The Volkswagen Golf reigns supreme among used cars, with the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series also popular choices
Transparency note: This press release was originally published in Polish. The text has been machine translated. You can find the original press release here.
The favorite brands of Polish users, most frequently appearing in searches in the Polish CARFAX database, are Volkswagen, Audi, and BMW. Analysis of the most popular models from each of these brands—the VW Golf, Audi A4, and BMW 3 Series—shows that they are, on average, 19 years old and have mileage ranging from 238,000 to 291,000 km. However, premium models have a significantly higher percentage of accident-related and risk-prone vehicles than Volkswagens.
Volkswagen is currently enjoying the greatest interest in the Polish used car market – vehicles from this brand account for as much as 12 percent of searches in the CARFAX database of over 23 million used cars in Poland. This database provides users with used car history reports from reliable and certified sources. Next in line are Opel (9%), Ford (7%), Toyota (7%), and Renault (7%).
Popular, but is it safe?
In terms of specific models, the most popular in Poland are the Volkswagen Golf (3 percent of CARFAX searches) , the Audi A4 (2%) , and the BMW 3 Series (1.5%) . All of these cars are on average 19 years old and have between 238 k and 291 k kilometers on the clock. A significant difference, however, is seen in the percentage of vehicles with a history of damage and various risks for potential buyers (such as unusual odometer readings):
Volkswagen Golf – 35% of cars were damaged in accidents and 89% were at risk,
Audi A4 – 43% of cars were damaged in accidents and 97% were at risk,
BMW 3 Series – 48% of cars are post-accident and 95% are at risk.
A similar disparity is also evident in the percentage of imported cars: 78% of Volkswagen Golfs, 94% of Audi A4s, and 89% of BMW 3 Series models.
The dominance of the Volkswagen Golf, Audi A4, and BMW 3 Series in the Polish used car market is no accident. It's the result of a confluence of cultural, economic, and logistical factors. Firstly, Poles have long demonstrated a strong preference for German brands, which have always been considered synonymous with reliability and prestige. This is likely due to geographic proximity and ease of import, as well as the large supply of fleet and leased cars in the local market, says Robert Lewandowski, Business Development Manager at CARFAX Polska. The second factor is the price-to-quality ratio. The Golf, A4, and BMW 3 Series have always been perceived by Polish consumers as relatively durable mechanically, with a wide availability of spare parts and a service network. This has always been perceived as low operating costs and increased the attractiveness of even older models. Moreover, these models have always maintained good residual values, making them a safe financial choice for buyers.
In the case of the cars discussed, the percentage of Volkswagens remaining in the hands of their first owners is more than twice as high, at 8%, compared to only 3% for Audis and 4% for BMWs.
Diesel dominates Audi A4 cars
While petrol cars predominate among these Volkswagen and BMW models, diesels clearly dominate in the case of the Audi A4:
Volkswagen Golf
Gasoline: 52%
Diesel 48%
Hybrid: /
Other: /
Audi A4
Gasoline: 37%
Diesel: 61%
Hybrid: 2%
Other: /
BMW 3 Series
Gasoline: 54%
Diesel: 45%
Hybrid: /
Other: 1%
It's worth noting that the market structure is beginning to change. Rising fuel prices and regulatory pressure on diesels may soon reduce the attractiveness of models like the Audi A4, which is dominated by diesel engines. At the same time, there's growing interest in younger used Toyotas and Hyundais, which offer hybrid drives and the prospect of lower maintenance costs, adds Robert Lewandowski, Business Development Manager at CARFAX Polska. Over the next few years, we can therefore expect a gradual shift in demand towards more eco-friendly and less expensive cars, although German classics will likely remain the foundation of the secondary market for a long time.