Automotive specialist and blogger Vladislav Zhukov has published a fresh overview of the used car market in Almaty. After analyzing available listings, he concluded that there has been no significant price drop so far, but the cost of newer cars is gradually becoming more justified, reports infohub.kz.
According to Zhukov, current buyer interest is focused on late-model vehicles. Older passenger cars are selling increasingly poorly, as many prefer to take out a loan and buy a more modern model, even a Chinese brand. However, well-maintained specimens remain expensive — especially Toyota models, which hardly depreciate due to high liquidity.
The Almaty car market features both mass-market sedans and crossovers as well as premium SUVs. Here are some examples (prices in tenge): Kia Sorento 2015 — 9.9 million, Kia Sorento 2016 with a 2.4-liter engine — 9.5 million, Kia K5 — 7.3 million, Hyundai Sonata 2024 — 11 million, Hyundai Tucson 2022 — 11 million, Hyundai Santa Fe 2023 — 16.5 million, Hyundai Palisade 2021 — 20.5 million, Hyundai Grandeur 2014 with a 3-liter engine — 8.4 million, Toyota Camry 2019 — about 12 million, Toyota Camry 2023 — 15.5 million, Toyota Sequoia 2008 with a 5.7-liter engine — 10.5 million, Toyota Highlander 2015 — 17 million, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2019 — 23 million, Chevrolet Onix 2023 — 6 million, Infiniti QX70 — 8.5 million, Mitsubishi ASX 2022 — 10 million, Subaru Forester 2021 — 13.1 million, BMW X5 2015 — 14.5 million, BMW X5 2016 — 18.9 million, BMW 7 Series 2018 — 11.5 million, Mercedes-Benz E300 2015 — 15.6 million.
Korean brands Hyundai and Kia continue to strengthen their positions in the secondary market. Models such as Sonata, Santa Fe, Sorento, and Palisade are particularly popular. Zhukov noted that two-liter Korean engines should be checked with an endoscope due to the risk of scoring, while more modern 2.5-liter engines he considers more reliable. The specialist also advises carefully inspecting cars imported from the US and checking their auction history before purchase to rule out major damage or flooding.
The growing popularity of Chinese brands, according to Zhukov, is gradually transforming the used-car market. Kazakhstani residents are increasingly comparing the cost of a ten-year-old Toyota with the price of a new Chinese crossover, making it harder for owners of older cars to maintain previous prices. On the market itself, prices are typically higher than in online listings, but sellers are often willing to negotiate, so the final price can be significantly lower than the initial asking.
Previously, it was reported that Kazakhstani residents continue to seek used cars in good condition.