Grandeur Hybrid only domestic model to rise in November used-car prices

Used-car trading platform HeyDealer released its November accident-free used-car price data Thursday for 15 domestic models and 10 imported models.

Among domestic vehicles, 14 of the 15 models fell from the previous month. The all-new Tucson posted the steepest decline, dropping 5.6% to 11.7 million won ($8,710). The Sonata DN8 and fourth-generation Sorento each fell 3.3%, while the all-new Morning and K7 Premier each slipped 2.8%.

The all-new Grandeur Hybrid was the sole gainer, rising 1.2% to 41 million won. The new Kia Ray, fourth-generation Carnival and all-new G80 were largely flat, each edging down just 0.1 to 0.6 percent.

Eight of the 10 imported models also declined. The BMW 5 Series fell the most, dropping 5.7% to 24.6 million won. The Mini Countryman followed with a 5.4% decline, then the Mercedes-Benz GLC at 5.2% and the E-Class at 4.2%. The Audi Q4 e-tron slipped 0.9% and the BMW i4 edged down 0.6%. The Mini Cooper and Polestar 2 held steady.

HeyDealer selects a monthly theme to highlight real owner reviews. November's theme is cabin quietness, chosen to reflect the season when drivers increasingly keep their windows closed.

An analysis of 1,109 owner reviews for the hydrogen-powered Nexo found that 44.4 percent cited quietness as a strength — the highest share among all models surveyed. The Grand Koleos came in second at 33.0 percent, followed by the all-new Grandeur Hybrid at 31.4 percent, the Ioniq 5 at 28.5 percent and the EV9 at 28.0 percent.

Electric, hydrogen and hybrid models — which produce little or no engine noise — dominated the top rankings. One Nexo owner said "the high-frequency sounds typical of electric vehicles are almost entirely absent."

"Most major models saw modest price adjustments in November," a HeyDealer official said. "When buying or selling a used car, checking market prices alongside owner reviews of what actual drivers are satisfied with should prove helpful."

HeyDealer said its AI vehicle diagnostic solution "HeyDealer Eye" inspected a cumulative total of about 15,000 certified used cars from January through early September, finding that roughly 38 percent showed repair traces not recorded in their existing performance history documents.

The company said it plans to keep advancing its AI-based vehicle diagnostic technology to build an environment where consumers can choose used cars with sufficient information.