More than 2 million secondhand cars were sold between April and June 2018, reveals the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

A total volume of 2,039,429 used cars marks a decline of just 0.4 percent over 2017 figures – in contrast to the new car market, which is down 5.5 percent year-to-date.

So far in 2018, over 4.1 million secondhand cars have changed hands.

“It’s great to see the used car sector remain in robust health as motorists take advantage of the exciting high-tech models filtering down from the new sector – including some of the latest low emission diesel and alternatively fuelled vehicles,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.

He sounded a note of caution for the rest of 2018, though. “With used sales so closely reflecting the new car market, some cooling is expected over the coming months.

“Given fleet renewal is the fastest way to improve air quality and reduce CO2, we need greater business and consumer confidence to keep both markets moving.”

Green car growth

What’s hot in the secondhand car market at the moment? Used hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric cars, whose sales rose by more than a quarter. Almost 27,000 of them changed hands in three months, a rise of well over 5,000 on the year before.

Surprisingly, diesel car sales were also up 3.2 percent – and petrol car sales fell 3.3 percent.

The most popular type of used car is the supermini, which accounted for 32.6 percent of the market (despite a 2.6 percent decline). Small and medium-sized family cars are next most popular, but SUVs are growing fast, with a 10.7 percent increase in sales. Executive car transactions were also up.

And the most popular colour of secondhand car? Black, with silver and blue next up, but white proving to be the biggest gainer – followed, unexpectedly, by orange. Green and maroon cars are, however, fast falling out of favour with used car buyers: sales of secondhand green cars were down 14.6 percent.

Top 10 best-selling used cars: Q2 2018

1: Ford Fiesta

2: Ford Focus

3: Vauxhall Corsa

4: Volkswagen Golf

5: Vauxhall Astra

6: BMW 3 Series

7: Mini

8: Volkswagen Polo

9: Renault Clio

10: Audi A3

In a surprise development, Volvo performance division Polestar is releasing software that gives selected all-wheel drive (AWD) Volvo cars and SUVs a more rear-driven feel – to improve both pull-away traction and, more importantly, driver satisfaction when cornering.

The software update increases both how much torque is distributed to the rear wheels, and how often drive is biased rearwards. It is engaged whenever the car’s Dynamic driving mode is selected, or when Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is disengaged.

Called the Polestar AWD optimisation, it launches this month for petrol and diesel versions of the Volvo V90 and S90, the S60, V60 and XC60, and XC40 small SUV.

“We are always fine-tuning the driving experience of Volvo cars,” said the firm’s senior vice president of R&D Henrik Green, “and this upgrade makes the all-wheel drive both smoother and more dynamic.”

Drivers, he said, will enjoy better steering feel and turn-in to corners, enhanced control and feedback, and better off-the-line traction that could help improve acceleration times.

Volvo says the upgrade is an added extra feature to the Polestar optimisation kit – which already sharpens the accelerator pedal and makes it respond more quickly when pressed, speeds up gearchanges, holds onto gears in corners… and, of course, boosts overall engine output.

The effect is expected to be particularly noticeable in Volvo’s ‘Twin Engine’ plug-in hybrid models, which use a fast-reacting electric motor on the rear axle. Polestar is described as Volvo’s electric performance brand and is in the process of launching its first electrified car, the Polestar 1, in a limited run of just 500 cars.

How can you tell if a Volvo has received the Polestar AWD optimisation? Look for the performance division’s trademark blue badge on the bootlid.

Skoda has revised the Fabia supermini for 2019 by boosting standard kit, fitting eye-catching LED daytime running lights – and eradicating diesel engines from the line-up.

It makes the facelifted new Fabia range another line-up of superminis to go petrol-only; the all-three-cylinder petrol engine range stretches from 75hp (the only non-turbo) to 110hp units (the previous, gutless, 60hp entry-level version has been dropped, and all are WLTP-ready).

In dealer showrooms from September 2018 – just in time for the 68-plate registration change – prices for the new Fabia range start from £12,840.

Skoda now fits a trip computer and, more significantly, its Front Assist city emergency braking system as standard to every Fabia, although the base SE trim remains otherwise fairly light on kit.

