According to the latest data from Auto Trader, the 2018 BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer (petrol automatic) was the UK’s fastest selling used car in April, taking an average of just 16 days to leave forecourts.

In terms of fuel type, diesel counted for just three of the national fastest sellers. It made up less than a third (31%) of the fastest selling used cars, with petrol counterparts benefitting from the ongoing consumer uncertainty and confusion.

However, the move from diesel wasn’t purely to petrol. In London the Mayor’s green air strategy, which saw the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone on the 8th April, is already resulting in an apparent shift in consumer buying behaviour.

Three of the top fastest selling used cars in the Capital were alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs), including the top spot, which was claimed by the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander (hybrid, automatic), taking an impressive 10 days to sell on average.

The 2015 variation of the Outlander (hybrid, automatic) was fourth fastest, with 15 days, and a 2016 Toyota Yaris (hybrid, automatic) was sixth, with 16 days. It’s the highest number of low-emission vehicles to feature on any of the top 10 lists, either regionally or nationally. It also follows March’s nationally fastest selling, the 2014 Nissan Leaf.

Karolina Edwards-Smajda, Auto Trader’s Director of Commercial Products, said this highlights the “broader shift in perception towards AFVs”.

“As we saw in our recent Market Report, 71% of consumers are already considering an EV as their next car. With more low-emission zones being introduced in other big cities, more pressure applied to drivers of older vehicles, and a long pipeline of impressive second generation of electric vehicles set to hit the market, there’s little doubt the direction of the market. Retailers’ forecourts should reflect it accordingly”, she added.

The UK’s Top 10 Fastest Selling Used Cars in April 2019:


Rank


Make/Model


Description

Average Days to Sell

Average Retail Price

1

BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer

2018 BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer MPV Petrol Manual

16

£18,362

2

Peugeot 108

2016 Peugeot 108 Convertible Petrol Automatic

17

£7,215

3

Smart forfour

2016 Smart forfour Hatchback Petrol Automatic

17

£8,286

4

Honda HR-V

2016 Honda HR-V SUV Petrol Automatic

19

£17,688

5

Ford Focus

2014 Ford Focus Hatchback Petrol Automatic

20

£7,678

6

Nissan Qashqai

2016 Nissan Qashqai Hatchback Petrol Automatic

21

£14,947

7

Mazda CX-5

2016 Mazda CX-5 SUV Diesel Manual

21

£15,582

8

Peugeot 2008

2016 Peugeot 2008 SUV Petrol Automatic

21

£11,022

9

Volkswagen Sharan

2016 Volkswagen Sharan MPV Diesel Manual

21

£17,251

10

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class SUV Diesel Automatic

22

£26,637