Spanish premium cars are half the age and have a higher percentage of associated risks than best-sellers
Transparency note: This press release was originally published in Spanish. The text has been machine translated. You can find the original press release here.
The three best-selling models in Spain (Seat Ibiza, Dacia Sandero, Toyota Corolla) are 13.6 years old on average, compared to just 6.2 years for the most popular high-end vehicles (Audi Q5, Mercedes GLC, BMW X1).
Both premium and top-selling vehicles have lower mileage than the national average, 127,000 and 164,000 respectively.
Eleven percent of the high-end cars analyzed are imported, compared to a residual 1% in the case of the best-selling models.
Madrid, December 16, 2025 - The used car market in Spain is advancing at two very different speeds: while premium cars are establishing themselves as a more modern, technological option aimed at demanding buyers, the best-selling models in the general market continue to dominate in terms of volume thanks to their affordability and constant demand throughout the country.
This duality reflects a polarized car fleet, where increasingly younger and more efficient high-end vehicles coexist with older, heavily used best-sellers, showing that purchasing and mobility trends are very different between the two segments.
For this reason, CARFAX, the leading private provider of vehicle histories in Spain and Europe, has analyzed both the high-end segment, consisting of the Audi Q5, Mercedes GLC, and BMW X1 (260,000+ cars analyzed), and the segment of cars favored by users, consisting of the Seat Ibiza, Dacia Sandero, and Toyota Corolla (1.4+ million cars analyzed).
While the best-sellers include older vehicles with higher mileage, the premium segment stands out for its younger age and better performance, although it has a higher percentage of imports and previous accidents. This duality defines a Spanish used car market with two speeds and very different trends.
Less age and mileage, but more associated risks
Premium used cars in Spain are, on average, half as old as the best-selling models on the general market, but they account for a higher percentage of associated risks, according to data analyzed by CARFAX.
Compared to the 13.6 years of age and 164,000 km average of the best-sellers, high-end cars are 6.2 years old on average and have 127,000 kilometers on the odometer, a figure that rises to 149,000 km in the case of imported vehicles.
While the Ibiza, Sandero, and Corolla show intensive use, with 48% of the total being 15 years old or older, the majority of Q5, GLC, and X1 vehicles are between 7 and 9 years old, accounting for 30% of all units.
However, premium vehicles, which tend to come mostly from leading fleets, present slightly higher risks than best-selling models, at 18% compared to 16%. These risks include imports, possible odometer tampering, previous use as a rental vehicle, or previous damage and accidents.
It should be noted that both segments are below the national average, making them reliable options for driving.
Premium vehicles incorporate more hybrid technology than gasoline
One of the most notable features of the high-end cars analyzed is the trend toward hybrid technology. According to data from the fleet analyzed, 29% of premium vehicles are hybrids, although diesel remains the favorite with 64% and gasoline plays a residual role with 6%.
On the other hand, 54% of mainstream cars run on gasoline, 37% on diesel, and only 9% are hybrids. This low percentage also reflects the average age of these vehicles, as the most recent models, which are concentrated in the premium segment, tend to incorporate hybrid engines, showing that electrification is advancing more rapidly in that market.
In terms of vehicle location, Madrid is the epicenter of premium cars, with 29% of the total in the region, followed by Barcelona (7%) and Valencia (4%). For their part, best-selling cars are more spread out across the country, even though the top three cities are the same: Madrid (15%), Barcelona (10%), and Valencia (4%).
Whether due to the risks associated with premium cars or possible irregularities in best-sellers, having reliable information becomes essential: it provides detailed information on the origin, possible previous damage, and the actual condition of the vehicle, thus ensuring a safer and more informed purchase for the consumer.
"Whether a car is premium or a best-seller does not in itself determine whether it is a safe purchase. Our analysis shows that each segment has its own particularities and risks. That is why having the complete history of the vehicle is essential: it helps to identify imports, inconsistent mileage, or previous accidents and allows the buyer to have a real and complete view of the car they are considering," says Francisco Rudilla, head of business development in Europe at CARFAX.