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Top 10 best-selling used vehicles of 2020

Ford and Vauxhall continued to dominate the list of best-selling cars in 2020. Photo: Getty
Ford and Vauxhall continued to dominate the list of best-selling cars in 2020. Photo: Getty

The Ford (F) Fiesta retained its title as the best-selling used vehicle in the UK in 2020, taking the top spot for the sixth year in a row, according to new analysis by AA Cars.

The slightly bigger Ford Focus comes in second place, followed by the supermini Vauxhall (UG.PA) Corsa at number three.

The Vauxhall Astra is at number four, followed by the Nissan Juke in fifth place. Nissan’s (NSANY) crossover SUV Juke model re-entered the top 10 after dropping out of the list in 2019.

Oaxaca, Mexico - May 25, 2017: Red compact car Ford Fiesta in the city street.
The Ford Fiesta retained its title as the best-selling used vehicle in the UK in 2020, taking the top spot for the sixth year in a row. Photo: Getty

“Iconic city car,” the Fiat 500 (FCAU), moved up from ninth to sixth place, according to the analysis. Searches on the AA Cars website for the Fiat 500 surged towards the end of the coronavirus lockdown, possibly driven by commuters returning to the workplace after working from home keen to swap public transport for a car to maintain social distancing.

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The Nissan Qashqai took seventh place in the list of the top 10 best-selling used vehicles of 2020, reflecting the popularity of SUVs in 2020.

The Volkswagen Golf (VOW3.DE) came in at number eight, making its way back into the top 10 in 2020 after falling out of the list last year.

'Iconic city car,' the Fiat 500, moved up from ninth to sixth place, according to the analysis. Photo: Getty
'Iconic city car,' the Fiat 500, moved up from ninth to sixth place, according to the analysis. Photo: Getty

The Ford Transit van entered the best-selling used car list for the first time in 2020, taking ninth place. As Brits turned to online shopping during the coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdowns, online deliveries grew substantially and “a growing number of people who had lost work or been made redundant turned to delivery driving to bolster their income,” the analysis found.

Family car the Vauxhall Insignia rounded out the top 10.

Ford and Vauxhall continued to dominate the list of best-selling cars in 2020, with two brands topping the list of the top-selling marques on AA Cars every year since 2015. Mercedes (DAI.DE), which had two vehicles in 2019’s top 10, failed to get any models into this year’s ranking.

Geneva, Switzerland - March 13, 2019: Cargo van Ford Transit in the city street.
The Ford Transit van entered the best-selling used car list for the first time in 2020, reflecting the rise in online deliveries during the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Getty

In terms of models, SUVs and smaller family hatchbacks remained popular in 2020.

Demand for used cars grew significantly after the relaxation of the UK’s first nationwide lockdown, with searches on the AA Cars site regularly registering higher than during the same period in 2019, according to the analysis.

James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars said: “The entry of the Ford Transit into the best-selling cars of 2020 is a true sign of the times, and a testament to how online deliveries have boomed as the pandemic kept millions of us at home for much of the year.

Doren, Austria - November 1, 2019: Black colored 2011 Nissan Juke car parking next to the road on a warm, cloudy autumn morning in a rural area in Vorarlberg, Austria.
The Nissan Juke re-entered the top 10, reflecting the popularity of SUVs in 2020. Photo: Getty

“The easing of COVID restrictions in summer saw many commuters reassess how they travel to work too. The Fiat 500, a nippy and fuel-efficient city car, proved particularly popular with those looking for an inexpensive way to swap the train for driving.

“Drivers are spoiled for choice in the used car market, and since the UK’s first lockdown, demand has been strong, and at times even higher than that seen during 2019.”

Halinow, Poland - May, 28th, 2015. Nissan crossover stopped on the unmade road. The second-generation of the Qashqai, the most important car for Nissan in Europe, was revealed in 2013. The Qashqai is available in versions: 1.2 DIG-T (115 HP) and 1.6 DIG-T (163 HP) petrol engines or 1.5 dCi (110 HP) and 1.6 dCi (130 HP) diesel engines. The all-wheel-drive system is available only in the strongest version.
The Nissan Qashqai took seventh place in the list of the top 10 best-selling used vehicles of 2020. Photo: Getty

Fairclough added: “The economic impact of the pandemic is shifting buying behaviour too. With many people keeping a close eye on their finances, the wide choice and strong value of the used car market has proved a big draw.

“The motor industry is adapting to people’s changing needs, and we expect flexible leasing options to become more prevalent next year — as they offer those drivers who don’t want to commit to owning a car long-term the chance to drive a brand new vehicle.”

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