Peugeot E-208 crowned 2025’S hottest used car
21st January 2025, London – Data from Autotrader, the UK’s largest automotive platform has revealed that the Peugeot E-208 (up to 1 year, electric) was the UK’s hottest used car of 2025[1], taking a median of just 17 days to sell and almost two weeks faster than the average used car, at a 31 day average. Used models left retailers’ forecourts at a near record pace in 2025, selling a day slower than in 2024 (30 days), but a day faster than 2023 (32 days).
In second place, the CUPRA Leon (up to 1 year, petrol), was marginally slower to sell at 17.5 days, as was the Dacia Duster (1-3-years, diesel), which rounded off the top three also taking an average of 17.5 days. Peugeot may have just beaten them to the top, but both CUPRA and Dacia featured twice on last year’s top 10, with the petrol hybrid version of the Leon (up to 1 year) in eighth place, and the Jogger (up to 1 year, petrol) in ninth.
On average used electric vehicles (EVs) sold at the same speed as petrol cars (30 days) last year. However, after a relatively slow start, electric momentum built across the year: in Q1 EVs sold three days slower than petrol models, but by Q4, they were selling in just 27 days, far outpacing the market and their petrol counterparts (32 days). October marked a peak of 22 days.
It reflects the very strong levels of consumer demand for used EVs on Autotrader, which increased 28% year-on-year in 2025, and accounted for more than one in seven used car enquiries for those models aged under five-years-old.
Used EVs aged 3-5-years-old sold even faster, flying off forecourts within an average of just 23 days over the last three months of the year. This has been fuelled by the increasing price parity with petrol equivalents. In fact, the average price of a 3-5-year-old electric car in December was £18,647, whilst a petrol car of the same age cost £18,615.
Speed eases in New Year, but nuance persists as ‘middle aged’ stock flies off forecourts
Overall speed of sale has eased slightly into the New Year but remains consistent with seasonal trends, with the average used car currently taking around 42 days to sell in January to date, which is a day slower than the same period last year, and a week slower than in December (35).
Again, the huge nuance in the market reveals a disparity within different segments; whilst used petrol and diesel cars are selling at the same pace as the wider market, used electric vehicles (EVs) are selling five days faster (37). Those aged 3-5-years old are selling in 34 days.
Only three electric models feature on the current top 10[2], however: Tesla Model Y (3-5-years, 25 days), in second place, Model 3 (3-5-years, 31 days) in seventh, and the Nissan Leaf (3-5-years, 32 days) in tenth. The ‘hottest’ used car so far this year, is the MG ZS petrol hybrid (23 days), which is selling nearly twice as fast as the national average. Although the MG is a ‘nearly new’ model, it’s the only car on the list under a year-old. With the squeeze in supply affecting the middle of the market, the list is dominated by 3-5, and 5-10-year-old models, which account for four and three models accordingly.
With 2026 set to bring a rise in the number of 3-year-old vehicles due to a larger volume of registrations in 2023, the ongoing supply challenge, which initially affected younger models, is moving towards older segments. Autotrader’s analysis indicates the volume of 5–7-year-old models will see a 17% YoY drop. The current fastest selling age group in the market is the 5-10-year-old segment (40 days), followed by 3-5-year-old models (41).
Conversely, at an average of 45 days, the slowest selling fuel type in January is the 1-3-year-old segment of the market, which year-on-year, is set to see an increase of 200,000 cars enter the parc in 2026, and around half a million more than in 2024[3]. 50% of January’s slowest selling cars are within this age group.
As ever, the evolving landscape in the used car market offers a significant opportunity for retailers who take a data-led approach. By closely tracking the market trends and nuances, retailers can ensure their forecourts align with those segments that offer the best margin opportunities – notably the 3-5 and 5-10-year-old vehicles. The strong performance of used electric vehicles, both in terms of speed to sell and consumer demand, further highlights the importance of staying ahead of market shifts. Although these changes will present challenges in 2026, those who harness real-time data will be well placed to respond quickly and maximise the potential in this dynamic market.”
Whilst fastest selling data is based on past data, Autotrader retailer partners can access expected days to sell data for in and out of stock vehicles via Retail Check in Portal or through third party systems integrated through Autotrader Connect.
Fastest-selling used cars –January 2026 [4]
Slowest-selling used cars –January 2026 [5]
Fastest-selling used cars 2025
Slowest-selling used cars 2025
[1] Based on make, model, fuel and age.
[2] Based on make, model, fuel and age.
[3] In 2026 there will be an estimated 3.8m 1-3-year-old cars in the parc, up from 3.6m in 2025, and 3.3m in 2024.
[4] Up to 16th January 2026
[5] Up to 16th January 2026
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