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SEARCHCarGurus’ first quarterly review of 2026 shows that affordability concerns are continuing to drive consumer purchases with a shift to more fuel-efficient options.
Sales of nearly new used vehicles rose nearly 24% year-over-year to a median price of nearly $30,000.
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A first-quarter report on used-vehicle sales reveals a shift in consumer interest to nearly new used vehicles and fuel-efficient alternatives as gas prices rise and new-car prices remain high.
According to the CarGurus data, sales of nearly new used vehicles, those 2 years old or younger, rose nearly 24% year-over-year.
With that segment's median price sitting at about $30,000, consumers have more options than among new vehicles, whose under $30,000 share dropped 4% year-over-year to 13%.
Vehicles priced around $20,000 saw the largest sales growth, the Chevrolet Trax leading with an average list price of $21,000 for an eye-popping 267% year-over-year sales growth.
But older used vehicles also reported sales growth in the quarter. Sales of vehicles 8 to 10 years old were up 4%, and vehicles 11-plus years old grew 7%.
New-car sales started off the year slow with a market days' supply of about 73 in March, up almost 10% year-over-year. Vehicles at higher price points are sitting longer, CarGurus said. For example, those in the $70,000 to $80,000 price range languished for about 88 days.
New hybrids had the tightest supply at about 47 days, well below gas, battery-electric and plug-in hybrids, which the report pointed out could limit hybrid sales growth due to lack of inventory to satisfy the demand.
Used EVs, however, experienced sales growth in the quarter, the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Chevrolet Equinox EV leading the surge.
If gas prices stay high, CarGurus predicts that the EV and hybrid interest that started in March could settle into a sustained trend, close on the heels of recent automaker pullback on purely electric model production.
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