Consumers seem to be noticing the availability of used hybrid SUVs and hybrid crossovers and apparently have found them to be attractive options, as these two segments were among the biggest gainers during August in terms of used-car shopping activity growth on Kbb.com, according to Kelley Blue Book’s inaugural Hot Used-Car Report.

In fact, hybrid SUVs showed the most month-over-month growth in their share of used-shopper activity in August (up 20 percent), while hybrid crossovers were fourth, as they climbed 11 percent from July.

Hybrid cars were No. 2, with 16-percent improvement, and hybrid pickup trucks were third (13 percent). The hybrid SUV segment, in particular, was lifted heavily by the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, which showed considerable gains.

“Consumers may be realizing that many hybrid SUVs and crossovers are now entering the used-car market and may provide a better deal than the new-car counterpart,” officials noted. On the opposite end of the spectrum, minivan traffic fell 15 percent. Largely pushing this segment down was the 31.27-percent slowdown in activity for the 2009 Toyota Sienna. KBB officials also pointed out that many shoppers have steered toward 2008 model-year units.

“Used-car retail shopping activity on kbb.com indicates a strong push toward 2008 model-year vehicles as many of the Top 10 vehicles experienced a redesign or launch for that model year,” KBB noted.

Truck Values Move Upward
Moving on, KBB also delved into the strength being shown in used truck values. Through August, they have maintained an edge over cars and their 2010 momentum continues.

Specifically, during August, full-size pickup truck values climbed 1.7 percent from July, while car values showed a 1.9-percent dip. Among the heavier climbers in the full-size pickup segment were 2008 Ford F-150 Super Crew Cab XL, which improved 17.7 percent from August 2009, the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab LT (up 18.1 percent year-over-year) and the 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 (up 28.8 percent).

“The strength in most truck segments primarily has been driven by a lack of supply in the marketplace, especially for four-wheel drive trims,” KBB director of vehicle valuation Juan Flores and KBB lead analyst of vehicle valuation Alec Gutierrez explained in the report.

“A short supply of late-model trucks has allowed this segment to consistently outperform the car segment, as evidenced by a 16.2 percent increase year-to-date,” they added.

“Interestingly, high values could be causing consumers to shy away from trucks as they continue to rise. “As a result, we have seen monthly traffic for full-size pickup trucks decrease 11 percent,” the analysts continued. “Ultimately, the appreciation in truck values is the result of scarce inventories of good-condition trucks at both the auction and dealerships.”

So what’s causing this dearth in inventory? For starters, automakers scaled back on full-size pickup production two years ago when gas prices hit historical spikes, and this caused scarcity, Flores and Gutierrez pointed out. Moreover, the second half of 2008 saw several automakers start to cut down on leasing, as well.

The third factor is the fact that fuel prices being $3 is still bearable to truck shoppers, in general, even though fuel is much pricier than the $2 per gallon seen back in January 2009. “In fact, Kelley Blue Book analysts have found that diesel engines retain their values at unprecedented levels as a result of steady gas prices, allowing the current demand to outweigh supply in both new and used markets,” officials noted.