Ukrainians no longer like cheap cars

"Cars costing less than EUR 4,000, which could still be purchased in 2011, disappeared from the market last year. Therefore, the term 'cheap car' in Ukraine now starts from almost EUR 6,000," reads the report.

Paradoxically, these cars are also not respected in Ukraine. The sale of cars costing up to EUR 6,500 in 2012 was almost 15% lower than in 2011, whereas sales of cars worth up to EUR 10,000 shrank by nearly 12%.

Despite the still prevailing offer of affordable cars on the market, buyers are increasingly attracted to more expensive models, experts say.

According to statistics, potential buyers of cheap cars decided, as they say, not to spare money and started buying cars costing EUR 10,000-15,000. Their sales rose by almost 5%.

This trend was also typical for the medium-priced car market. Apparently, the desire to show their status forced customers to raise the price level and buy cars worth EUR 15,000-22,000. Sales in this category rose the least. And compared to their share on the market, they actually fell.

Potential buyers of cars costing EUR 15,000-22,000 decided to buy more expensive vehicles, worth EUR 22,000-35,000. Sales of cars in this price range last year grew by more than 12%.

"But the biggest growth in sales was reported by cars costing more than EUR 35,000. Their sales grew by more than 15%. Moreover, Ukrainians still prefer foreign cars to traditional brands from CIS countries," AUTO-Consulting reported.

However, in quantitative terms, even despite the rapid rise in sales of more expensive vehicles, major sales in Ukraine still account for cars costing EUR 6,500-22,000. They account for over three-quarters of all sales in the country. And the largest number of new cars is expected in this segment in 2013.

The average price of a car in Ukraine in 2012 was EUR 17,400.