The key facts
- Premium Chinese crossovers up to three years old lose 25–30% of their value while remaining up to date in terms of equipment — Voyah Free, Hongqi HS5, Avatr 11.
- Hybrids and electric vehicles after updated versions are released, as well as European premium cars with mileage up to 50 thousand km, are also profitable.
- The expert advises considering not only the discount but also the service history, warranty, availability of spare parts, and the model's liquidity.
Which cars are more profitable to buy used
On the secondary market, models that have already gone through the main stage of value depreciation but remain technically up to date are especially profitable. Igor Roganov, head of the used car department at Panavto, told Gazeta.Ru about this. According to him, one such option is premium cars from Chinese brands up to three years old: in the first 2–3 years they lose about 25–30% of their value, while remaining up to date in terms of equipment.
What affects secondary market prices
Roganov noted that prices on the secondary market are pressured by high competition, frequent model range updates, and subsidized programs for purchasing new cars. Among the profitable options, he named the Voyah Free, Hongqi HS5, and Avatr 11 crossovers. The expert also advised taking a closer look at hybrids and electric vehicles, which drop in price immediately after updated versions are released. A more predictable purchase, according to him, would be a car that was officially supplied to Russia and has a valid factory warranty.
European premium cars
Roganov also included European premium cars with mileage up to 50 thousand km among profitable purchases — cars with a transparent service history, imported to Russia during the period of official supplies. They can be bought significantly cheaper than new analogues, while in terms of equipment and quality they correspond to the premium segment.
What to look at besides the discount
The expert emphasized that the benefit should be assessed not only by the size of the discount. In the premium segment, the service history, remaining warranty, availability of service and spare parts, as well as the model's liquidity are important. A car that is cheaper to buy but will require major investments or be difficult to sell may ultimately turn out to be less profitable. It was previously reported that it is precisely in Chinese cars that leads to a rapid loss of value on the secondary market.
