{"id":67499,"date":"2025-08-05T10:18:06","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T14:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/used-diesel-car-values-defy-the-odds-as-new-supply-dries-up-and-demand-shifts\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T10:18:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T14:18:06","slug":"used-diesel-car-values-defy-the-odds-as-new-supply-dries-up-and-demand-shifts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/used-diesel-car-values-defy-the-odds-as-new-supply-dries-up-and-demand-shifts\/","title":{"rendered":"Used Diesel Car Values Defy the Odds as New Supply Dries Up and Demand Shifts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why Are Some Used Diesel Cars Suddenly Worth More?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been keeping an eye on the car market, you might have noticed something surprising: while diesel engines seem to be fading out of the new car scene, some used diesel models are actually going up in value. It\u2019s a twist that\u2019s left many drivers scratching their heads. What\u2019s really going on here?<\/p>\n

The answer isn\u2019t as simple as \u201cdiesel is dead.\u201d In fact, the story is a lot more nuanced\u2014and it says a lot about how car buyers are adapting to a changing market.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Driving the Drop in New Diesel Car Sales?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the big picture. Diesel\u2019s reputation took a major hit after the Dieselgate scandal in 2015, and things haven\u2019t really recovered since. In the first half of 2025, only 58,722 new diesel cars were registered in the UK\u2014a drop of 11.3% compared to the previous year, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). That\u2019s a far cry from diesel\u2019s heyday.<\/p>\n

Car makers are shifting focus, too. Brands like Audi, BMW, and JLR (think Land Rover Defender) still offer diesel options, but most manufacturers are investing heavily in petrol, hybrid, and all-electric models. With stricter emissions rules and looming bans on new fossil-fuel cars, it\u2019s no wonder diesel\u2019s days seem numbered.<\/p>\n

Why Are Some Used Diesels Bucking the Trend?<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s where things get interesting. Despite the overall decline, certain used diesel models are actually appreciating in value. According to Cap HPI, a respected vehicle valuation firm, a three-year-old Honda HR-V diesel with 60,000 miles is now worth 11.3% more than it was a year ago. The Mercedes CLS is up 8%, and the Ford Mondeo has gained 6.5%.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s behind these gains? Dylan Setterfield, head of forecast strategy at Cap HPI, points to a simple truth: there\u2019s still real demand for diesel among high-mileage drivers and dealers. Diesel engines are known for their fuel efficiency, especially on long journeys. And with fewer new diesels entering the market, the pool of used ones is shrinking\u2014making the best examples more desirable.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s classic supply and demand. When something becomes harder to find but is still needed, prices can rise, even if the overall trend is downward.<\/p>\n

Are All Used Diesels Holding Their Value?<\/p>\n

Not even close. The used diesel market is experiencing wild swings. While some models are climbing, others are losing value at an alarming rate. Take the Ssangyong Korando 2.2D: a three-year-old version with 60,000 miles is now worth 24.5% less than it was last year. The Vauxhall Astra diesel has dropped 20.2%, and the Range Rover Evoque is down 12.7%.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s causing these sharp declines? In the Korando\u2019s case, uncertainty during the brand\u2019s transition from Ssangyong to KGM has spooked buyers. For the Astra, high-mileage examples are being hit with bigger penalties. And the Evoque\u2019s dip is tied to a sudden increase in used supply after a period of shortage.<\/p>\n

So, while some used diesels are hot property, others are struggling\u2014often for reasons that go beyond just the fuel type.<\/p>\n

How Stable Is the Used Diesel Market Overall?<\/p>\n

Despite the headlines, most of the used diesel market is surprisingly steady. On average, a three-year-old diesel is worth just 2.1% less than it was a year ago. For petrol cars, the equivalent drop is 1.3%. At the one-year, 20,000-mile mark, the tables turn slightly: diesels are down 1.4%, while petrols are down 1.6%.<\/p>\n

Philip Nothard, insight director at Cox Automotive International, notes that after the wild price swings of the post-pandemic years\u2014when two- to four-year-old diesels could fetch up to 73% of their original price\u2014things are calming down. Today, those same diesels are worth around 51% of their new price, compared to 58% for petrol cars and just 36% for electric vehicles.<\/p>\n

In other words, while diesel values are sliding, they\u2019re doing so in a controlled way. The market isn\u2019t in freefall.<\/p>\n

Is There a Shortage of Used Diesels?<\/p>\n

Absolutely. The drop in new diesel sales over the past few years means there are simply fewer used diesels coming onto the market. For example, Motorpoint, a leading car supermarket, typically stocks around 5,000 cars\u2014most of them less than four years old. Right now, only about 350 of those are diesels or diesel hybrids.<\/p>\n

This scarcity is reflected in the prices you see on dealer forecourts. With fewer options available, the best-kept diesels are holding their value, and in some cases, even appreciating.<\/p>\n

Should You Buy a Used Diesel Now?<\/p>\n

It depends on your needs and priorities. If you drive long distances and value fuel economy, a well-maintained used diesel could still make a lot of sense. But don\u2019t expect prices to skyrocket. Mark Carpenter, CEO of Motorpoint Group, cautions that while a bump in demand could nudge prices up, the aging pool of used diesels will eventually make them less appealing to buyers who want something nearly new.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also the question of future regulations. Cities across Europe are introducing low-emission zones, and taxes on older diesels are likely to rise. If you\u2019re thinking long-term, it\u2019s worth considering how these changes might affect your running costs and resale value.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the Takeaway for Car Buyers?<\/p>\n

