The used MPV segment was the only vehicle type to see sales notably increase during the last quarter of 2008.

Experian research shows volume of used MPVs was up 7.9% between October and November last year despite sales of larger engine vehicles falling.

MPVs are most popular in Greater London which grew by 19% in the same period.

Sales of used 4x4s also bucked the national trend in Greater London and increased by 14.1%.
The only other region to see an increase in the sale of used 4x4s during this period was the north – up by just 0.2%.

Kirk Fletcher, managing director of Experian’s automotive division, said: “The latest used car sales statistics show that despite a greater focus on smaller, more economical vehicles, the fall in sales for the used supermini and mini segments were still on a par with, for example, the upper medium and the sports segments.

“It indicates that even in a downturn there is a certain degree of reluctance to downgrade in size.”