Feature
2025 in review: the biggest trends on Autotrader
From the biggest car brands to the biggest selling models, and everything in between, here are the cars you’ve been looking up on Autotrader in 2025.
Words by: Andrew Woodhouse
Published on 8 January 2026 | 0 min read
If you’re thinking about selling your car privately or starting the search for your next one, it helps to understand what’s catching buyers’ attention in the UK right now.
Looking at the most viewed cars, brands, models and colours on Autotrader in 2025 offers a useful window into what people are browsing, comparing and aspiring to own. While views don’t always translate directly into sales, they do highlight emerging patterns in demand, from body styles and powertrains to familiar favourites, giving you a helpful snapshot of this year’s market whether you’re buying or selling.
Looking at the most viewed cars, brands, models and colours on Autotrader in 2025 offers a useful window into what people are browsing, comparing and aspiring to own. While views don’t always translate directly into sales, they do highlight emerging patterns in demand, from body styles and powertrains to familiar favourites, giving you a helpful snapshot of this year’s market whether you’re buying or selling.
Most viewed second-hand electric cars of 2025
Over 2025, Tesla attracted the most advert views on Autotrader, with the Model 3 and Model Y comfortably taking the top two spots. They were joined by a mix of newer electric brands and familiar faces, including the Volkswagen ID.3, Jaguar I-Pace, Polestar 2, Kia Niro and Audi Q4 e-Tron, alongside longer-established electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf. The Hyundai KONA and Mercedes-Benz EQA completed the top ten.
Taken together, this mix suggests interest is strongest around electric cars that feel either reassuringly familiar or aspirational without being out of reach. Rather than chasing the most experimental or high-end electric cars, many buyers appear to be exploring models that balance new technology with trusted brands and proven designs. Is it time to go electric? Browse thousands of electric cars available on Autotrader.
Taken together, this mix suggests interest is strongest around electric cars that feel either reassuringly familiar or aspirational without being out of reach. Rather than chasing the most experimental or high-end electric cars, many buyers appear to be exploring models that balance new technology with trusted brands and proven designs. Is it time to go electric? Browse thousands of electric cars available on Autotrader.
Most viewed new cars of 2025
Throughout 2025, BMW emerged as the hottest new car brand on Autotrader, capturing over a tenth of all new car enquiries on Autotrader. While premium mainstays like Land Rover and Audi remained firm favourites, the new car market saw a significant shift as electric vehicles accounted for a fifth of all leads. MG dominated the electric charts with the popular MG4 and MG S5, while highly anticipated arrivals like the Renault 5 E-Tech and the award-winning Kia EV3 - crowned Autotrader’s Car of the Year - signalled a growing appetite for fresh, innovative designs. These were joined by fast-rising new entrants like Jaecoo and BYD, which are quickly turning heads and challenging the traditional leaderboard.
Rather than sticking solely to the familiar, consumers are exploring a diverse landscape where cutting-edge technology, bold value propositions, and established luxury all compete for the top spot.
Rather than sticking solely to the familiar, consumers are exploring a diverse landscape where cutting-edge technology, bold value propositions, and established luxury all compete for the top spot.
Most viewed brands
The most viewed brands in 2025 were familiar premium names like BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz - though perhaps that reflects a bit of aspirational window-shopping more than active buying.
Alongside these luxury favourites, more practical brands like Volkswagen, Ford, Vauxhall, Volvo and Toyota also featured in the top ten, sharing space with higher-end marques like Land Rover and Porsche. Together, this mix suggests that there's an appetite for a variety of cars where some consumers still value dependability and everyday usability, while the others are looking for aspirational cars when people start browsing what’s out there. Whatever your needs may be, we have a vehicle for all on Autotrader - from city cars to family cars, electric to hybrids, and more.
Alongside these luxury favourites, more practical brands like Volkswagen, Ford, Vauxhall, Volvo and Toyota also featured in the top ten, sharing space with higher-end marques like Land Rover and Porsche. Together, this mix suggests that there's an appetite for a variety of cars where some consumers still value dependability and everyday usability, while the others are looking for aspirational cars when people start browsing what’s out there. Whatever your needs may be, we have a vehicle for all on Autotrader - from city cars to family cars, electric to hybrids, and more.
Most viewed models
Looking more closely at individual models then, familiar names continue to attract attention. The Volkswagen Golf drew strong interest, reinforcing its reputation as a dependable all-rounder that suits a wide range of drivers. BMW also featured heavily, with the 3 Series, 5 Series and 1 Series all making the top ten, while models like the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class remained popular choices.
Ford’s Focus and Fiesta also held their own among the most viewed cars, underlining the ongoing appeal of practical, everyday models. Overall, this pattern suggests buyers are gravitating towards cars that feel established, versatile and easy to live with.
Ford’s Focus and Fiesta also held their own among the most viewed cars, underlining the ongoing appeal of practical, everyday models. Overall, this pattern suggests buyers are gravitating towards cars that feel established, versatile and easy to live with.
Most popular car colour
As in previous years, black remains the most popular car colour, followed by grey, white, blue and silver. These safe, neutral choices continue to dominate, possibly reflecting a desire for broad appeal, easier resale and cars that feel timeless rather than trend-led.
But beyond the top five, brighter shades such as red, green, orange and yellow start to appear. They hint at a small but growing group of buyers who are more willing to let their car reflect a bit of personality, whether that’s confidence, creativity or simply a desire to stand out. November saw a twist in car colour trends. Inspired by blockbuster hits Wicked and Wicked: For Good, green and purple raced into the top three most popular colours for the month. Outside the top ten, rarer choices like brown, purple, beige, bronze, gold and even pink make an appearance. They’re likely getting fewer views because there aren’t as many out there, but then again would you drive around in a gold car? And that in itself raises a question: which colours would you like to see more of on UK roads?
But beyond the top five, brighter shades such as red, green, orange and yellow start to appear. They hint at a small but growing group of buyers who are more willing to let their car reflect a bit of personality, whether that’s confidence, creativity or simply a desire to stand out. November saw a twist in car colour trends. Inspired by blockbuster hits Wicked and Wicked: For Good, green and purple raced into the top three most popular colours for the month. Outside the top ten, rarer choices like brown, purple, beige, bronze, gold and even pink make an appearance. They’re likely getting fewer views because there aren’t as many out there, but then again would you drive around in a gold car? And that in itself raises a question: which colours would you like to see more of on UK roads?
Most viewed car body-type
Unsurprisingly, people loved an SUV. They’ve been growing in popularity for years, and in 2025 they racked up more than 770 million advert views on Autotrader alone. The shrinking size of SUVs which has made them a convenient city car, and the growing number of competitive finance offers have helped fuel this popularity.
Hatchbacks followed closely behind, with saloons, coupes and estates completing the top five most viewed body types. May brought the sunshine and a surge in convertible searches - up 34%, peaking on the sunny Bank Holiday Sunday (4th May). Meanwhile, MPVs and pickups remained more niche choices. The huge level of interest in SUVs suggests buyers are drawn to the promise of space, comfort and flexibility, even if they don’t always need it day to day. At the same time, the continued strength of hatchbacks shows that affordability, practicality and ease of driving, particularly in towns and cities, still play a big role in browsing habits.
Hatchbacks followed closely behind, with saloons, coupes and estates completing the top five most viewed body types. May brought the sunshine and a surge in convertible searches - up 34%, peaking on the sunny Bank Holiday Sunday (4th May). Meanwhile, MPVs and pickups remained more niche choices. The huge level of interest in SUVs suggests buyers are drawn to the promise of space, comfort and flexibility, even if they don’t always need it day to day. At the same time, the continued strength of hatchbacks shows that affordability, practicality and ease of driving, particularly in towns and cities, still play a big role in browsing habits.
Keeping an eye on what’s popular on Autotrader can give you a real advantage, whether you’re thinking about selling your car or hunting for your next one. Knowing which models, colours and styles are in demand can help you price your car right, spot a good deal, or find a car that’s likely to sell quickly.
As 2026 gets underway, these trends can make a handy guide to making smarter choices in a market that’s always changing, helping you get the best value whether you’re buying or selling your car.
As 2026 gets underway, these trends can make a handy guide to making smarter choices in a market that’s always changing, helping you get the best value whether you’re buying or selling your car.