According to an analysis of used car big data for the year 2023 by Encar.com, the ‘2023 Used Car of the Year’ is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class W213.
Encar.com analyzed data on ‘view ranking’ and ‘purchase ranking,’ which reflect consumer trends in used cars for the year. This data is based on over 1.2 million used cars traded through the Encar website and mobile app this year.
The big data analysis results show that the Benz E-Class W213 achieved the top spot in both overall search views and purchase numbers, solidifying its status as the most popular used car model of 2023.
Beyond the E-Class W213, analyzing the overall TOP 10 rankings for search views and purchase numbers reveals that while consumer interest initially skewed towards relatively newer generation models, actual purchases leaned towards mid-sized sedans, both domestic and imported, and practical large RVs, vans, and compact cars. Notably, the Grandeur has recorded top purchase numbers across all generations, from HG to IG, confirming it as the most variably sold domestic model this year.
The overall search ranking from 2nd to 5th includes the 5 Series (G30), Grandeur IG, G80 (RG3), and S-Class W222, with all being sedans, whereas the 6th to 10th positions were occupied by GV80, the 4th generation Carnival, G80, the New Grandeur IG, and the 4th generation Sorento.
In terms of overall purchase numbers, the rankings from 2nd to 5th are the Grandeur HG, Grandeur IG, Grand Starex, and 5 Series (G30). Following these, the 6th to 10th spots featured the New Carnival, Palisade, All-New Carnival, New Grandeur IG, and All-New Morning.
When categorized by domestic and imported cars, the top purchase ranking among domestic vehicles is the Grandeur HG. This model, produced from 2011 to 2016, is known for its reasonable price around 10 million KRW and high value, making it a recognized name in the used car market, ensuring steady demand. The rankings from 2nd to 5th follow with Grandeur IG, Grand Starex, the New Carnival, and Palisade, while the New Grandeur IG, All-New Morning, and Santa Fe TM were also in the top ten.
The top ten imported cars by view ranking include E-Class W213, C-Class W205, 3 Series (F30), 5 Series (G30), and 7 Series (G11), all of which are sedan models from Benz and BMW, catching the eye. In terms of purchase ranking, the top five consist of the E-Class W213, 5 Series (G30), S-Class W222, 5 Series (F10), and C-Class W205, with the Audi New A6 making it to the top ten along with the only SUV variant, the Benz GLC-Class X253.
An Encar.com spokesperson stated, “While domestic sedans are popular in the used car market, it’s noteworthy that the model most chosen by consumers this year was the imported sedan, the Benz E-Class. However, due to the nature of the used car market, which strongly values cost-effectiveness, we can confirm that large SUVs/RVs and compact cars continue to show sustained demand at the actual purchasing stage.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr