Market Watch: What Popular Used Cars Are You Searching On Carousell?

While pre-owned cars come with a host of unknowns most would gladly do without, we can’t deny that if cars of a certain generation appeal to you, that’s pretty much the route we’ll need to tread.

Popular cars you’re clicking on Carousell’s used car classifieds tend to make plenty of sense - they are often functional and have realistic depreciation, eradicating as many risks as possible. On the flipside, aspirational purchases abound - rare JDMs and classics never left your line of sight. What cars caught your attention this time round?

2015 Mercedes-Benz B-Class B180

Depreciation: S$11,540 per year

We reckon that electrified coupe SUVs could have already reached peak popularity. A bold claim for sure, but given how premium MPVs pamper passengers, we’d start to question if sloping rooflines of family-oriented cars are worth the compromise. Even hatchback form factors furnish more cabin capacity. Cue the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and even the Dongfeng Box - refreshing shapes in the EV world, but bogged down by raised floors to house battery packs.

If you’re Team ICE, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class B180, already a plus-sized hatch in 2015, supplies plenty of space for less than S$1,000 depreciation monthly. A 1.6-litre turbo pushing 121hp and 200Nm will make city drives a breeze. You might still harbour misgivings about its looks, but we’d argue that boxy is back!

2011 BMW 335i Convertible

Depreciation: S$10,857 per year

Some would claim that buying a German car that’s nearly 15 years old only forms half of the picture. More effort is required to fix it post-purchase, which could spiral into a wallet-bursting exercise.

But when it comes to the E93 BMW 335i Convertible, the risk-reward ratio might very well be justified. Mechanisms of retractable hardtops are hefty, sure, but it’s powered by a turbocharged straight 6 3.0-litre dispatching 306hp and 400Nm, which we reckon is still one of the best force fed motors out there.

2018 Opel Crossland X 1.2A

Depreciation: S$8,147 per year

Opel’s local agent has announced that they will stop selling Opel vehicles by end 2025. You can still try to secure a new unit in their remaining inventory, or browse the classifieds for a pre-owned unit. An acquired taste for most, but at less than S$700 depreciation monthly, surely it deserves a mention.

And you have taken notice - this 2018 Crossland X won’t break the bank. It’s compact (only slightly longer than a Yaris Cross), has decent torque (205Nm) and maintenance should not be a complex affair. Now’s the time to help Opel sign off with a final flourish.

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