Table of Contents
- Affordable hatchbacks and SUVs dominate the list of most in-demand cars
- Find out if you have a coveted car or a boring ride in the lists below
New research into more than eight million car sales has revealed the most in-demand cars in Britain over the past 12 months.
Although you might be dreaming of a luxury saloon or a sleek new sports car, the list of top ten most sought-after engines is dominated by affordable hatchbacks.
A selection of SUVs and other midsize models round out the list of vehicles that really fly out of the dealership.
However, these types of cars aren’t totally immune to appearing on the slow-selling vehicle list, and price apparently isn’t the only factor in selling your car quickly.
So, is your car among the most attractive? And what differentiates the most sought-after vehicles from their less enthusiastic counterparts?
An analysis of 8.2 million car sales between April 2023 and April 2024 found that the Peugeot 208 (file image above) is the most in-demand car in the UK, selling in an average time of just 22 days.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Renault Captur (stock image) took 79 days to sell, on average, despite having an average price of just £11,371.
New analysis of 8.2 million car sales, from both dealerships and private sellers, has revealed that the Peugeot 208 is the fastest-selling car in the UK.
According to an AI-based Brego vehicle valuation tool, the French hatchback takes just 22 days to sell on average, at a typical price of £10,662.
It overtook the slightly more expensive Kia Sportage SUV, which has an average price of £16,962 over the past 12 months, and took just one day longer to sell on average.
The third most sought-after car in the UK is the Vauxhall Astra, which typically sells out within 24 days, and is also the cheapest on the list with an average price of £6,680.
At the other end of the spectrum, Renault’s ‘compact SUV’, the Captur, topped the list of slowest selling cars, typically taking 79 days to sell at a price of £11,371.
Other engines that were slow to sell included the Mazda3 (77 days, for £9,943) and, perhaps surprisingly, the evergreen Volkswagen Golf (74 days, for £13,827).
Aidan Rushby, founder and chief executive of Carmoola, who commissioned the analysis, said the figures show how attracting a buyer to your car is not as simple as lowering the price.
“Car buyers now have much more information – and options – at their disposal,” he said, “so attracting their attention and encouraging them to buy your vehicles is not an easy task.”
“While price will always be an important factor, and especially when household finances are tight, there are many economy cars that are proving difficult to trade in and higher-priced cars that are practically flying off the forecourts.”
Expert advice given to increase the appeal of your car if you sell it second-hand includes investing in a professional cleaning, taking good photographs and highlighting unique selling points.
Rushby continued: “So if you’re selling, it’s paramount to grab someone’s attention and really highlight the value of the particular model variant you have for sale.
“And if you’re buying, wait longer, come up with a negotiation plan, and make sure you have an idea of your budget ready beforehand so you can make an offer you can meet.”
