Ukrainians are choosing diesel cars less and less: how the passenger car market is changing

The passenger car market in Ukraine continues to change, and demand for diesel models is declining significantly. Find out why Ukrainians are choosing diesel cars less and less, which models remain popular, and how the sales structure is changing

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Interest in passenger cars with diesel engines continues to decline in Ukraine. Last year, Ukrainians purchased 64,500 diesel cars, which is 12% less than the year before. This was reported by Ukravtoprom, analyzing both the new car segment and the market for imported used cars.

The decline in demand is evident in both key segments—new passenger cars and used cars imported from abroad. This trend indicates a shift in Ukrainian consumer priorities and a gradual rethinking of the role of diesel engines in the market.

How many diesel cars did Ukrainians buy in a year?

According to Ukravtoprom, during the year, the Ukrainian car fleet was replenished with:

● 14,200 new diesel passenger cars, which is 20% less than in 2024;

● 50,300 used diesel cars imported from abroad, a 9% drop year-on-year.

Thus, total sales of diesel cars are declining faster in the new car segment, while imports of used models are showing a slightly more moderate decline.

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How has the share of diesel in the market changed?

Analysts note that diesel cars have significantly lost ground among new passenger cars. While they accounted for 25.6% of sales in 2024, their share fell to 17.4% last year.

This means that almost every fourth new car a year ago was diesel, while now it is less than every fifth. This trend indicates a shift in buyer preferences toward gasoline, hybrid, or electric models.

A similar situation can be observed in the segment of used cars that Ukrainians import from abroad. The share of diesel cars among imported cars has decreased from 24.8% to 18.3%.

Although diesel has traditionally been considered a profitable option for travel and long distances, buyers are increasingly turning their attention to alternative types of engines, in particular due to changes in fuel prices, service costs, and general trends in the European market.

Tip: It is important for owners of both new and used cars to take care of the mandatory documents in advance. In particular, obtaining motor vehicle insurance remains a basic requirement for the legal use of transport in Ukraine. This can be done conveniently online, without unnecessary queues and paperwork, through the Visit Ukraine service, which allows you to quickly select and purchase a policy according to your car's specifications.

The most popular new diesel cars in Ukraine

Despite the overall decline in demand, certain models remain consistently popular. The top 5 new diesel cars most frequently purchased by Ukrainians last year were:

● Renault Duster — 3,524 cars

● Toyota Land Cruiser Prado — 1,830 cars

● Volkswagen Touareg — 1,388 cars

● Škoda Kodiaq — 858 cars

● Volkswagen Tiguan — 823 cars

Top 5 used diesel cars imported from abroad

Among imported used cars, the leaders were proven mass models from the European market:

● Renault Mégane — 4,186 cars

● Nissan Qashqai — 3,444 cars

● Škoda Octavia — 3,259 cars

● Volkswagen Passat — 2,773 cars

● Volkswagen Golf — 1,790 cars

We remind you! Electric cars in Ukraine are no longer the future — in 2025, they became the new norm. The market has shown record growth, and drivers' preferences have changed dramatically: Chinese brands and new models, which were rare on the roads until recently, have come to the fore. Read on to find out which electric cars Ukrainians chose most often and who was the big winner of the electric year.

Photo: infocar.ua

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