The SE range costs from £14,115, and includes the all-important air conditioning, touchscreen infotainment, alloy wheels, a better radio, auto up and down for the electric windows and front fog lights. SE models also get the famous Skoda umbrella, located under the front passenger seat. For a little more, Colour Edition models add 16-inch wheels in white, silver or black: prices start from £14,665.

Skoda’s given the Fabia SE L standard Amunsden sat nav with online functionality – and a year’s free subscription to the connected services – as well as an illuminated front centre console and a posher design of 16-inch wheel. The Fabia Monte Carlo range remains too: priced from £16,785, the warmed-over Fabia gets climate control, LED rear lights, a styling pack and rear electric windows.

The Fabia is the second best-selling Skoda in the UK, after the Octavia, and is the firm’s best-selling car of all across Europe. As before, it’s offered both as a five-door hatch and an estate, with the top 110hp engine including an optional seven-speed DSG.

We recently reviewed the new Volkswagen Touareg and found it a hugely appealing luxury SUV for those with upwards of £50,000 to spend. Now, those who have less than £50k can also get a look-in, thanks to the launch of a new variant.

Joining the Touareg range is a lower-power 231hp version of the 3.0-litre TDI V6 turbodiesel, which sits below the 286hp launch model.

It is priced from £48,995 in base SEL guise, instead of £51,595. The 231hp version still gets an eight-speed tiptronic auto though, and both 4Motion all-wheel drive and a limited slip differential. Even the engine’s basically the same, albeit detuned. 

Performance takes a bit of a hit: 0-62mph takes 7.5 seconds instead of a near hot hatch-like 6.1 seconds; the top speed is 135mph instead of 145mph.

Economy is no better either: the power-capped 231hp still averages 42.8mpg and emits 173g/km CO2.

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Its power is better-spread, though. 231hp is produced from 3,250-4,750rpm; the 286hp version’s peak is restricted to 3,500-4,000rpm. Pulling power of 369lb ft is generated from 1,750-3,000rpm; the 286hp’s peak torque kicks in from 2,250-3,250rpm.

It retains the same 3.5-tonne towing weight as well.

The cheaper new Touareg gets the same comprehensive haul of equipment as the higher-power model, and is also still offered in R-Line guise for £52,495 and prime R-Line Tech for £55,595. The latter has the Innovision Cockpit layout that so impressed us during our model review.

Ordering for the 231hp Touareg is open now; if even a second diesel choice is one diesel too many for you, fear not – a turbo petrol alternative is coming later in the year. But don’t expect the fuel economy of that one to match the diesels…

Seat is ditching the optional extra and offering its full 2019 model range to buy in a simple three-choice sales process, called Seat Easy Move.

Instead of choosing a car and then having to tediously run through numerous specification choices and optional extras, the new Seat model range asks buyers to make three simple choices: engine, trim level, colour… and that’s it.

Seat new car buyers now don’t even need to pay extra for metallic paint: it’s now included for free in the purchase price of the car (although solid colours are still available).

The only options are now dealer-fit accessories such as parking sensors or alarms, or panoramic sunroofs on a few models. Everything else is built around the core Ibiza, Leon, Arona and Ateca range of SE, Xcellence and FR.

Those who want more extras can choose more feature-packed variants of each: SE Technology, FR Sport and Xcellence Lux.

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For less popular models such as the Mii, Alhambra and Toledo, the line-up is even simpler.  

‘Time for a change’

Seat has rolled the initiative out across its entire model range after trialling it on the new Arona small SUV earlier this year.

The Spanish car firm’s UK director Richard Harrison said: “Everyone used to think that having loads of choice was a good thing, but in fact people find it really difficult to understand all the permutations and options when buying a new car. We realised it was time for a change.

“We have built Easy Move by looking at what options customers want and bundling them into neat packages that are really logical to understand.

“When you add on the industry complexity of WLTP (where individual factory options could change the CO2 output of the car) and you look at where consumer trends are going, it makes complete sense.

“I would be surprised if we didn’t see a number of competitors following Seat UK in this.”