Read on to find out how the used car market shifted in Q1 2026 and which models were most in demand.
What stands out is that demand remains active even as prices adjust. The Toyota Yaris hybrid continues to top our search rankings, and we’re also seeing strong interest in more affordable EVs such as the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe. For many drivers, the used market is becoming the most realistic route into electric and hybrid motoring.
EV searches rose by more than a quarter in the three weeks after 28 February compared with the previous three weeks, against a backdrop of significantly higher fuel prices. It would be wrong to draw sweeping conclusions from a short-term movement alone, but it does fit a pattern we’ve seen before. When fuel prices rise, some motorists take a fresh look at EVs and hybrids because of the potential savings on day-to-day running costs.
That said, affordability remains the key issue across the market as a whole. Petrol cars are still attracting very strong interest, and while average prices among the most searched-for models ticked up compared with the tail end of 2025, they remain lower than this time last year. Buyers are clearly focused on value, reliability, and overall cost of ownership, regardless of fuel type.
For consumers, these trends create real opportunity. There is now a broader choice of used cars at more accessible price points, whether you’re considering petrol, hybrid, or fully electric.
As always, buyers should do their homework carefully and make sure they understand a vehicle’s condition, history, and running costs before committing. Services such as the AA Cars History Check and AA Vehicle Inspection continue to play an important role in giving motorists confidence when they buy.
AA Cars Managing Director
Read bioThe average prices for the 20 most searched-for used petrol cars rose by 1.6% quarter on quarter in Q1, to £10,348 from £10,187 in Q4 2025. However, prices remained 3.4% lower than in Q1 2025, showing that the wider used car market continues to offer improving value for buyers.
The Ford Fiesta remained the most sought-after petrol model on AA Cars, despite an annual price decline of 10.8%. Other notable year-on-year fallers included the Nissan Micra (-12.3%), Honda Jazz (-11.8%), and Toyota Aygo (-11.6%).
At the other end of the market, some petrol models saw stronger pricing in Q1. The Nissan Juke rose 8.7% year on year and 9.2% quarter on quarter, while the Volkswagen Golf increased 3.3% year on year. The Hyundai i10 also rose 6.8% versus Q4, indicating that demand remains firm for smaller, economical petrol cars in parts of the market.
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The average cost of the 20 most searched-for EVs and hybrids on AA Cars fell by 1.7% to £16,553 in Q1 2026, down from £16,843 in Q4 2025. Prices were also 7.1% lower than a year earlier. The biggest annual price drop among the top 20 was the pure electric Nissan Leaf, down 24.6% year on year to £8,308, followed by the Toyota Prius (-14.0%), electric Renault Zoe (-14.1%), and Ford Puma hybrid (-14.5%).
Despite the broader downward trend amongst electric and hybrids, several models recorded price growth over the past 12 months. The Lexus RX (hybrid) rose 7.3% year on year, while the Honda Jazz (hybrid) and Lexus CT (hybrid) increased by 1.3% and 2.0% respectively. Quarter-on-quarter, values across the EV and hybrid market were mixed.
While the overall average edged lower, some models posted notable gains, including the Honda Jazz (hybrid), up 6.4%, and the Lexus CT (hybrid), up 4.3%. By contrast, the sharpest quarterly declines were seen in the Toyota Prius (-12.7%), Volvo XC40 hybrid (-7.0%), and Nissan Qashqai hybrid (-5.3%). The Toyota Yaris (hybrid) remained the most searched-for car in the EV and hybrid category on AA Cars in Q1, followed by the Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius, underlining continued demand for practical, lower-running-cost models from established brands.
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