Sales of used hybrid vehicles surged throughout January, new data from Dealer Auction’s EV Performance Review (EVPR) reveals.

The trade-to-trade auction site reported that hybrid’s sales share more than doubled month-on-month, rising from 5.96% in December 2025 to 11.97% in January – a hefty 100.8% increase.

The five percentage point rise in market share aligns with a 5% downturn for diesels.

It’s seen as a positive precedent for the months ahead, underlining growing enthusiasm for hybrid vehicles and signalling a standout beginning to 2026 for the alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) segment as a whole.

Further positive indicators from January include a notable 50% increase in bids received on AFVs, pointing to strengthening demand.

Kieran TeeBoon, Dealer Auction marketplace director, commented: “It’s remarkable to see how strongly hybrid vehicles have performed at the very start of 2026 – stealing 5% of the market share from diesel. We’re also encouraged by the substantial increase in bids across all AFVs, which reflects a dealer market that’s already gaining momentum for the year ahead.”

While the average vehicle age rose, taking it back to autumn 2025 levels, AFVs remained markedly lower than the average for all fuel types (4 years vs 6.2 years).

As the pandemic shortage starts to impact used cars in the 6-7 years bracket, Dealer Auction noted that AFVs aged four could be the sweet spot between age, mileage, price and future-proofed travel.

Turning to the best-performing models for January 2026, it was electric’s time to shine. Three EVs featured in the top 10 overall, with two securing podium positions; the Renault Scenic E-Tech EV taking the top spot. Meanwhile, the Tesla Model 3 continued its consistent run, once again featuring among the top 10. Completing a strong showing for electrified vehicles, the Hyundai Kona Electric claimed third place, with its hybrid counterpart also performing strongly in seventh position – marking a double success for the Kona range.

But Hyundai’s momentum continued beyond the margin metrics. The Kona also performed well for trade sellers, securing second place in the CAP Clean performance chart, while the Mitsubishi Outlander took the top spot and the Hyundai Tucson followed closely in third.

Sales performance delivered one clear standout: the Nissan Qashqai led the way by a significant margin, recording more than double the sales volume of any other model featured in the rankings.

TeeBoon concluded: “January has been a particularly strong month for mainstream brands such as Renault, Hyundai and Nissan. While it’s encouraging to see familiar favourites continuing to perform well, it’s equally positive to see new models making meaningful gains. The strong mix of hybrid and electric vehicles sets an exciting tone for the year ahead, and we look forward to seeing which models drive both sales and profitability as 2026 progresses.”