The hatchback is making a comeback as drivers turn away from gas-guzzling SUVs because of the cost of fuel.
Research by AA Cars, the breakdown firm's second-hand car database, found the fastest-selling cars of 2022 were predominantly fuel-efficient city cars, with the BMW 116i hatchback claiming the top spot. It was followed by the Peugeot 108, the Kia Creed and the Hyundai i20.
The surge in popularity of smaller vehicles reversed 2021’s trend towards SUVs, AA Cars said, which made up eight of the top 10 quickest-selling models last year.
It comes as fuel prices rose by 17.2pc in the 12 months up to the end of November, according to ONS figures.
RAC data showed prices peaked in July at a record 191p per litre for unleaded and 199p for diesel, however, they have since dipped to 154p per litre and 177p for unleaded and diesel respectively.
Prices began to surge in the immediate aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began pushing up the price drivers paid at the pump in February.Stuart Masson, of adviser The Car Expert,said that while petrol prices were dipping below the peak of the summer, 200p a litre “is going to be the norm”.
He added: “Depending on what happens in Ukraine the price of petrol might come down even further in the short term, but we’re not going back to the days of just over 100p per litre.”
"The direction of travel is going up. As we move more towards electrification you’re going to see a lot fewer petrol stations, meaning people will have to drive much further to refill at supermarket stations.”
Mark Oakley, of the AA, said the sharply rising cost of living and fuel price surges had “inevitably” influenced drivers' purchasing decisions.
He said: “Hatchbacks and city cars tend to be cheaper to buy than SUVs, while their smaller size and lower weight mean they can also offer better fuel economy – which makes them particularly attractive in the current market.”
Mr Masson suggested drivers may also be turning to cheaper cars following months of disruption on public transport caused by strikes. He said: “Many who didn'tpreviously own a car will be buying a cheap car because they can no longer rely on public transport and they never know if trains are going to be running.”
Drivers living around London were likely downgrading their cars for cheaper models in anticipation of the Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion,Mr Masson added. “Chances are they are going to be paying £12 a day just to drive their kids to school,” he said. “People will be paying thousands a year just for their cars.”
Popular vans from 2021 dropped out of the top 10 entirely, including the Ford Transit and the Volkswagen Transporter, along with the Audi A3.
Electric vehicles were not included in the data as there were not enough used models on the market. A minimum of 7,000 models had to be sold on AA Cars for a car to qualify for the list of fastest-selling vehicles.
Mr Oakley said a “steady stream of cost-conscious buyers” had been drawn to the “reduced risk of depreciation” offered by second-hand cars compared to brand-new models.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders trade body showed the most popular used cars were equally popular when they were new.
Supply-side demands on carmanufacturers have caused an unprecedented spike in used car prices, with buyers waiting months on waiting lists for new motors.
Separate analysis of the most searched-for cars on the AA Cars website revealed the most popular car to be the Ford Fiesta for the eighth year in a row. The slightly larger Focus placed second for the third year in a row, followed by the Volkswagen Polo and Golf.
Ford announced in October it would discontinue the Fiesta in 2023. The motoring giant is said to be focussing on an all-electric future, with four brand-new battery-powered cars and five vans promised by 2024.
Mr Oakley said: “While the sheer number of Fiestas on the road will ensure this perennial favourite remains a major player on the second-hand market for some time, it will be interesting to see how Ford’s competitors might challenge for the top spot in 2023.”
