Data from Dealer Auction’s EV Performance Review (EVPR) reveals another solid performance from alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) in March 2025, with the hybrid Volvo XC90 registering a standout month.
AFVs across the platform were younger and carried fewer miles. The average age saw a 20.8% decrease from the previous period, dropping from 4.2 years to 3.4 years to the lowest level so far in 2025. Average mileage also saw a significant 24.4% drop from 33,980 to 26,242, the first time these figures have dipped below 30,000 miles. Mileage is also at the lowest level since Dealer Auction started monitoring the performance of AFVs in January 2024. After a fluctuating 2024, these impressive figures could signal that dealers are pushing younger vehicles out to sale.
Dealer Auction’s Marketplace Director, Kieran TeeBoon, commented: “It’s great to see March building on February’s results, especially in the targeted areas of getting younger vehicles with lower mileages attracting prospective AFV customers. Building on these initiatives will be a key point in driving AFV sales for the rest of the year.”
Bid figures were impressive once again at 5,772, remaining well above 2024 averages. And despite a small dip in the average retail margin, it still reported a robust figure of £2,897.
Looking to the best-performing trade-to-trade models in March 2025, it was big news for Volvo, with the XC90 posting an amazing average assumed gross margin of £5,482, surpassing its impressive performance from July 2024 (£5,106) to emerge as a standout model.
The hybrid Hyundai Tucson continued to impress, topping the sales chart for the second time in a row. It also maintained its rank in the top 10 in CAP performance for a consecutive month.
Toyota also had another month of great success, dominating the top ten sales with the hybrid Yaris, Corolla, RAV4, C-HR and Auris all claiming second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh place in the top 10 respectively, with the RAV4 also claiming top ten spots in both CAP performance and average assumed gross margin.
EVs disrupted the hybrid dominance in the CAP performance chart, with two electric models taking top three positions – the Tesla Model 3 claimed the top spot, while the Nissan LEAF secured third place. The Tesla Model 3 also showed strength in the margin ratings, taking fourth place with an average margin of £3,607.
TeeBoon concluded: “March has been another strong month for preowned AFVs. But as we’re on the cusp of the VED changes coming in for new vehicles, it will be interesting to see if this impacts used statistics over the next month. What it will show is a clear indication of what dealers and consumers are looking for in AFV vehicles, and if preference leans to either hybrid or electric vehicles. It continues to be a very exciting segment, and we can’t wait to see what next month brings.”
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.
