Used Car Study 2026: Maruti, Hyundai, Kia Top Resale; EVs Bleed Value
Autocar India, in partnership with Spinny, has released the Mobility Intelligence Report 2026, its fourth annual used-car study. Built on over 11,000 transactions across nine cities, the report sizes India's used-car market at 1.39 times the new-car segment, growing 11-13 percent a year, with the organised slice expanding above 20 percent.
What was announced
The Mobility Intelligence Report 2026 is the fourth edition of the Autocar India-Spinny study and analyses real-world resale values across a five-year ownership window. The sample covers more than 11,000 vehicle transactions across nine cities, mapping depreciation trends, financing behaviour and emerging EV resale patterns in the Indian market.
Resale value is no longer a footnote on the spec sheet; with 41 percent depreciation at five years, it is the second-biggest cost of ownership after fuel.
Key findings from the report:
| Metric | Finding |
|---|---|
| Used vs new car market size | Used market is 1.39x the new-car segment |
| Overall used-car growth | 11-13 percent annually |
| Organised used-car growth | Over 20 percent annually |
| Financed transactions (organised) | Nearly 60 percent |
| Depreciation at 5 years | Up to 41 percent |
| Strongest resale brands | Maruti, Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra |
| Resale concern flagged | EV residual values |
Commenting on the findings, Hormazd Sorabjee, editor of Autocar India, said the used-car market is one of the clearest windows into how mobility preferences in India are evolving, and that the value of the report lies in the breadth of consumer and transaction data it draws on. The report frames the organised used-car channel as the fastest-growing layer of an already large market, with financing now a default rather than an exception for second-hand buyers.
The Car Jury verdict
The headline finding is not a surprise to anyone who has tried to offload a five-year-old car in India: Maruti, Hyundai, Kia and Mahindra hold value, and almost everything else loses it faster than the EMI runs out. With up to 41 percent depreciation on a five-year-old car and nearly 60 percent of organised used-car deals now financed, the resale column on the spec sheet matters more than ever.
The EV resale warning in the report is the part buyers should not skim. Biturbo Media notes that "the body strength of Maruti's small cars is still a major concern," a reminder that resale strength is not the only metric. But if you are eyeing a Maruti e-Vitara or stretching for a Hyundai Creta, factor a steeper depreciation curve into the math, especially on the EV.
