UK’s Most Popular Used Cars, According to New Study

• Kia Sportage is the most sought-after car model to buy second-hand in the UK, with 15,407 monthly searches.
• Audi A1, Ford Fiesta and Nissan Qashqai are the next most popular used models.
• British drivers searching for a car on the resale market would ideally want an older Audi, Ford or BMW.

British drivers’ search histories for the past year suggest they prefer second-hand Kia Sportage, Audi A1, Ford Fiesta or Nissan Qashqai. There are over a million monthly searches for used cars in the UK. The most popular ones bear an Audi, Ford or BMW badge, whereas the least considered ones are Saab, Dodge and Daihatsu.

This is according to a new study by European car parts marketplace Ovoko. Using Google Keyword Planner, they analysed UK online search volumes for 47 car manufacturers and 1,610 of their models from July 2023 until June 2024.

Top Ten Most Searched Used Cars in the UK

Kia Sportage ranked first as the most desired car for British drivers shopping the second-hand automotive market. Every month, they search for a used Kia Sportage car 15,407 times. It is Kia’s most popular pre-owned car to buy. This affordable and compact SUV is ideal for families, with more recent models offering fuel efficiency and premium features like touchscreen dashboards usually reserved for much more expensive configurations. According to the Korean firm’s UK website, prices for used Kia Sportage models from the post-2018 generations start at £9,895.

The Korean manufacturer sells only 25 models on the UK market, which is at least half the selection of other top ten most searched makes. After Sportage, Sorento is Kia’s second most desired used car, with four times fewer monthly searches (3,682). Kia Ceed, Kia Niro and Kia Picanto are the manufacturer’s next most popular models, with 2,744, 2,562 and 2,460 enquiries per month, respectively. Kia is the sixth most popular make for used cars in the UK, spurring a total of 55,465 searches every month.

Audi A1 is the UK’s second most searched used car model, with an average of 13,632 monthly searches. This premium supermini appeals to city dwellers and young professionals looking for a sportier vehicle that combines luxury features with a compact size and fuel efficiency. The car maker’s UK website lists Audi-approved, pre-owned models of newer generations starting at £10,950 whose initial registration year was 2018 or later.

The A1 is currently the German manufacturer’s star model on the UK’s used car market. However, Audi A3 is only 2,000 searches behind, with 11,584 enquiries per month. Used Audi Q3 ranked third among its make family, with 7,973 monthly searches, followed by Audi Q5, with 4,809 enquiries every month, and Audi Q2, with 4,661. Every tenth Google search for a used car is an Audi, making it the most popular car manufacturer whose vehicles British drivers are keen to buy second-hand.

Ford Fiesta takes the third spot as the UK’s most popular used car, with 13,032 searches each month. This small hatchback packs pothole-ready suspension ideal for British countryside roads, hassle-free manoeuvrability, widely available spare parts, all at a budget-friendly price tag. Despite being discontinued last year after 47 years, the Ford Fiesta remains a go-to for young and senior drivers alike.

The American manufacturer’s online UK shop only lists three 2023 used Ford Fiestas, priced around the 20-grand mark. However, on Facebook Marketplace, 2018 and later models start at just £1,600.

This British favourite is Ford’s most wanted used car in the UK. Kuga, Focus and Puma are Ford’s next most popular models on the pre-owned market, at a relatively short distance from the Ford Fiesta. Brits search for them 12,060, 11,710 and 9,729 times a month, respectively. Ford accounts for 9.4% of all monthly online searches for used cars in the UK.

UK’s Top Ten Most Searched Car Manufacturers on Second-Hand Market and Their Top Three Most Searched Used Car Models in the UK

Other popular manufacturers among British drivers searching for a used car are Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Volkswagen, Volvo, Nissan and Vauxhall. The least popular carmakers on the pre-owned UK market are Saab, Dodge and Daihatsu, with fewer than 800 online searches per year.

Vytas Palovis, VP for Growth at Ovoko, commented on the findings: “Our study reveals a broad spectrum of vehicles and suitable drivers, from cheap and cheerful first saloons to premium SUVs. Despite their differences, they share one obvious requirement: apart from Kia, they are all very common makes with parts that garages can easily source. This suggests that British drivers are practical, above all.

“Kia carved itself a niche primarily due to premium features packed in an attractive SUV, but also thanks to its seven-year manufacturer warranty, which a second or even third buyer could benefit from. It adds that much-needed trust on a market dominated by familiar brands. British MG and pre-2023 South Korean KGM Motors, formerly known as SsangYong, have similar extensive warranty policies. Toyota offers a ten-year warranty, but drivers must have their vehicles serviced annually at an official dealership.

“As the car market gets more competitive, manufacturers keep looking for ways to cut costs. This means some previously metal parts are now plastic, for example, thus flimsier. Some experienced drivers prefer previous generations with sturdier parts in favour of aesthetic upgrades.”