The 10 used cars that have MADE money for their owners in 2023 (2024)

There has been a big shift in the used car market in 2023.

Post Covid lockdowns, the value of second-hand motors went into overdrive as customers were unable to get their hand on new models as a result of short supply triggered by parts delays and factory closures.

However, this year has seen used values hit a ceiling and - to the relief of many drivers - started to drop back in what experts have called 'market realignment'.

But there are still some vehicles that have likely made you money in the last 12 months. Do you own one?

Cap Hpi data that has exclusively been shared with This is Money to reveal which mainstream second-hand motors have barely shifted in value despite becoming a year older.

In fact, some have gone up in price during 2023.

The figures are based on three-year-old cars - those with an average of 30,000 miles on the clock.

Cap Hpi has worked out the best performers by analysing the value of three-year-old version at the start of 2023, then compared this to the average sale price of the same car as we draw to the close of the year.

We have only included attainable motors - meaning we've excluded any niche vehicles, supercars and extremely-high value luxury motors.

Derren Martin, head of valuations at Cap Hpi said its data shows the best performers in 2023 is a mix ofhugely aspirational and good value models - and says there's also a lot of positive movement in 'lifestyle' vehicles, including the VW California and Caravelle.

'Vehicles that have increased in value are generally few and far between, however, as used car values generally realign downwards after three strong years of demand outweighing supply,' he told us.

Here's the list of 10 used cars that have gone up in price by the highest percentage points in the last 12 months...

10. Audi A4 Allroad (2019-2022) DIESEL - up 1.7%

If you own a diesel-powered Audi A4 Allroad, the chances are that it has gone up in value in the last 12 months - though only marginally.

The all-wheel-drive, jacked-up family estate oozes practicality and all-year-round capacity to cope with Britain's drastically changeable conditions.

Cap Hpi says a three-year-old example is worth 1.7 per cent (£550) more now than compared to the start of the year.

9. Dacia Duster (2018-2023) - up 1.9%

If you have a Dacia Duster on your driveway, it's a pretty clear indication that you're a driver who likes good value. And the Romanian brand's SUV is definitely proving that.

With a new model due early next year, demand for this current variant is still very strong.

In fact, a three-year-old example is worth 1.9 per cent (£202) more today than it was at the beginning of 2023, says Cap Hpi.

8. Mitsubishi Shogun Sport (2017-2021) DIESEL - up 1.9%

Mitsubishi no longer sells new cars in the UK, but one of its most recent models is proving popular on the used market.

The Shogun Sport is a proper 4X4 with seven seats, making it a relatively unique proposition in Britain.

A three-year-old example would have been worth £22,425 at the start of the year. One that's just turned three-years old at the climax of 2023 is valued at £22,280 - that's a 1.9 per cent (£425) rise in value.

7. Seat Leon (2020-present) DIESEL - up 2.1%

Who said diesel was dead? People clearly still want them, as is the case with the latest Seat Leon.

The family hatchback, which is available with a 2.0TDI engine under the bonnet, is in great demand on the second-hand market.

The average price of a three-year-old oil burning Leon at the start of 2023 was £14,425. By the close of the year, this has increased by £300 - or 2.1 per cent.

6. Subaru Forester (2019-2020) - up 2.8%

This iteration of the Subaru Forester SUV might have been short-lived, but used buyers looking for a robust, practical family model seem to be lapping them up.

Such demand has pushed the value of three-year-old examples higher in the last 12 months.

While one at the start of 2023 would have cost just under £19,000, as we near the New Year the average price of a three-year-old model has risen to £19,500.

5. Lexus LS (2017-present) HYBRID - up 3.4%

The Lexus LS isn't necessarily mainstream, but this luxury executive car with hybrid power does fall into the sub-£50,000 bracket, which is why we've allowed it entry here.

There seems to be plenty of appetite for these motors - though we are aware that it's not the most readily-available vehicle on the market.

The price difference for a three-year-old example today compared to the very beginning of the year is £1,500, with the price of a 30,000-mile model up 3.4 per cent in the last 12 months.

4. Hyundai i30 N (2017-present) - up 4.6%

The Hyundai i30 N is the Korean car firm's hot hatchback to rival the likes of the Ford Focus ST and VW Golf GTI. Yet, the i30 N is arguably better value and extremely super practical as a family motor.

Its performance credentials appear to have gained it a bit of a following, with demand seemingly high, based on the average value of three-year-old models.

You would have paid £18,500 for one with 30,000 miles on the clock at the start of January but today one advertised today should be around £850 dearer.

3. Dacia Sandero (2013-2021) - up 5%

It's unsurprising during a cost-of-living crunch that people are showing a greatest interest in value motors. Which explains why the value of a used Sandero has risen rather than fallen in 2023.

A three-year-old example in January would have cost a second-hand buyer around £7,000. If they wanted one today, it will likely set them back around £7,335.

It means anyone with a 2020-plate Sandero on their driveway will be celebrating.

2. Mitsubishi Mirage (2013-2020) - up 5.7%

Like the Sandero, Mitsubishi's dinky Mirage was very much aimed at the budget end of the market when it was in showrooms between 2013 and 2020.

If you have one of the latest examples made, you will be glad to hear that values are holding strong.

A three-year-old Mirage with 30,000 miles on the clock at the start of 2023 would have cost buyers £7,942. But the value of the supermini of the same age and mileage at the end of the calendar year is £8,425 - a 5.7 per cent increase.

1. Suzuki Jimny (2018-2020) - up 12.6%

Suzuki's small, boxy Jimny in its latest iteration continues to outperform the wider market. This is because its super-cute looks is still attracting buyers, but Suzuki's inability to get the compact 4X4 to meet Euro emissions regulations means it was a short-lived product, and therefore there isn't the used supply to match the demand.

This has seen the average value of this short-lived off-road rise by 12.6 per cent in 2023.

Derren Martin from Cap Hpi said: 'When looking at the biggest risers, the Suzuki Jimny remains an iconic vehicle that is no longer produced, so demand has exceeded the used car supply.'