SUVs dominate fastest selling used cars on Auto Trader

SUVs accounted for 90% of the fastest selling used cars on Auto Trader in August, according to its latest Fastest Selling Index data.

The 2016 Mazda CX-5 (diesel manual) is currently the UK’s fastest selling used car, taking an average of just 26 days to turn on UK forecourts.

The Fastest Selling Index live tracks the potential speed at which vehicles will sell based on live supply and demand in the market.

Joining the CX-5 on the top 10 list is last month’s fastest selling car, the Peugeot 2008 (2014 diesel automatic – 26 days), as well as the Mercedes-Benz GLA (2019 petrol manual – 30 days), the Mitsubishi Outlander (2013 diesel manual – 30 days), the Dacia Sandero Stepway (2015 petrol manual – 31 days), and the Kia Sorento (2014 diesel automatic – 27 days).

Some of the slowest to sell included nearly new stock like the Maserati Levante, Audi A4 and Volkswagen Passat.

Whilst SUVs continue to perform strongly in the used car market, data from Auto Trader’s Market Insight tool, shows that demand for all body types is up significantly year-on-year, indicating that the pent-up demand seen in the weeks following lockdown remains strong.

Days to turn and consumer demand are two key indicators of the used car market’s health and with both showing positive movements, Auto Trader says this paints an encouraging picture for the industry. 

Consumer demand, as measured by audience to Auto Trader’s marketplace was up 28.6% year-on-year with visits averaging over 2.1million cross platform visits a day, and average days to turn has come down.

These metrics coupled with the ongoing average price increases Auto Trader is observing for used cars, act as a further indicator of a resilient market.

Analysis shows a 4.6% year-on-year increase in used car prices in July with prices in August currently tracking at 6.6% higher than the same period last year.

Karolina Edwards-Smajda, Auto Trader’s director of commercial products, said: “We’re seeing solid demand across most body types, but the star of the show continues to be SUVs where demand is up by 43.6% year-on-year according to data from our Market Insight tool. 

“This strong consumer appetite, along with the continued rise in used car prices and the record audience we are seeing on Auto Trader, is a strong indicator that the market will remain buoyant in the coming months.

“While the market is currently recording very strong used car sales few retailers can afford to be complacent.

“Retailers should capitalise on the huge demand by utilising the most up- to-date data to help make decisions on stock and price, especially at a time where sourcing stock is a challenge, to ensure their forecourts are tailored to their local market.”

Current fastest selling used cars (by days to turn) – as of August 27, 2020:

Current slowest selling used cars (by days to turn) – as of August 27, 2020: