Popular Used Cars in Russia: Early 2025 Statistics
The used car market in Russia grew by 2%. Lada, Toyota, and Kia lead demand, while interest in Skoda Kodiaq surged by 20%. Price analysis from Avito Auto.
The secondary automotive market in Russia is showing resilience and moderate growth in early 2025. According to recent data from the platform "Avito Auto," interest in used cars has increased by 2% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, supply is expanding even faster than demand, putting pressure on average prices.
Analysts note a shift in market structure: buyers are increasingly looking for specific crossover models and premium brands, despite the dominance of the domestic auto industry in the mass segment.
TL;DR
- Market Growth: Overall interest in used cars increased by 2%.
- Supply: The number of sales listings grew by 7.6%.
- Prices: The average cost of a used car decreased by 7.5% to approximately 1.5 million rubles.
- Supply Leaders: Lada (23%), Toyota (6.7%), Kia (6%).
- Demand Trends: A sharp spike in interest for the Skoda Kodiaq (+20%), as well as growing popularity for Exeed, Lexus, and Infiniti.
Market Context
The situation in the secondary market in 2025 is characterized by supply saturation. The growth in the number of cars listed for sale (+7.6%) is outpacing the growth in buyer activity. This creates favorable conditions for buyers as competition among sellers increases.
Experts also note the rapid digitalization of the buying process. According to Avito, 85% of buyers start their car search exclusively online, and 68% of initial communications with sellers occur via messengers and platform chats rather than phone calls.
Details
The absolute leader in terms of listings remains the domestic brand Lada, occupying nearly a quarter of the market (23% of all ads). However, in the foreign car segment, demand for time-tested brands remains consistently high.
The top leaders by supply also include:
- Toyota — 6.7% of the market;
- Kia — 6% of the market;
- Hyundai and Volkswagen — maintaining strong positions in the top five.
Analysts paid special attention to the Czech crossover Skoda Kodiaq. Demand for this model grew by more than 20%, indicating a shortage of quality family crossovers in the local market. There is also a noticeable increase in interest in premium and high-tech brands: Exeed, Lexus, and Infiniti.
Andrey Kovalev, Director of Used Cars at Avito, emphasizes that the average transaction price has corrected downwards, settling at around 1.5 million rubles. This may indicate both market saturation and a shift in supply structure towards more budget-friendly or older models.
What it means for buyers importing from Korea
For buyers considering ordering a car from South Korea, these statistics reveal several important insights:
- Popularity of Korean Brands: High positions for Kia and Hyundai in the secondary market confirm their liquidity. Importing these brands from Korea provides you with an asset that is easy to resell in the future.
- Shortage of Quality Crossovers: The surge in interest for the Skoda Kodiaq (+20%) and rising demand for Lexus and Infiniti suggest that buyers lack fresh, well-equipped crossovers domestically. This segment (Santa Fe, Sorento, Palisade, GV80) is the most profitable to import.
- Price vs. Quality: The drop in average price to 1.5 million rubles is often associated with a decline in the average condition of the fleet (higher mileage and age). Importing from Korea allows you to get a car with a transparent history, no exposure to harsh road reagents, and rich trim levels for similar or slightly higher costs—options that are hard to find on the local market.
What to do
If you are planning a car purchase in 2025, compare offers on the domestic market with import possibilities.
- Check Prices: Verify the current cost of the model you are interested in locally.
- Evaluate Alternatives: See how much a "turnkey" equivalent from Korea costs. Often, the difference in condition and features outweighs the waiting time.
- Verify History: For local cars, use databases. For cars from Korea, request an Encar inspection.
