Ukrainians choose affordable: why demand for used diesel cars is growing
14 November 2025 18:37
The Ukrainian automotive market is showing a moderate but significant recovery: in October 2025, 6,000 diesel cars joined the country’s fleet, up 6% from the same period last year. This is evidenced by the data of the Ukravtoprom association, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Ukrainians are increasingly choosing used cars
The structure of the market repeats the trend of recent years: Ukrainians are increasingly choosing used cars from abroad, while sales of new cars are declining.
- 1.4 thousand new diesel cars – 6% less than last year.
- 4.6 thousand used diesel cars – 10% more.
Such dynamics indicate elastic demand: consumers are switching to more affordable market segments, given the rising cost of new cars and limited household income.
Leaders among new cars
Despite the segment’s decline, diesel SUVs and crossovers remain in favor:
- RENAULT Duster – 281 units.
- TOYOTA Land Cruiser Prado – 218 units.
- VOLKSWAGEN Touareg – 160 units.
- KGM Musso Grand – 131 units.
- SKODA Kodiaq – 89 units.
These results demonstrate a steady demand for off-road vehicles with a long service life – a sign of changing infrastructure habits and security priorities during the war.
Ratings in the secondary market
Used diesel cars once again showed a wider model range. The most popular are mass-produced European models:
- RENAULT Megane – 376 units.
- NISSAN Qashqai – 319 units.
- SKODA Octavia – 275 units.
- VOLKSWAGEN Passat – 259 units.
- VOLKSWAGEN Golf – 168 units.
These are models that traditionally combine economy, ease of maintenance and availability in the EU secondary markets.
Previous months and overall dynamics
In September, the Ukrainian market showed a different trajectory: 5.2 thousand diesel cars were registered, which was 10% less than a year ago.
The October result indicates a partial pullback after the seasonal decline and a stable interest in the diesel segment amid limited opportunities to buy new cars.
