COVID hangover hitting used cars: The second-hand cars that are worth avoiding to ensure you’re getting the most value and are as safe as possible

It’s been over five years now since COVID lockdowns started and in some way it feels like a lifetime ago.

For a lot of people buying new cars during this period, however, there were long wait times. COVID lockdowns were a key reason for this, but another major reason for delays was the global shortage of semiconductors.

A new car needs thousands of semiconductors in order to control virtually every computerised function in a car.

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As a result of the global shortage in semiconductors, it was holding up the production chain for many carmakers. Incomplete cars started to pile up and as a compromise carmakers started shipping cars that were missing features.

Some new cars didn’t have certain multimedia-related features, whereas others missed out on specific safety technology.

In the end certain car makers even made special edition models with existing parts to clear out stock quicker. Examples of this include certain 2022 Volkswagen special editions like the T-Roc R Grid Edition and Tiguan R Grid Edition.

Another method carmakers side-stepped this predicament was by fitting equipment locally. For over a year Suzuki was locally fitting a larger 9.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system as it allowed for more vehicles to be imported.

Volkswagen T-Roc R Grid Edition

Subaru also created the MY22 Forester 2.5X special edition, which also featured a locally-fitted touchscreen multimedia system. The Japanese company denied this was due to semiconductor shortages at the time, but it’s unclear if this still stands true today.

Many new car buyers didn’t initially know they would be taking delivery of a semiconductor-impacted car with stripped features until they were told by their dealer. It was then a case of taking delivery of a car, which has fewer features now, potentially with a discount, or waiting an even longer amount of time for the fully featured car.

Some people could wait, but others needed a new car sooner rather than later and were happy to get the de-specified car.

Subaru Forester 2.5X special edition

It’s now been around three years since this period, meaning leasing or loan periods are likely coming to an end soon. Some of these affected cars have likely started entering the second-hand market.

While this may seem like a deal to get a car cheaper, you need to be clear on what you’re getting into.

The following is a breakdown of what features specific cars were missing in Australia during 2021 and 2023.

Note: Not all the cars listed below were missing all these features from 2021 to 2023, though a large number experienced de-specification during model year (MY22) as a generalisation. Some examples were on a case-by-case basis.

Audi:

A3/S3/RS3

Blind-spot monitoring
Exit warning
Rear cross-traffic alert

Electric steering column

Q5/Q5 Sportback/SQ5/SQ5 Sportback

Electric steering column adjustment

Q7/SQ7

Electric steering column adjustment
Electric luggage compartment cover

Q8/SQ8

Electric steering column adjustment
Electric luggage compartment cover

BMW:

1 Series:

Wireless phone charger
Adaptive cruise control
Enhancement Package (118i only)
Driver Assistance Package (118i only)
M Sport Plus Package (118i only)

2 Series:

Head-up display

2 Series Gran Coupe:

Wireless phone charger
Adaptive cruise control
Driver Assistance Package (218i and 220i)
M Sport Plus Package (218i and 220i)

4 Series:

BMW Laserlight headlights
Driver Assistant Package (420i)
Driving Assistance Professional (420i and 430i)
Visibility Package (420i and 430i)

5 Series:

Rear-axle steering
16-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system

Wireless phone charger
12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
Reversing assistant
Precision Package (sDrive20i and sDrive30i)

12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system (sDrive18i only)

Driving Assistant Professional Package (all except M40i)

Driving Assistant Professional Package (all except M40i)

xOffroad Package (xDrive30d and xDrive40i)
Rear axle-steering
Adaptive two-axle air suspension
Heated and cooled cupholders
Third-row seat package
20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system

xOffroad Package (xDrive30d and xDrive40i)
Rear-axle steering
Adaptive two-axle air suspension
Heated cupholders
20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system

Multi-function front seats

Citroen:

Blind-spot monitoring
Front and rear parking sensors

C5 Aircross

Blind-spot monitoring
Front and rear parking sensors

Ford:

Ranger

Engine idle stop-start (bi-turbo models only)

Jaguar:

Surround-view camera
12-inch digital instrument cluster
Digital rear-view mirror
Technology Pack

2020 Jaguar XE

Mazda:

Mazda 3

12-speaker Bose sound system (G25 GT only)

CX-5

Hands-free function for power tailgate (GT SP and Akera)

Mercedes-Benz:

CLA

Nine-speaker 225W sound system (CLA200 only)
Lumbar seat adjustment (CLA200 only)
Dual-zone climate control (CLA200 only)
Wireless charger
Head-up display (all except AMG models)

Vans

Autonomous emergency braking
Adaptive cruise control
Blind-spot assist
Rear cross-traffic alert
Exit warning

Mitsubishi:

Outlander

One-touch up/down for all windows except driver’s window (Outlander ES only)
Power tailgate (Outlander LS only)
12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (Outlander Aspire only)

Peugeot:

3008

Focal premium sound system
Wireless charger
Power tailgate

5008

Focal premium sound system
Wireless charger
Power tailgate

Expert

Side thorax airbags (exc. Sport)
Adaptive cruise control

Polestar:

Polestar 2

Pixel LED headlights
LED cornering lights

Renault:

Arkana

Electric folding mirrors

Captur

Electric folding mirrors
Nine-speaker Bose sound system

Skoda:

Kamiq

Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
Premium sound system
Adaptive LED headlights (Monte Carlo and Signature only)
Dynamic front indicators (Monte Carlo and Signature only)

Kodiaq

Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
Surround-view camera
Electric child safety locks
12-speaker Canton premium sound system

Octavia

Semi-autonomous park assist
Canton sound system

Scala

Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
Premium sound system

Superb

Matrix LED headlights (162TSI Style only)
12-speaker Canton sound system (206TSI Sportline only)

Subaru:

Forester 2.5X (special edition):

8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system (locally fitted 7.0-inch Alpine unit instead)
CD player
Over-the-air software update capability
Voice command system
Extra USB-A port (only one instead of two)