March statistics on imports of used cars indicate a significant revival of activity. During the month, 17,866 used cars were registered in Ukraine. This is a significant increase of 18.2% compared to February, which indicates the end of the winter lull and the marketʼs adaptation to current conditions. Despite the fact that in annual terms, volumes remain 11.1% lower than last year, the qualitative transformation of imports is becoming increasingly noticeable.
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The market has finally moved away from the hype demand of the end of 2025 and has entered a phase of rational choice. Todayʼs imports are mainly fresh crossovers and time-tested European classics, which are brought to meet the specific requests of buyers. The growth in volumes against the background of general stabilization indicates that interest in "fresh" imports remains high.
Brands: German dominance and Japanese pragmatism
In the ranking of the popularity of used import brands, German brands continue to hold the lionʼs share of the market. The Wolfsburg giant with its truly folk brand remains the absolute favorite, demonstrating a gap that is difficult for any other competitor to overcome. The second and third places are confidently occupied by representatives of the premium segment, which confirms the trend towards "premiumization" of imports — buyers are increasingly willing to pay for a higher-quality and more expensive car from abroad.
Japanese and American brands also hold firm in the top ten, catering to those looking for reliable crossovers or specific models from US auctions. French and Korean brands close the main list, offering the most balanced solutions in the budget and mid-range segments. Overall, the top ten brands are becoming increasingly “monolithic”, leaving little room for new players.
Models: the era of "crossover" and the new king of the rating
The main event of March in the model ranking was the change of the long-standing leader. The compact German crossover confidently overtook the classic hatchback of the same brand, which for years led all possible ratings, at least until the period of excitement for electric cars. This symbolizes a final change in preferences: now, even in the secondary market, versatility and ground clearance are valued above maneuverability and traditions of the golf class.
Other positions in the top ten also demonstrate the dominance of the SUV segment. Premium SUVs and models from the American market are pushing classic sedans to the lower rungs. The March list of the most popular models is a clear signal: the market wants more crossovers in all price categories.
Luxury, hydrogen and exoticism: the cream of the March harvest
Special attention deserves the premium and exotic import sectors, which showed remarkable brightness in March. Even under the conditions of general rationalization, individual examples of the real automotive elite continue to arrive in Ukraine. Last month, our car fleet was replenished with one Bentley and one Lamborghini, as well as three Maseratis. The real “mass luxury” in this segment remains Porsche — 73 cars of this brand received their first registration, which indicates a stable demand for high-quality sports premium.
March was also remembered by the registration of a rare Toyota Mirai for our latitudes. This is a car on hydrogen fuel cells — a technology of the future (or is it already the past?), which in Ukrainian realities looks like a real challenge. Since we have exactly zero hydrogen filling stations, and the owner will be able to find hydrogen only in the composition of water, such a purchase is a manifestation of either exceptional technical enthusiasm, or preparation for times that have not yet come.
Fuel types: electric surge against gasoline plateau
The structure of imports by fuel type in March brought one of the biggest surprises. Despite the fact that gasoline engines still occupy more than half of the market (57.2%), their share has begun to decline. The situation is similar with diesel cars (22.5%), the popularity of which is gradually fading under the pressure of environmental standards and the cost of maintenance.
Instead, the real "hero" of the month was the electric vehicle segment. After a long lull, the share of electric cars in imports increased by 3.2%, reaching almost 9% of the total volume. This indicates that the market has "digested" the tax changes and is again showing active interest in charging technologies. Hybrids in used imports remain stable (7.7%), without showing sharp fluctuations. Thus, March became a month of a cautious but confident return of the electric vehicle trend. Of course, fuel prices also contributed to the activation here.
Brief conclusion
March 2026 showed that the used import market is alive and ready for growth. The change in the leader in the model ranking in favor of the crossover, a noticeable surge in electric vehicles and a stable flow of luxury brands are the main vectors that determine the market landscape. The Ukrainian buyer is becoming more demanding, choosing technological and higher-class cars, even if the infrastructure for some of them (as in the case of hydrogen) still exists only in theory.
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