The latest figures from Dealer Auction’s EV Performance Report (EVPR) revealed another month of strong metrics. The average retail margin rose to £2,889 in September, reflecting a healthy appetite for trusted, well-established models that balance performance with value.
Total bids came in just shy of 5,000, while the average sold price climbed to £14,664. The average age of vehicles held steady at 4.5 years and average mileage increased slightly to 46,804 miles.
Dealer Auction’s Marketplace Director, Kieran TeeBoon, noted: “We’ve seen three months of consistent metrics, with the averages for sold price, mileage, bids and margin barely changing, while average age has held at exactly 4.5 years. It will be interesting to see if Q4 – a historically challenging quarter for the industry – mirrors Q3’s stability.”
The leading digital marketplace also reported some eye-catching year-on-year numbers. Margins and sold prices edged up slightly, but there were major increases in average mileage (from 38,000 in September 2024 to 46,804 in September 2025) and average age (from 4.1 to 4.5 years). This chimes with Autotrader’s recent findings that ‘middle-aged’ EVs – those aged 3–5 years – are selling faster than any other segment of the used car market.1
So, with 5,000 bids on AFVs on the Dealer Auction platform in September, which ones delivered the strongest returns?
After the Volvo XC40 hybrid led the way for speed of sale in August, it was the XC90 and XC60 hybrids taking the spotlight in September. The former topped the profit chart for the fourth consecutive month, with an average margin of £6,220. This is the highest profit recorded by the EVPR and was complimented by an impressive 100.9% CAP Clean performance.
Coming in second for margin (£4,189) and sixth for CAP Clean (99.6%) was Volvo stablemate the XC60. Two hybrid BMW models – the 5 Series and 3 Series – also made the top 5 for margin.
Toyota stole the show for CAP Clean performance, with models making up 40% of the top 10. Notably, the C-HR hybrid appeared in the top 10 charts for CAP Clean performance, top sellers and margin, making it the ultimate triple threat.
Hybrids dominated September’s top 10 charts, but there were sparks of electric opportunity: the Tesla Model 3 returned to the margin chart with an average retail margin of £2,885, after a brief hiatus in August, and the iconic Nissan Leaf also returned to the top 10 for sales volume – but these were the only standout EV performances for the month.
TeeBoon concluded: “The XC90 is a force to be reckoned with, but September also saw other models have their time in the (autumn) sun! With strong performances from Volvo, BMW and Toyota, it’s clear that dealers are backing vehicles that impress across the board: reliable, desirable and with profit potential.
“With supply tightening, the hybrid segment is proving a safe bet – bridging the gap between ICE familiarity and EV ambition, and giving retailers a reliable route to profit in a changing market.”
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About Dealer Auction
Dealer Auction is the UK’s leading digital remarketing platform. We give buyers and sellers more choice, better insight and greater margins. Dealer Auction is an independent company, created through a joint venture between Cox Automotive and Auto Trader. For more information, visit www.dealerauction.co.uk.
Launched in May 2024, Dealer Auction’s EV Performance Review (EVPR) is a monthly feature that tracks the performance and trends of EV and Hybrid vehicles on the UK’s leading digital remarketing platform.
