Used Volkswagen, Audi, Mazda, Peugeot and even BMW cars can still be brought in from abroad at reduced scrappage rates, despite two recent waves of rate hikes. Their prices still look attractive compared to new and obscure Chinese cars. Motor magazine asked delivery workers about the most interesting lots.
The biggest impact on the market for cars imported into the country through alternative import channels was the linking of the calculation of the recycling fee to engine power (over 160 hp – protective tariffs), and not just to the working volume. Instead of 3.4 thousand rubles for a car under three years old and 5.2 thousand rubles for a used one over 3 years old, private owners are now asked to pay hundreds of thousands and millions of rubles in salvage fees, and this does not include customs duties.
However, sellers and deliverers of used cars from abroad have already managed to reorient themselves to delivering cars that pass the coveted 160 horsepower limit, in addition, they are “friendly” for customers in terms of price. We are mainly talking about compact crossovers.
Hyundai
When imported from South Korea, the Hyundai Venue subcompact crossover with a 1.6 engine producing 123 hp. will cost 2.2 million rubles including duties and fees, as well as delivery to Moscow. We are talking about a used car produced in 2021-2022 in excellent condition.
The Venue crossover is distinguished by increased ground clearance, good visibility and simple, proven units: an atmospheric engine and a six-speed hydromechanical automatic transmission. The Hyundai Elantra sedan (Avante in the Korean market) is equipped with the same tandem. A three-year-old car will cost approximately 2.3 million rubles.
The larger Sonata sedan, well known to Russians, also remains “passable”. With a 2.0 engine running on gas fuel, it develops 146 hp. and falls under preferential recycling rates for private owners. To order such a car, you need to have about 2.5 million rubles.
Kia
With a budget of 2.2-2.4 million rubles, you can import Korean Kia K3 and K5 sedans from abroad on a turnkey basis. Under the hood of the more compact K3 is the same naturally aspirated 1.6 engine with 123 hp. with a CVT, like the Hyundai Elantra. The gas version of the Kia K5 with a 2.0 engine also fits into the framework of the preferential recycling fee. The estimated budget is 2.2−2.5 million rubles.
The four-year-old Kia Morning hatchback (sold in Russia as the Picanto) costs about 1.5 million rubles with delivery and customs clearance in Moscow. Kia Ray compact van with a similar 1.0-liter engine producing 76 hp. will cost 150 thousand rubles more.
The Kia Seltos diesel crossover with a 1.6 engine fits into the budget of 2.3 million rubles, but its restyled version with a gasoline 2.0 will require 2.8 million rubles. Starting 2021, the Seltos for the Korean market is a global model built on the same platform as the Hyundai Creta. Before this, it was larger than the global version and was based on the Hyundai Tucson platform.
Peugeot and Renault
Prices for products from French brands remain relatively affordable. Budget for purchasing a used Peugeot 3008 crossover with a 130 hp petrol or diesel engine. amounts to 2.3 million rubles including delivery and customs clearance. A Peugeot 508 sedan produced in 2021-2022 with the same units will cost less – an average of 2.15 million rubles.
A Korean copy of Renault Arkana called Samsung XM3 can be purchased for 1.85 million rubles, Samsung QM6 (analogous to the Renault Koleos familiar to Russians) for 2.5 million rubles.
Volkswagen, Audi and BMW
After the introduction of the barrier recycling fee, there was an increased demand for used cars of German brands with a 2.0 diesel engine, which falls within the established limits in terms of power, the founder of the RogovMobil company (supplies cars from Japan and South Korea) Dmitry Rogov told Motor magazine.
“They are ordering Volkswagen Golf (2.9 million rubles), Tiguan (3.3 million rubles), Audi Q3 (3.5 million rubles). The new generation BMW X1 is in great demand, they have all been bought, people are ready to wait several months for their turn. He is also a champion in price appreciation. If in December 2025 such a car could be bought for 3.8-4 million rubles, now it is 4.5 million rubles,” Rogov gave examples.
According to him, in the budget segment with engines up to 160 hp. Russians are not interested in Chinese cars, but there is still little demand for more expensive crossovers such as the Geely Mongaro, Zeekr or Lixiang.
When delivered from China, the products of locally assembled Japanese brands are in stable demand among Russians. First of all, these are Toyota and Mazda, as well as German Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi. In the current market realities, a “Chinese” diesel Tiguan with a 2.0 engine fits into the budget of 3.3 million rubles, an Audi Q3 with a similar engine costs 3.5 million rubles.
“Mazda has a successful 2.0 naturally aspirated engine with a classic automatic transmission: they buy CX-5 crossovers and Mazda 3 sedans with it. Everything comes together here, they are chasing these cars, and even the huge Chinese market feels an increased demand for them from Russians,” Rogov concluded.
Kia K5
Kia 
Kia Ray
Kia 
Samsung XM3
Samsung 
Kia Morning
Kia 
Kia K3
Kia 
Hyundai Avante
Hyundai 
Hyundai Venue
Hyundai 
Volkswagen Golf VIII
Volkswagen 
Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai 
Peugeot 3008
Peugeot 
Mazda CX-5
Mazda 
Audi Q3
Audi 
BMW X1
BMW 
Kia Seltos
Kia
