The 2016 electric automatic Renault Zoe (pictured) was on average the UK’s fastest selling used vehicle in July.

It took 18 days to sell, this marks the first time a fully electric vehicle has topped Auto Trader’s national top 10 list of fastest selling used cars. 

In another unprecedented win for alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs), an electric hybrid variation of the Mitsubishi Outlander MPV (2015 automatic) beat petrol and diesel-powered counterparts to become the fastest selling used car in London last month. It took an average of just 12 days leave forecourts.

Petrol and diesel however maintained their market dominance, with diesel proving its ongoing resilience, topping eight of the 13 regions and countries tracked.

Of all the vehicles making it on to the regional top ten lists, 54% were diesel. 

There was a particularly healthy demand for used medium and large sized diesels, topping the list in: the North West (2017 Mercedes-Benz E Class – diesel automatic – 22 days)

South (2015 BMW 5 Series – diesel automatic – 16 days)

South East (2017 Ford Kuga – diesel automatic – 21 days)

South West (2015 BMW 1 Series – diesel manual – 27 days)

Wales (2015 Nissan Qashqai – diesel manual – 30 days)

West Midlands (2017 Mercedes-Benz E Class – diesel automatic –21 days)

Yorkshire (2015 Volkswagen Tiguan – diesel manual – 21 days).

Karolina Edwards-Smajda (pictured), Auto Trader’s director of commercial products, said: “It’s extremely encouraging to see such a solid performance from AFVs in July, which is a great reflection of a wider softening of consumer resistance. 

“There’s clearly some way to go before mass adoption, but with sales of ultra-low and zero emission cars growing 25.3% during the second quarter of 2018, electric and hybrid cars are fast becoming a desirable addition to forecourts.

“For both the used and new markets, education will be key to driving adoption; to help inform their customers of the many benefits of AFVs, retailers can use the details in our recently launched electric hub.

“Again, the data shows us that despite its new car challenges, diesel maintains a dominant position within the second-hand market.

And it’s no surprise, as their greater fuel efficiency makes them more appealing to budget conscious consumers, especially when it comes to larger, family sized cars.

The UK’s Top 10 Fastest Selling Used Cars in July 2018

Rank	Make/model	Description	Average days to sell	Average retail price
1	Renault Zoe	2016 Renault Zoe Hatchback Electric Automatic	18	£6,497
2	Peugeot 308	2013 Peugeot 308 Hatchback Diesel Manual	18	£5,606
3	Volvo XC60	2015 Volvo XC60 Estate Diesel Manual	19	£18,407
4	Mercedes-Benz A Class	2016 Mercedes-Benz A Class Hatchback Petrol Manual	19	£16,923
5	Kia Sorento	2015 Kia Sorento SUV Diesel Manual	20	£18,488
6	Audi S3	2015 Audi S3 Hatchback Petrol Manual	20	£22,856
7	Mitsubishi Outlander	2015 Mitsubishi Outlander MPV Diesel Automatic	22	£14,272
8	Mitsubishi Outlander	2015 Mitsubishi Outlander MPV Diesel Manual	22	£14,301
9	Volkswagen Golf	2016 Volkswagen Golf Estate Petrol Automatic	22	£22,338
10	Hyundai i800	2017 Hyundai i800 MPV Diesel Manual	22	£16,585