Mini drives margin momentum as dealers cash in on April surge

Used car dealers saw impressive profit opportunities in April, with the Mini Countryman topping Dealer Auction’s latest Retail Margin Monitor in the sub-£10,000 category.

The subcompact crossover delivered a standout average retail margin of £2,650 – the highest recorded for any model so far this year.

It also proved to be the fastest seller, taking just 29 days on average to turn on forecourts.

Mini's performance didn’t stop there, securing second place in the top 10 brands ranking for the same price segment.

Kieran TeeBoon, marketplace director at Dealer Auction, said: “It’s been a strong showing from Mini throughout 2025.

"The hatchback took the top spot back in February, and the brand continues to prove a consistent performer under £10k.

"Dealers will be watching closely, especially as the fight for high-margin stock intensifies.”

The Mini Countryman wasn’t the only model making waves in April.

The Nissan X-Trail entered the chart for the first time, shooting to second place with an average margin of £2,600. Meanwhile, the Škoda Octavia also broke into the rankings, averaging 32 days to sell – marking it as one of the month’s fastest movers.

The Ford Kuga, which topped the margin chart in March and has been 2024’s overall best performer, continued its strong run with a £2,550 margin – its highest of the year – putting it third in the table.

In the £10,000-plus category, familiar names led the field. The Land Rover Discovery Sport delivered the month’s top return with a £4,125 average margin, followed by the Range Rover Evoque at £3,925. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volvo XC60 also held firm as profitable favourites.

BMW retained its crown at the brand level for sub-£10k models, with an average margin of £2,350 – its best figure of the year.

Mini followed closely at £2,275, with Volvo rounding out the top three at £2,260.

TeeBoon added: “April marked a record month for used car sales.

"With market momentum strong, dealers need to be agile – leveraging insights to source vehicles that deliver healthy margins and move fast. The data shows clear opportunities for those prepared to act.”