Israelis Favor SUVs and Electrified Vehicles, Data Shows

Israeli car buyers are increasingly opting for larger SUVs and electrified powertrains, according to new data from the car marketplace Yad2. For the first time, over half of all searches on the platform are for SUVs and recreational vehicles, a significant jump from previous years. This trend comes at the expense of traditional family sedans and smaller cars, which have seen a decline in popularity.

Alongside the shift towards SUVs, there's a growing demand for electrified vehicles. Searches for electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid cars combined now account for a third of all searches, up from 25% a year prior. Pure electric car searches have nearly doubled their share, reaching 11% of the total.

"Israelis are not giving up on large, comfortable cars, but they are becoming much more aware of the type of powertrain and its running costs," said Yaniv Raabed, CEO of Yad2 Cars. The data, which compares searches from early 2026 to 2025, indicates a changing landscape in the Israeli automotive market.

Specific models like the Suzuki Jimny, Toyota Land Cruiser, Honda Civic, Skoda Karoq, and Chevrolet Spark have shown strong value retention. Interestingly, demand for heavy-duty SUVs and pickup trucks is significantly higher in Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley compared to central Israel. The most sought-after models remain the Toyota Corolla, RAV4, and Mitsubishi Outlander, though Chinese electric models like the Geely Geometry C and BYD Atto 3 have experienced explosive growth in demand.