Dealer Auction has recorded a third consecutive record month for used car retail margins, with the Range Rover Evoque leading both of its July price categories.
The diesel Evoque achieved a record £4,050 potential retail margin among models priced below £10,000, the highest ever recorded in that category by Dealer Auction.
It also topped the over-£10,000 ranking with an average margin of £5,250. The Land Rover Discovery Sport came close to matching the Evoque in the sub-£10,000 chart, finishing just £100 behind.
Land Rover leads both charts
At manufacturer level, Land Rover continued the strong run it has maintained over the past two months, recording the strongest margin of 2026 for models retailing below £10,000 and also topped the over-£10,000 manufacturer ranking.
Dealer Auction said the results reflected continued demand for premium used SUVs and the margin opportunities available to dealers sourcing the right stock.
Kieran TeeBoon, marketplace director at Dealer Auction, said: “The Range Rover Evoque setting a new retail margin record under £10,000 highlights the strong profitability dealers can still achieve with the right stock. It was also interesting to see the Mazda CX-5 delivering an outstanding performance across several categories, making it a model to watch. It’ll be interesting to see if these chart toppers can maintain this momentum and sustained demand in the months ahead.”
The Mazda CX-5 also delivered a particularly strong July, recording the highest Auto Trader retail rating, the best Cap Clean performance of the year and an average selling time of 24 days. That was just one day short of the fastest average selling time recorded by Dealer Auction.
Other familiar family SUVs including the Kia Sportage, Ford Kuga and Vauxhall Mokka X also appeared in the sub-£10,000 rankings.
Hybrid stock gains ground
Electrified models also increased their presence in the higher-value chart. The Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Qashqai hybrids both secured places in the over-£10,000 top 10, which Dealer Auction said pointed to growing dealer confidence and continued customer demand for hybrid stock.
Mercedes-Benz also maintained its position among the strongest-performing premium brands, finishing second at manufacturer level for a third consecutive month. Across the wider marketplace, Dealer Auction said July remained steady after particularly strong trading in June.
The total retail value of vehicles sold reached £49.7 million, while auction volumes and the supply of fresh stock remained healthy.
TeeBoon said: “Land Rover’s continued dominance across both value segments demonstrates the enduring strength of premium used vehicles, while the inclusion of two hybrid models in the over-£10,000 chart highlights the growing demand for electrified stock, which is really encouraging. Combined with another strong month for the platform, the market continues to show resilience and healthy dealer confidence, and it’ll be fascinating to see if these consistencies remain.”
Dealer Auction’s Retail Margin Monitor compares the price paid for vehicles on its platform with the Autotrader market average to calculate potential retail margin. The July edition analysed transactions completed between July 1 and 31.
Ensure you always receive AM insights. Make us a preferred source of news on Google