From January through October 2023, the used-car market in St. Petersburg showed a clear picture of consumer preference. The data points to the Ford Focus as the standout model in the city’s secondary market, a trend highlighted by the analytics firm Avtostat. This shift underscores how drivers in Russia’s northern capital gravitate toward dependable, well-known hatchbacks that balance cost of ownership with driving experience.
During the first ten months of the year, roughly 4.9 thousand Ford Focus vehicles were resold in St. Petersburg. Close competition followed, with the Volkswagen Polo recording about 4.2 thousand units, Hyundai Solaris at around 4 thousand, Kia Rio near 3.7 thousand, and Skoda Octavia close to 3.3 thousand. Taken together, these figures form the core lineup of the market leaders and reflect the preferences of local buyers who value practicality, reliability, and reasonable maintenance costs in a city with varied driving conditions and a substantial urban commute.
When looking at brand performance, BMW and Volkswagen led the field, each selling about 13.7 thousand used cars in the period. Lada ranked third with approximately 13.3 thousand units sold, while Kia and Hyundai followed with around 12.7 thousand and 10.5 thousand, respectively. This mix illustrates a broad spectrum of buyer tastes in St. Petersburg, from premium-brand examples to solid mass-market choices, all competing for space on the city’s crowded streets and in its expanding secondary-car market inventory.
Analysts note that the ten-month tally points to roughly 180 thousand used passenger cars changing hands in St. Petersburg, a figure that marks a 13 percent rise compared with January through October of the previous year. This growth signals sustained demand for affordable mobility among residents and a resilient market that continues to absorb aging fleets while remaining open to newer, value-oriented options. The trend also hints at underlying economic conditions that keep demand steady, including evolving credit availability, changing ownership costs, and the ongoing appeal of certified pre-owned programs that offer warranty coverage alongside price advantages.
Industry observers also mention potential shifts on the horizon, such as the possible arrival of new brands and models that could reshape the used-car landscape in large Russian cities. In this context, there is chatter about a Chinese entrant, Deepal, potentially entering the Russian market. If such a brand establishes a foothold, buyers might gain access to additional price points and feature sets, further diversifying the choices available to those shopping for reliable, economical transportation in St. Petersburg and beyond. As always, buyers are advised to perform careful inspections, review vehicle histories, and consider total cost of ownership when comparing popular models like the Ford Focus, Polo, Solaris, Rio, and Octavia against emerging options from new entrants.