The used diesel market is a patchwork of winners and losers right now. Some models are defying expectations and rising in value, thanks to their rarity and ongoing appeal to certain drivers. Others are depreciating faster than ever, often due to brand-specific issues or oversupply.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re shopping for a used car, don\u2019t get caught up in the hype\u2014focus on your own needs, do your homework, and pay close attention to the specific model and its history. The market is stable for most diesels, but the real story is in the details.<\/p>\n

And remember: as the car industry continues to evolve, flexibility and a willingness to adapt will serve you well. Whether you stick with diesel, switch to petrol, or take the plunge into electric, the best choice is the one that fits your life\u2014not just the latest trend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"Diesels<\/a><\/p>\n

The powertrain may be on the way out, but the value of some models have risen by more than 10%<\/p>\n

\n

The values of some used diesel cars are actually increasing despite the fading appeal of the powertrain in the new car market, say leading vehicle valuation experts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the first half of 2025, just 58,722 new diesels were registered, down 11.3% on 2024. This continues a decline that can be traced to 2017, amid the fallout from the Dieselgate scandal and concerns about future vehicle taxation and emissions penalties.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Diesel\u2019s days appear numbered. Only a few car makers still produce diesel models \u2013 among them Audi<\/a>, BMW<\/a> and JLR (especially with the Defender<\/a>)\u00a0\u2013 and other types, such as petrol, hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, are experiencing rising demand.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For most diesel models, this is reflected in increased rates of depreciation, but, bucking this trend, some have actually increased in value over what they were worth a year ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For example, according to Cap HPI, a three-year-old diesel Honda HR-V <\/a>with 60,000 miles is worth 11.3% more today than the same model was at the same point last year. In addition, the value of an equivalent Mercedes CLS<\/a> has risen 8% and a Ford Mondeo<\/a> 6.5%.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Explaining the figures, Dylan Setterfield, head of forecast strategy at Cap HPI, said: \u201cThere is still demand for diesel in the used market from both consumers\u00a0 and dealers, with fuel economy continuing\u00a0 to be a significant factor for high-mileage drivers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNew [diesel] car volumes have been decreasing for some time, and this is translating into reduced used car volumes. We expect these reductions to be partially offset by the ongoing reduction in consumer demand and that prices will behave similarly to petrol [car prices] in the next few years.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, the market is experiencing wild valuation extremes and some models are instead depreciating at higher than expected rates compared with what they were worth last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Those suffering the biggest falls in value include the Ssangyong Korando <\/a>2.2D, with a three-year-old example with 60,000 miles worth 24.5% less. An equivalent Vauxhall Astra<\/a> is down 20.2% in value and a Range Rover Evoque<\/a> down 12.7%.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

These losses are atop the models\u2019 regular year-on-year depreciation. Setterfield said: \u201cThe Korando\u2019s falls seem to have been caused by uncertainty and confusion in the marketplace as the brand transitioned from Ssangyong to KGM. Astra diesels with above-average mileage are now suffering increased penalties, while the Evoque\u2019s figure can be explained by an increase in used volumes following a shortage of supply.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Consumers unsure about buying a diesel are unlikely to be reassured by these wild extremes.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, these cars aside, the bulk of the sector is actually quite stable, with the average three-year-old diesel worth just 2.1% less than its equivalent 12 months ago. The equivalent figure for a petrol car is 1.3% less.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At 12 months and 20,000 miles, their positions are reversed, with the diesel worth 1.4% less and the petrol 1.6% less.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Philip Nothard, insight director at Cox Automotive International, a vehicle auction and remarketing company, welcomed the return of stability to most areas of the diesel market.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cAfter the highs of the immediate post-Covid years, when even two- to four-year-old diesels were worth 73% of their new price and ones less than a year old 98%, order is returning to the market. In 2023, diesel values fell at a steeper rate than petrol as sentiment shifted to the latter and, thanks to tax changes, to some extent also to EVs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fall in the sales of new diesels that year means that today, there are only155,000 three-year-old diesels on the road. Values are sliding but just about holding firm, with two- to four-year-old diesels currently worth around 51% of their new price compared with petrol cars at 58%. Electric cars are worth around 36%.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The shortage of used diesels and the stability of their values are reflected on dealer forecourts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Motorpoint is a leading car supermarket and typically stocks around 5000 cars, most no older than four years. Currently, only around 350 of them are diesels and diesel hybrids. They include a 2023 Audi A4 35 TDI S Line S Tronic with 14,500 miles for \u00a322,699 and a 2022 Ford Kuga 1.5 Ecoblue ST-Line X with 17,000 miles for \u00a319,999.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Motorpoint Group CEO Mark Carpenter believes that although demand for diesels has fallen considerably, the declining number of new ones being produced means that used examples will soon be the only ones readily available to customers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, he doesn\u2019t expect that any future increase in demand for them will necessarily trigger a steep rise in their prices.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cWhile any uplift in demand for used diesel vehicles will have some impact on prices, with fewer new diesel cars on the road, used diesel stock will continue to get older, reducing its appeal for motorists wanting a nearly new car.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":67500,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,137],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-featured","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67499"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67499\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}