The news: Canadian Black Book’s latest weekly report has used compact cars up 0.14% at wholesale in the week ending September 26, 2026. The overall market fell 0.14% in the same week. That overall drop is smaller than the 0.18% of the week before and smaller than the usual 0.25% decline for that week of the year. The car segment as a whole slipped 0.07%, and trucks and SUVs slipped 0.20%. Mid-size cars fell 0.36%, minivans fell 1.06% and compact vans fell 1.44%. Small pickups rose 0.26% and subcompact crossovers rose 0.13%. The 14-day average dealer listing price was $38,250, across about 170,000 vehicles. Canadian Auto Dealer, citing Canadian Black Book
What it means: Used values normally drift down in the fall, so a week where the market falls is not news. A week where one segment goes the other way is. The three segments that gained are compact cars, small pickups and subcompact crossovers, and all three sit at the lower-priced end of the lot. The three biggest drops were in larger vehicles. That matches what I hear on the floor: shoppers set a budget first and pick the vehicle second, and the budget points them at something Civic-sized. One week of data is a direction, not a forecast. It is also a segment average, not a price for any one car. But if you own a compact car, the wholesale market is working for you right now more than it is for the owner of a minivan or a mid-size sedan.
My prediction: In the last Canadian Black Book weekly wholesale report published in December 2026, the car segment will hold its value better than the truck and SUV segment, because budget-first shoppers keep moving toward smaller vehicles and auction supply of larger ones is back to regular-high levels. I’ll be wrong if cars fall by more than trucks and SUVs in that report.
My prediction: Canadian Black Book’s 14-day average used listing price will be below $38,250 in its first weekly report of April 2027, because wholesale values have been easing week after week and listing prices follow them with a lag. I’ll be wrong if that average is $38,250 or higher.
If you’re buying right now: If you’re trading in a compact car, get it appraised now and compare the number with what you still owe. This is the segment holding up. Start with what your trade is worth in Ontario. If you’re shopping used and a compact car is on your list, don’t plan on prices dropping much by waiting. If you’re open to something larger, that is where the market is giving ground. Today’s best pre-owned Honda shows what’s on the used lot this week.
Quick answers
Are used car prices going up or down in Canada right now?
Slowly down overall. Canadian Black Book reported wholesale values fell 0.14% in the week ending September 26, 2026, a smaller drop than the 0.18% of the week before and smaller than the usual 0.25% decline for that week of the year. Its 14-day average dealer listing price was $38,250, based on about 170,000 vehicles on Canadian dealer lots.
Which used vehicles are holding their value best?
In that same Canadian Black Book report, compact cars rose 0.14%, small pickups rose 0.26% and subcompact crossovers rose 0.13%. Mid-size cars fell 0.36%, minivans fell 1.06% and compact vans fell 1.44%. Smaller, lower-priced vehicles held up better than larger ones that week.
Is now a good time to trade in a Honda Civic?
The weekly numbers favour the owner of a compact car more than the owner of a larger vehicle, but a segment average is not an appraisal. The figure that matters is what your own car is worth, which depends on its kilometres, condition and CARFAX history. Get it appraised before you decide, and compare that number with what you still owe.
Want a real number on your car?
Send me the year, trim and kilometres. I’ll tell you what it’s worth on trade today and how that fits your next vehicle.
Henry Chen
Sales and Leasing Executive, Maple Honda
89 Auto Vaughan Dr, Maple, ON L6A 4A1
647-523-6878 · henry@maplehonda.com
Sources: Canadian Auto Dealer, October 7, 2026, reporting Canadian Black Book’s weekly wholesale figures for the week ending September 26, 2026. Predictions are my personal read, not Honda Canada policy.
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