cinch, the convenient way to buy a car online, has announced the top car-buying trends of 2023, based on millions of monthly searches on its website.
Sam Sheehan, motoring editor at cinch, commented: “We’ve analyzed millions of searches to reveal the most sought-after car models, brands, colors, and features by UK car buyers this year.”
“The Ford Fiesta, despite being discontinued, remained the most popular car for the second year in a row. Tesla’s Model 3 topped the list in the EV/hybrid used car market, and Audi claimed the title of the most popular brand on cinch, climbing from fourth place in 2022.”
Sheehan also noted some unexpected search trends related to cultural moments, such as the release of the Barbie film and the Rugby World Cup.
Top 10 most popular used car models of 2023
- Ford Fiesta
- VW Golf
- Ford Focus
- Mercedes A-Class
- BMW 1 Series
- Nissan Qashqai
- Audi A3
- VW Polo
- Range Rover Evoque
- BMW 3 Series
Despite the Ford Fiesta being discontinued, it remained the top choice for used car buyers, displaying enduring appeal with its design, features, and affordability.
The Mercedes A-Class dropped to fourth place, while the family-friendly Nissan Qashqai climbed to sixth position.
Top 10 most popular used car brands of 2023
- Audi
- BMW
- Ford
- Volkswagen
- Mercedes-Benz
- Land Rover
- Vauxhall
- Nissan
- Kia
- Hyundai
Audi claimed the top spot as the most searched-for car brand, while Mercedes-Benz dropped to fifth place, and Hyundai emerged as the sole new entrant on the list.
Top 10 most popular used EV/hybrid cars of 2023
- Tesla Model 3
- Toyota C-HR
- Nissan Leaf
- VW Golf
- Mitsubishi Outlander
- Hyundai IONIQ
- Toyota Yaris
- BMW 3 Series
- Kia Niro
- Toyota Corolla
As of the end of November 2023, about 950,000 EVs are on UK roads. The Tesla Model 3 was the most popular electric and/or hybrid model with used car buyers, overtaking the Toyota C-HR, while the Hyundai IONIQ saw a notable increase in searches in 2023.
Top 10 most popular car colours of 2023
- Black
- White
- Grey
- Blue
- Red
- Silver
- Green
- Orange
- Yellow
- Pink
Black was the most popular car color of 2023, followed by white, with pink becoming a sought-after color, possibly influenced by the release of the Barbie film.
Top five most popular car features of 2023
- Apple CarPlay
- Parking sensors
- Heated seats
- Sunroof
- Sat-nav
Apple CarPlay was the most-wanted car feature, while heated seats and parking sensors also saw an increase in popularity.
Other interesting data
Land Rover Defender x Rugby World Cup
The Land Rover Defender, sponsor of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, received significant attention on cinch, especially during England matches.
VW scrapping ICE engines
VW’s announcement of ceasing the production of internal combustion engine Golfs led to a surge in searches for hybrid/electric versions of the popular hatchback.
CUPRA in, SEAT out
The focus on growing the CUPRA brand and VW Group’s decision to stop producing SEAT cars led to a rise in searches for CUPRA vehicles.
Heating up in the convertibles market
The UK’s hottest June in history resulted in a surge in searches for convertible cars, with the Mercedes C-Class being the most sought-after model.