BANDON, Ore. -

Used-vehicle sales surged over 38 percent sequentially in March and climbed more than 4 percent on a year-over-year basis, according to CNW Research, which said Monday that passenger cars, in particular, grabbed a greater share of the used market during the month.

Specifically, used sales totaled just fewer than 2.5 million units for the month, up 38.6 percent from February and a 4.35-percent hike from March 2010.

Looking at a breakdown of market share, CNW president Art Spinella noted: “Passenger cars took their largest share of total used-vehicle sales in March with 45.8 percent. SUVs fell to 17.8 percent of total used sales. A year ago, cars were at 41 percent and SUVs at slightly over 20 percent.”