ELECTRIC vehicles may still make up a relatively small slice of the used-car pie but the genre is selling up to three times quicker – and holding their prices better – than competing ICEs.

The latest Autotrader research shows that used battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) – especially sedans – are selling in eight to 11 days against diesel ICE vehicles that take up to 32 days to sell.

While that indicates strong demand for EVs, Autotrader tempers the assumption by pointing out that there are sharp contractions in stock that are affecting the speed of the sale and are largely driven by severe supply constraints.

The 2026 Autobarometer report for the second quarter of 2026 (Q2 2026) from Autotrader Group – which tracks pre-owned listings across CarsGuide, Autotrader, and Gumtree Cars – said electric variants sold in about a third of the time of diesel equivalents across SUVs, sedans, and hatchbacks.

Autotrader director of Motors and Jobs, Brett Stephenson

Autotrader director of motors and jobs Brett Stephenson said used electric sedans sold in as little as eight days in Q2, with SUVs and hatches close behind.

He added that hybrid utes and sedans held their value as petrol and diesel variants softened. 

“It’s an early signal, but one we’re watching closely as the EV base continues to grow,” he said.

The report notes that EV stock is tightening fast as buyers move quickly on the available stock. The used EV market remains immature with relatively small numbers available for sale, which can distort the trend.

It said that by comparison to electric vehicles, diesel utes and hatches were taking longer to sell and were building up on dealer lots. 

“Dealers who get their mix right now are the ones who’ll capture this demand before the rest of the market catches up, and that’s exactly where our focus is,” added Mr Stephenson.

The report highlights that EV supply contracted sharply quarter-on-quarter – down 10.8 per cent in sedans, 46.9 per cent in SUVs, and 36.9 per cent in hatches – indicating limited pre-owned EV volume is being rapidly absorbed rather than signaling a mass-market surge.

It said that electric SUVs were the standout performers in Q2, selling in just 11 days on average, a 64.5 per cent improvement, as available inventory tightened by almost half.

“Hybrids also continued to draw buyer attention with faster sale times and firmer pricing, while diesel SUVs slowed down, taking longer to sell as listing views eased across the board,” the report said. 

“Light commercial utes proved the exception. Low listing volumes led to battery-electric utes being excluded from segment tracking, leaving hybrids as the standout performer.”

Hybrid utes sold in 26 days (down 23.5 per cent), while standing as the only ute powertrain to post a price gain (up 1.6 per cent).

“Across every body style tracked, legacy diesel inventory continued to stack up on dealer lots, rising up to 18.9 per cent in hatchbacks, as consumer listing views for diesel softened nationwide,” the report added.

“Electric sedans were the fastest-moving vehicles on the platform in Q2, selling in an average of just eight days, and the only fuel type to record a price increase, up 3.1 per cent.

“Hybrid sedans also continued to perform well, while diesel and petrol variants saw inventory build as listing views softened across the board.” 

In the sedan sector, the Autotrader report said that the Holden Commodore and Toyota Camry lead sedan listing views in Q2, with the Camry’s hybrid variant drawing a notable share of buyer attention. 

Electric hatchbacks were sold up in record time in Q2, selling in just nine days, down 70 per cent on the previous quarter, even as available stock tightened. 

Diesel hatches moved in the opposite direction, with inventory climbing 18.9 per cent and prices falling further, reflecting softer demand for older, higher-emission runabouts.

The report said Toyota Corolla and Hyundai i30 topped the hatch listing views in Q2, with petrol remaining the dominant fuel type with hybrid variants of the Corolla increasing attention.

“Hybrid utes led the pack in Q2, with days to delist falling 23.5 per cent to just 26 days and prices edging up 1.6 per cent, even as inventory grew 25.4 per cent and listing views cooled,” it said.

“This pointed to more decisive buyers rather than more browsers. Petrol utes also picked up the pace, selling a little faster at 23 days, though prices slipped 13.5 per cent.

“Diesel was the outlier, taking longer to sell at 27 days as prices eased 6.0 per cent.”