Electric Nissan LEAF fastest selling used-car in March

The all-electric 2014 Nissan Leaf has toped the list as the UK’s fastest selling used car in March 2019, taking an average of just 17 days to turn according to Auto Trader.

March also saw a record number of alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) earning a place on the regional top tens.

In London, the 2016 and 2015 variants of the electric-hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander, both automatics, were second and fourth fastest to sell, taking a respective 10 and 14 days to leave forecourts. The 2018 Toyota C-HR electric hybrid, also an automatic, was tenth place in the South East, taking an average of 24 days to turn.

Petrol vehicles continued to dominated, with 77% of the top regional spots taken by petrol powertrains including in the East Midlands (2014 Ford Focus – petrol manual – 17 days), London (2016 Nissan Qashqai – petrol automatic – 9 days), North East (2016 Volkswagen Polo – petrol manual – 16 days), North West (2013 Volkswagen Polo – petrol manual – 18 days), Scotland (2017 Volkswagen Polo – petrol manual – 13 days), South (2012 Ford Fiesta – petrol manual – 17 days), South West (2016 Toyota AYGO – petrol manual – 26 days), Wales (2016 Vauxhall Corsa – petrol manual – 32 days), West Midlands (2016 Nissan Qashqai – petrol manual – 23 days) and Yorkshire (2013 Ford Focus – petrol manual – 20 days).

Karolina Edwards-Smajda, Auto Trader’s Director of Commercial Products, said: “An all-electric vehicle making it to the very top of the UK’s fastest selling is really quite significant, and reflects the trends we’re seeing elsewhere. Not only are there record rates of adoption of AFVs in both the new and used car market, but research for our latest Market Report showed that nearly three quarters of car buyers are considering an EV for their next purchase. Mass adoption is a way off yet, but there is clearly a growing shift in perception which will offer huge opportunities for the industry.

“Diesel remains an excellent choice for many drivers, however it looks as though the writing is on the wall for the much-maligned fuel type. It’s shown great resilience, but with the ongoing negative rhetoric surrounding the fuel debate, coupled with high-profile schemes to cut emissions in major cities, such as London’s new Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), it’s future remains uncertain.”