7:08 am, September 8, 2026
The Tesla Model 3 was the biggest used car price riser in August as electric vehicles continued their recent resurgence on dealer forecourts.
Latest data supplied exclusively to Car Dealer by Cazana shows that retail prices for three-year-old Model 3s jumped by 5.85% month-on-month.
Average prices increased from £23,462 to £24,834 – a rise of around £1,372 in the space of a month.
The Renault Zoe was close behind, also rising 5.85%, with average advertised prices climbing from £11,077 to £11,725.
The figures provide further evidence of strengthening used EV values after Cazana’s wider market data revealed electric cars recorded their fifth consecutive monthly price increase in August.
Overall, three-year-old used EVs rose by 0.6% during the month and have now increased in value by more than £1,600 over the past five months.
EVs were the highlight in a month that saw average used car prices rise by 0.5%, or around £100 – as explained in the special Car Dealer Live video at the top of this story.
However, several individual electric models comfortably outperformed the wider market.
Seven EVs appear among Cazana’s 20 biggest three-year-old price risers, including models from Vauxhall, Porsche, Renault and Kia.
The Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life rose 5.45%, while the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo increased 5.30%.
The Taycan Sport Turismo was up 4.69%, the Renault Megane E-Tech increased 4.60% and the Kia EV6 rose 4.57%.
‘People still want a Tesla’
Speaking to Car Dealer Live in the video posted at the top of this story about the August figures, automotive consultant Derren Martin singled out the Model 3’s performance.
‘The Tesla Model 3 is a commodity car now,’ he said.
‘But it’s still in demand and people still want a Tesla and it’s performed well again in August.’
Martin believes improving affordability has been central to the strengthening used EV market, with electric cars increasingly competing directly with combustion-engined alternatives on price.
‘The prices of these used EVs look really reasonable now,’ he said.
‘They’re comparable with petrol cars, which is where they always needed to be. They were too expensive before.’
He added: ‘What we’ve seen in August is that petrol, electric vehicle and hybrids have all gone up by similar percentages, similar amounts, because they are all similarly priced now.
‘The dealers are treating these cars as commodities on their forecourts. One isn’t an EV and one is a petrol car from a price point of view.
‘They’re just pushing the prices up where they can of all of them because they’re all now sort of mainstream cars at reasonable prices.’
Not every EV is rising
The figures do, however, underline the importance of dealers selecting the right electric stock, with several EVs also appearing among August’s biggest fallers.
The Audi Q4 e-tron dropped 3.02%, while average prices for the BMW iX and Polestar 2 both fell by around 2.4%.
The Nissan Leaf was down 2.4% and Volkswagen ID.Buzz prices declined 2.19%.
Martin also warned that the wider used market could face pressure later in the year as increased volumes return following the September plate change and heavily discounted new cars compete with used stock.
For now, however, the broader direction for used EV values remains positive.
‘I think until more volume hits, then yeah, it’s here to stay,’ Martin said of the recent strength in EV prices.
‘They’re selling them relatively quickly, replacing them and then maintaining or increasing prices.’
Biggest risers – 3-year age
- Tesla Model 3 EV — +5.85%
- Renault Zoe EV — +5.85%
- Dacia Sandero — +5.79%
- Audi A5 Coupe Hybrid — +5.74%
- Kia Rio — +5.70%
- Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life EV — +5.45%
- Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo EV — +5.30%
- Audi Q2 — +5.23%
- Audi A3 Sportback Hybrid — +5.22%
- Mazda 3 Hybrid — +5.11%
- Mercedes GLC Hybrid PHEV — +5.06%
- Jaguar F-Pace Hybrid PHEV — +5.02%
- Volkswagen Golf Hybrid PHEV — +4.79%
- Suzuki Swift Hybrid — +4.76%
- Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo EV — +4.69%
- Renault Megane E-Tech EV — +4.60%
- Mercedes A-Class — +4.59%
- Volvo XC40 Hybrid — +4.57%
- Kia EV6 EV — +4.57%
- Range Rover Velar Hybrid — +4.53%
- Lexus NX 350h HEV — +4.39%
- Audi Q2 — +4.36%
- Mercedes GLA — +4.33%
- Mazda 2 — +4.23%
- Mercedes CLA Coupe — +4.17%
Biggest fallers – 3-year age
- BMW 4 Series Convertible — -5.43%
- Cupra Ateca — -4.80%
- Volkswagen Up — -4.70%
- Audi A4 Hybrid — -4.43%
- Range Rover Sport Hybrid — -4.03%
- Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid PHEV — -3.98%
- Range Rover Sport Hybrid PHEV — -3.77%
- Volkswagen T-Roc Diesel — -3.38%
- Mazda CX-5 — -3.36%
- Ford Kuga Vignale Hybrid PHEV — -3.26%
- Mini Countryman Hybrid PHEV — -3.12%
- Audi Q4 e-tron EV — -3.02%
- BMW 3 Series Hybrid — -2.91%
- Citroen C5 X — -2.90%
- Range Rover Velar Hybrid — -2.83%
- Nissan X-Trail Hybrid — -2.77%
- BMW X3 Hybrid PHEV — -2.72%
- Volkswagen T-Cross — -2.70%
- Mazda CX-30 Hybrid — -2.63%
- Peugeot 308 SW — -2.56%
- BMW iX EV — -2.41%
- Polestar 2 EV — -2.41%
- Nissan Leaf EV — -2.40%
- Mercedes GLE Hybrid — -2.37%
- Volkswagen ID.Buzz EV — -2.19%