The Tesla Model 3 was the most searched-for used electric vehicle in February, according to online used car marketplace heycar. The company’s Retail Insights Report showed that interest in second-hand Model 3s picked up after a traditionally slow January, putting it ahead of the Audi Q4 and Audi e-tron in search rankings.

The report also revealed that the average number of days used cars spent in stock fell from 43.4 days to 34.4 days, with Tesla ranking as one of the fastest-selling brands at 25.3 days, second only to Volvo at 22.6 days.

“Things may well change in the coming months, but demand among used EV buyers for Tesla was strong in February, with the brand experiencing one of the lowest days in stock,” said Dermot Kelleher, chief marketing officer for heycar.

“We’ve recently seen a lot more used Tesla models coming onto the market – a trend we expect to continue as leasing contracts come to an end – and this means wider availability of the cars at more accessible price points.”

The report also highlighted continued demand for SUVs, with nine of the top 15 most searched-for cars on heycar in January being SUVs. The Nissan Qashqai and Audi Q3 were the most searched-for used cars overall, followed by the Audi A1.

“Buyers continue to favour models that offer a strong all-round value package,” added Kelleher. “While there is a strong bias towards premium brands and image, it’s in the context of family practicality and size, price and equipment. The Qashqai continues to be the go-to model for ticking all of those boxes and maintains top spot as heycar’s most popular car.”

Interest in electric vehicles also increased in February, with models such as the Hyundai Kona Electric, MG ZS EV, MG4 and Nissan LEAF generating strong interest, indicating that price sensitivity remains a key factor, particularly among first-time EV buyers.