IRVINE, Calif. -

Kelley Blue Book has released a new resource dealers can utilize to get a better grasp on the models in the used marketplace that are generating the most interest, thus giving them some direction on used inventory management to help drive profits.

The Hot Used-Car Report made its debut in September’s Blue Book Market report and will be released on a monthly basis. It will examine the behaviors of used-vehicle shoppers on Kbb.com and detail what used models have shown the greatest growth in popularity for that particular month, as well as which used models had the largest dips.

In the debut report, for example, KBB found that the share of used shopper activity claimed by the minivan segment fell 15 percent from August, which was the heaviest dip of any segment. This was due largely to the 31-percent share decline for the 2009 Toyota Sienna.

Meanwhile, hybrid SUVs climbed in popularity, seeing a 20-percent month-over-month lift in used shopper activity share.

The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid was a big reason for this uptick, officials said.

“Consumers seem to be realizing that many hybrid SUVs and crossovers are now entering the used-car market, and these used options may provide a better deal than their new-car counterparts,” explained Hwei-Lin Oetken, vice president of market intelligence for Kbb.com.

“Used-car retail shopping activity on Kbb.com also indicates a strong push toward 2008 model-year vehicles, as many of the top vehicles experienced a redesign or launched brand-new for that model year,” Oetken continued. “Dealers should take notice of hybrid SUVs and 2008 model-year vehicles at auction and trade in.”