At a glance:
- Hybrids dominate Dealer Auction’s review of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) for May, despite an EV surge in April.
- Major shift in the average age and mileage profile across the platform – with age sitting at 5.5 years old, the oldest average age recorded.
- Success for hybrid models from a few select brands, with multiple entries from Volvo, Lexus and Toyota in the top trade margin chart.
- The hybrid Volvo XC60 topped the profit chart, mirroring the diesel version’s success in Dealer Auction’s sister publication, the Retail Margin Monitor, which tracks all fuel types.
It was all change in the latest data from Dealer Auction’s EV Performance Report (EVPR) for May, which revealed that, in a challenging month for the industry, dealers turned to older used hybrid models from a few select brands. This stood in contrast to earlier in the spring, where the success of younger EVs curated a diverse set of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) across the top 10 model charts.
Turning first to Dealer Auction’s platform metrics for the month. There was a small dip in the average sold price, now sitting at £13,844. The average retail margin for AFVs also fell by £500 to £3,130, but notably this was still a strong metric compared to the start of the year (£2,412 in January).
A major change was the age and mileage profile of the vehicles, which has held steady in recent months. But in May, the average age rose from 4 years old to 5.5 years old – the oldest since the EVPR launched. This was mirrored in the mileage profile. While not reaching record numbers, it soared by 6,000 miles to a total of 41,017.
In terms of fuel percentage on the platform, hybrid’s share rose by 18%, but this came at the expense of electric.
Dealer Auction’s Marketplace Director, Kieran TeeBoon, commented:
“May has seen a rebalancing after the rush to EVs during the first stages of the Middle Eastern conflict and the resulting pressures on fuel. It’s especially interesting to see the performance of mature hybrid models – showing proven experience matters!
“Overall, May saw a solid performance for trade AFVs. But looming concerns in the UK new car space – including high manufacturing costs and trading relationship uncertainty – once again shine a light on the importance of fiscal policy in bolstering a healthy new AFV market, ultimately benefitting the used market.”1
Turning to the top-performing models of the month, hybrid ruled the roost, taking 90% of the top 10 charts for margin, CAP Clean performance and sales volume – reflecting the potential benefits for buyers and sellers alike.
The hybrid Volvo XC60 returned to the top spot for margin, joined by its XC40 compatriot in second. Interestingly, the diesel XC60 achieved the top margin in Dealer Auction’s sister publication, the Retail Margin Monitor, which tracks performance across all fuel types on the platform.
For AFVs, the double Volvo success wasn’t unique: the top 10 for margin also saw two Lexus models and four Toyota models (including a first-ever entry for the Toyota Yaris Cross!) claim spots, showing that brand was a key driver for trade buyers this month.
Other models that enjoyed success in May included the Nissan Qashqai. Often a solid contender in the margin chart, this time it found more success in the bestseller list – showing that dealers have been taking note of its profit-making potential.
On the EV side, the Jaguar I-PACE flew the flag for zero emissions in the margin chart – in a respectable third place – while the Nissan LEAF and Renault Megane E-Tech were the only electric entries in sales volume and CAP respectively.
TeeBoon concluded:
“Despite seeing success in April, it’s clear there’s still progress to be made for EVs, as dealers search for ways to broaden appeal beyond early adopters and those prompted by geopolitical developments. April saw a more diverse set of top performers, while May saw a clear flight to familiar favourites. It will be interesting to see if either month has been an anomaly or the start of a new trend.
“Meanwhile, the performance of the Qashqai is a timely reminder that today’s profit standout can quickly become tomorrow’s volume success story. It illustrates how quickly market dynamics can evolve; as more retailers capitalise on a strong opportunity, increased availability can place pressure on margins – underlining the value of tracking monthly movements rather than relying on a single snapshot. Will we see a Volvo, Lexus or Toyota shoot up the sales volume chart in June?”
ENDS
Make sure to check out last month’s EV performance review for more insights.
Source:
1SMMT (2026). Vehicle production steadies but sector faces rising trade protectionism. Available at: https://www.smmt.co.uk/vehicle-production-steadies-but-sector-faces-rising-trade-protectionism/ (Accessed 05 June 2026).
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 Autotrader. 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.
