IRVINE, Calif. -

With the weather starting to warm up in most places throughout the country, Kelley Blue Book’s latest used-vehicle value analysis showed how units often connected with summertime activities are outperforming all others.

Along with sharing the top 10 specific models posting the greatest year-over-year changes in value, the Blue Book Market Report for the first quarter of 2016 indicated the high performance and sport car segments are faring better on the wholesale market because of low fuel prices that have spurred strong demand.

KBB reported values for high performance vehicles are up 2.9 percent while values for sports cars are 2.5 percent higher when looking at Q1 data for units from the 2013 through 2015 model years. The readings for those two vehicle segments each were more than double the value rises for the other segments within the top five, including midsize cars (up 1.1 percent), compact cars (up 0.9 percent) and luxury high performance cars (up 0.6 percent).

“Interestingly, the high performance and sports car segments outperformed all other segments,” Kelley Blue Book analyst Sean Foyil said. “As a result of low fuel prices, consumers are less concerned with fuel efficiency as a factor when choosing their next vehicles and more concerned with other aspects, such as performance, which explains the continued decline for electric and hybrid vehicles compared to the rest of the market.”

KBB mentioned in the report that fuel prices remained at a lower starting point in the first quarter than in the last two years at $2.03 per gallon, falling 31 cents in mid-February and rebounding to $2.08 per gallon in April.

In the first quarter of 2016, analysts determined the average price for a gallon of fuel rose 5 cents or 2.4 percent.

“The average price per gallon of fuel is down 14 percent year-over-year,” Foyil said. “However, we are seeing seasonal trends consistent with previous years and expect fuel prices to rise at a slow and steady pace into the summer months.”

The report highlighted that overall auction values for used 1- to 3-year-old vehicles declined 1.3 percent, or roughly $235, in the first quarter of 2016. 

“One of the most notable differences seen this year is the lack of an upward swing in values during the first few months of the year,” analysts said. “Typically, the used-car market sees an uptick in values in the 2 to 4 percent range.”

However this year, Kelley Blue Book reported a slight 1 percent decrease. Leading the downward charge were:

—Electric vehicles: down 7.5 percent
—Hybrid/alternative energy vehicles: down 4.9 percent
—Entry level luxury cars: down 4.4 percent
—Vans: down 4.1 percent
—Luxury midsize SUV/crossover: down 3.9 percent

“An abundance of volume in auction lanes across the country continues to be a key force putting downward pressure on auction prices,” KBB analysts said.

The report also mentioned the top 10 vehicles that posted the greatest swings in value during Q1.

Top 10 Performing Models

—Mitsubishi Mirage: up 5.4 percent
—Dodge Challenger: up 4.4 percent
—Ford Mustang: up 4.3 percent
—Chrysler 300: up 4.3 percent
—Honda Civic: up 4.1 percent
—Chevrolet Camaro: up 4.1 percent
—Nissan Altima: up 4.0 percent
—Volvo C30: up 3.9 percent
—Chrysler Town & Country: up 3.9 percent
—Ford Expedition: up 3.6 percent

Bottom 10 Performing Models

—Nissan LEAF: down 19.3 percent
—Volkswagen Touareg: down 12.6 percent
—BMW i3: down 12.5 percent
—Ram C/V: down 12.1 percent
—Mercedes-Benz B-Class: down 11.9 percent
—Suzuki Kizashi: down 11.5 percent
—Chevrolet Volt: down 11.2 percent
—Porsche 911: down 11.0 percent
—Suzuki Grand Vitara: down 10.4 percent
—Ram C/V Tradesman: down 10.2 percent