular choice as they have become more accessible for more buyers through competitive finance options for new and used cars. Yet despite this trend, the search results highlight how the Ford Focus and Fiesta continue to be hugely popular for mass car buyers every single year,” said an Auto Trader spokesperson.

“With new models and more EV versions launching next year, it will be interesting to see how more choice of electric and hybrid vehicles might affect searches at a mass level, to show a significant sign that more UK car buyers might be tempted to make the move to electric."

Data from the company’s latest Market Report revealed that alternatively fuelled vehicles make up just 5% of total searches on the marketplace, which has increased by 3% in the last three years.  

Most searched for cars on Auto Trader (2018):