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The UK used-car data index

The cars Forecourt holds real DVSA data on, ranked on the numbers that decide what ownership costs - value retention, reliability, economy and insurance - plus the EVs adding the most to Britain's roads by DfT licensing. Refreshed monthly.

By Forecourt Data Desk· UK vehicle data· Published 2 Jun 2026· Data as of 1 Jun 2026

These tables are computed straight from the same data behind every Forecourt profile - DVSA MOT records, DfT licensing figures and our modelled depreciation curves. Value retention is shown by car type rather than by individual model, because three-year retention is driven by segment; ranking single models on it would just produce a wall of identical figures. The reliability, economy and insurance tables cover the cars we hold real DVSA data on. The EV table is pure-electric models only, ranked by the number of cars actually added to UK roads in a year - not percentage growth, which would just surface whatever launched most recently.

Value retention by car type — best to worst (modelled, 3-year)

1Sports (10 models)70% retained at 3yr
2Grand tourer (3 models)70% retained at 3yr
3Coupe (9 models)66% retained at 3yr
4Hatchback (44 models)65% retained at 3yr
5Hot hatch (4 models)64% retained at 3yr
6Coupe SUV (6 models)64% retained at 3yr
7Pickup (3 models)64% retained at 3yr
84x4 (4 models)64% retained at 3yr
9SUV (65 models)63% retained at 3yr
10Crossover SUV (30 models)63% retained at 3yr
11City car (14 models)63% retained at 3yr
12Estate (8 models)60% retained at 3yr
13Saloon (27 models)56% retained at 3yr
14Fastback (3 models)56% retained at 3yr
15MPV (13 models)55% retained at 3yr
16Small van (7 models)52% retained at 3yr
17Panel van (9 models)52% retained at 3yr
18Large van (6 models)52% retained at 3yr
19SUV (EV) (27 models)50% retained at 3yr
20Coupe SUV (EV) (4 models)50% retained at 3yr
21Panel van (EV) (4 models)50% retained at 3yr
22Crossover SUV (EV) (6 models)50% retained at 3yr
23Hatchback (EV) (10 models)46% retained at 3yr
24Saloon (EV) (8 models)46% retained at 3yr
25Fastback (EV) (3 models)46% retained at 3yr

Most reliable — top 10 (from real DVSA MOT records)

1Lexus UX94 / 100
2Mazda CX-3092 / 100
3Lexus ES92 / 100
4Porsche Macan91 / 100
5Toyota bZ4X91 / 100
6Volvo XC4090 / 100
7Audi Q290 / 100
8Skoda Karoq90 / 100
9Lexus NX90 / 100
10Toyota GR Yaris90 / 100

Most economical — top 10 (combustion mpg)

1Toyota Aygo X62 mpg
2Honda Jazz61 mpg
3Toyota Corolla61 mpg
4Suzuki Swift61 mpg
5Renault Austral60 mpg
6Toyota Yaris Cross60 mpg
7Honda Civic57 mpg
8DS 357 mpg
9Renault Clio56 mpg
10Skoda Octavia56 mpg

Cheapest to insure — top 10 (lowest insurance group)

1Fiat 500group 8
2Toyota Aygo Xgroup 8
3Hyundai i10group 8
4Nissan Micragroup 8
5Kia Picantogroup 8
6Ford Ka+group 8
7Peugeot 107group 8
8Fiat Pandagroup 8
9Vauxhall Adamgroup 8
10Smart ForTwo (old)group 8

Fastest-growing used EVs by cars added — top 10 (DfT licensing, year on year)

1BYD Seal+34,543 taxed (+1252.9%)
2Tesla Model Y+23,205 taxed (+22.6%)
3Tesla Model 3+21,061 taxed (+18.8%)
4BMW iX+15,600 taxed (+53.7%)
5Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron+13,865 taxed (+31.8%)
6Audi Q6 e-tron+12,495 taxed (+624.4%)
7Skoda Enyaq+11,516 taxed (+41%)
8BMW i4+11,376 taxed (+40.5%)
9Kia EV3+10,867 taxed (+1021.3%)
10Volvo EX30+10,155 taxed (+105.9%)

How these figures were sourced

  • Value retention by car type— mean of depreciationCurve 3-year ratio across each body type
  • Reliability— reliabilityScore from DVSA MOT records (high/medium-confidence profiles)
  • Economy— runningCosts.averageMpg (combustion only)
  • Insurance— runningCosts.insuranceGroup
  • EV growth— populationStats.trending (DfT VEH0124 licensing, year on year)
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