New battery electric vehicle (BEV) configurations on Carwow hit a new high in September, rising to 40%.
The uplift coincided with the latest peak in fuel prices, with the RAC noting diesel had reached a national average of 199.33p per litre, and petrol climbed to 174.23p.
Matt Cockerill, vice president, marketplace operations at Carwow, said: “While affordable vehicles from new entrants are helping to drive overall interest in electrified mobility, established marques are not being left behind.
“Taking out the new Chinese brands and MG, configurations for BEVs from established brands have gone from 20% to 29% in the two years to the end of September 2026, with Renault and Kia leading.
“In addition, the Renault 5 has been the second-most configured new car on Carwow this year, and fewer than one in four of those looking at this model also looked at a Chinese alternative.”
BEV configurations on the platform climbed consistently over the past year, sitting at 26% of the total last spring and rising to 38% by April this year.
In Carwow’s latest survey, over half of buyers said fuel prices have made them more likely to consider purchasing a hybrid or fully electric car.
More than half of those configuring new cars on Carwow look at more than one brand.
One in four bought a brand they only added later, after starting their search with a different one, and 98% bought a brand they had previously configured on Carwow in the six months before.
