The surge in new car prices over the past several years has spilled over into the used car market, where vehicles are now taking longer to sell. Many owners are holding onto their cars, slowing turnover on dealer lots. Yet, some automakers remain largely unaffected by the slowdown.
According to fresh data from iSeeCars, which analyzed over 960,000 transactions for vehicles between one and five years old in February, the typical used car now spends 53 days on the market before selling. That marks a roughly 40% increase from 37.7 days in the same month last year, highlighting a significant slowdown in sales across the broader used market.
Interestingly, used electric vehicles (EVs) are moving slightly faster than traditional gasoline cars. In February, the typical used EV sold in 47.4 days, up from 41.8 days a year earlier—a modest 13.4% increase compared with the wider market.
However, much of that speed is driven by Tesla models, which dominate EV sales. Excluding Tesla, used EVs took an average of 57.3 days to sell in February, up 15.1% from 49.8 days last year, indicating that non-Tesla EVs are following the overall slowdown trend.
Fastest-Selling Used Cars
Leading the pack is the Tesla Model X, which sells in just 22.6 days on average. Close behind are the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV (26.9 days) and the Tesla Cybertruck (27.4 days). Other vehicles with strong resale performance include the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF (29.3 days), Toyota GR Supra (30 days), Genesis G90 (30.4 days), Rivian R1S (30.8 days), and Toyota GR Corolla (31.1 days). Many of these cars cater to enthusiasts, helping maintain high demand.
Tesla’s high-volume models, such as the Model 3 (33.1 days) and Model Y (34.9 days), rank slightly lower, though their large sales volumes continue to influence overall market averages.
At the other end of the spectrum, some models are languishing on lots for months. The slowest movers in the study include the Volvo XC60 (170.2 days), BMW i5 (153 days), Dodge Hornet (123.7 days), and Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid (118 days).
As used car prices remain elevated and sales cycles lengthen, it is clear that while the broader market is cooling, Tesla and certain luxury and performance EVs continue to attract buyers quickly.
