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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 1 Sep 2026· Data as of 31 Aug 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)

1City car (4 models)75% retained at 3yr
2Sports (10 models)72% retained at 3yr
3Grand tourer (3 models)70% retained at 3yr
4Coupe (8 models)67% retained at 3yr
5Hatchback (44 models)65% retained at 3yr
6SUV (57 models)62% retained at 3yr
7Crossover SUV (27 models)61% retained at 3yr
8Estate (8 models)60% retained at 3yr
9MPV (12 models)58% retained at 3yr
10Saloon (27 models)57% retained at 3yr
11Fastback (3 models)56% retained at 3yr
12Crossover SUV (EV) (6 models)56% retained at 3yr
13Fastback (EV) (3 models)54% retained at 3yr
14SUV (EV) (27 models)53% retained at 3yr
15Panel van (EV) (4 models)50% retained at 3yr
16Saloon (EV) (8 models)48% retained at 3yr
17Coupe SUV (EV) (4 models)48% retained at 3yr
18Hatchback (EV) (10 models)45% retained at 3yr

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

1Lexus UX96 / 100
2Toyota bZ4X96 / 100
3Honda Jazz95 / 100
4Honda HR-V95 / 100
5Aston Martin Vantage95 / 100
6Mazda MX-594 / 100
7Lexus NX94 / 100
8Lexus RX94 / 100
9Suzuki Jimny94 / 100
10Porsche 91193 / 100

Most economical — top 10 (combustion mpg)

1Toyota Yaris67 mpg
2Renault Clio65 mpg
3Toyota Yaris Cross65 mpg
4Suzuki Swift64 mpg
5Honda Jazz62 mpg
6Toyota Corolla60 mpg
7Toyota C-HR60 mpg
8Kia Niro58 mpg
9Hyundai Kona58 mpg
10Hyundai i1056 mpg

Cheapest to insure — top 10 (lowest insurance group)

1Hyundai i10group 5
2Nissan Micragroup 5
3Fiat Pandagroup 5
4Vauxhall Vivagroup 5
5Renault Twingogroup 5
6Mitsubishi Miragegroup 5
7Kia Picantogroup 6
8Vauxhall Adamgroup 6
9Toyota Aygo Xgroup 7
10Fiat 500group 8

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

1BYD Seal+34,057 taxed (+1235.3%)
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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