Used car prices have been rising across the UK for more than two years as problems in the new car supply chain have driven buyers to the secondhand market.
Earlier this year asking prices jumped by as much as 30% compared with 2021 and while the change has started to slow in recent months, perhaps as the cost of living crisis sees people cut back on big-ticket items like cars, values are still rising. October saw an 8% increase compared with October 2021 following three months of upward or neutral movement, according to Auto Trader’s Retail Price Index.
While average year-on-year changes have varied between 8% and 32% since January, the latest figures from Auto Trader show that demand for some models has seen values jump by more than 40% compared with last October. At the other end of the market, some less desirable models have fallen in value by up to 15%. Here, then, are the 10 models with the biggest value increases and the 10 that have seen the sharpest price contractions in the last 12 months.
9. Vauxhall Meriva: +29.3% (£5,055 average)
The Meriva was the smaller of Vauxhall’s two family-friendly MPVs launched in the early 2000s and pitched against the likes of the Ford B-Max. Unlike the seven-seat Zafira, the Meriva was a purely five-seat affair but featured touches such as individually configurable rear seats, rear-hinged back doors for easy access and a variety of storage options, all of which made it a hit with families. | Vauxhall
10. Citroen C4 SpaceTourer: -11.7% (£16,234 average)
Citroen’s venerable people carrier has recently been discontinued and the fact that its used values are falling hints at why - buyers have abandoned MPVs in favour of SUVs. Nonetheless, like the seven-seat Grand C4, the standard SpaceTourer is a bastion of practical and flexible motoring, with standalone seats, tonnes of storage and a range of impressive petrol and diesel engines. | Citroen
11. Vauxhall Mokka X: -11.8% (£12,080 average)
The new Vauxhall Mokka is one of the most stylish and fun compact crossovers on the market. The old Mokka X is not. Vauxhall’s first entry into the small SUV segment is a lacklustre affair with dull looks and a dull drive, perhaps explaining why used prices are falling. In its favour, equipment levels are decent and later models got far better engines but there are plenty of better cars in its class. | Vauxhall
12. Volvo V40 Cros Country: -11.8% (£11,673 average)
Volvo is most famous for big estate cars and, more recently, SUVs, but it has also made a range of smaller saloons and hatchbacks, including the V40. Discontinued in 2019, it was an Audi A3 rival, boasting a high-tech and comfortable interior and Volvo’s famous focus on safety. The Cross Country brought a hint of the rugged lifestyle with raised suspension and plastic body cladding. Despite the looks, most Cross Country models were two-wheel-drive. | Volvo