SUPERMINIS STILL IN DEMAND - AS USED CARS

Top 10 list of best-selling used cars is dominated by hatches, not SUVs

- ALEX WOLSTENHOLME

Nine of the 10 bestselling used cars in the UK are still traditional hatchbacks and superminis, in stark contrast to the popularity of SUVs among buyers of new cars.

The greater sales potential and profitability of crossovers and SUVs – together with the arrival of margin-slashing safety and emissions regulations - have threatened the commercial viability of superminis and small family hatchbacks in recent years. As a result, many such models have been withdrawn from sale as their manufacturers focus instead on larger, higher-riding models.

This trend is reflected in the evolution of the top 10 new cars sales chart. In 2015, just two crossovers featured - the Vauxhall Mokka and Nissan Qashqai - and the chart was comfortably topped by the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and Ford Focus.