Bye bye beamer: drivers downsize their cars as cost of living crisis bites

Dealerships in UK report drop in demand for BMWs and Audis and more interest in used models

Drivers all over the UK are downsizing to cheaper, less prestigious and more fuel-efficient vehicles and banking the cash difference as the cost of living crisis continues.

BMWs and Audis are out - instead, dealerships report an increase in demand for used cars, particularly mid-range models such as Vauxhall Corsa, Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus in the past two months. There has also been a drop in the number of people seeking to lease vehicles, with those who do so wanting cheaper deals.