Late-model used-car prices saw a very slight decline in March, with the average asking price in Cars.com vehicle listings down $31 to $22,619. Prices for 2010 to 2012 used cars are down just $43 from the beginning of the year, or less than 1%.
Among the top 10 cars with the biggest price swings, March was a month of price corrections. After experiencing the biggest price gains in February, the BMW X5 and Subaru Impreza had the largest price declines in March. X5 prices were down 9% to $44,901 while Impreza prices fell 6% to $21,918. The decreases erased all of the prior month’s gains for these models — and then some. Perhaps these all-wheel-drive vehicles were priced higher for winter.
Likewise, the Chevrolet Express 3500, which saw the largest percentage drop in price last month, recovered much of its losses in March, with its average price increasing 8% to $23,470. The only model that saw a bigger price increase was the GMC Canyon pickup truck; its average asking price jumped $4,509 to $26,335, a 21% gain.
The chart below details the top 10 used cars from 2010 to 2012 model years with the biggest price drops — as well as the 10 with the biggest increases. To be eligible for the list, a model had to have 500 cars in Cars.com’s national inventory.
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Source: Cars.com used-car listings, 2010 to 2012 model years
Mike Hanley has more than 20 years of experience reporting on the auto industry. His primary focus is new vehicles, and he's currently a Senior Road Test Editor overseeing expert car reviews and comparison tests. He previously managed Editorial content in the Cars.com Research section.