The best-selling cars in the UK - who can catch the Sportage?
Kia Sportage tops the sales charts for February 2025 2024 was quite the year for the car industry. New car registrations increased by 2.6% compared with the year before, while the Ford Puma was crowned the best-seller. The Blue Oval’s small SUV topped the charts for the second consecutive year – but it dropped down to seventh place in January 2025, according to newly released data. While Tesla saw some losses in the first month of January, the brand achieved some major success in February. While the Mini Cooper was the month's best-selling car with 2074 units sold, the second and third spots were claimed by the Tesla Model 3 (1990 units) and the Tesla Model Y (1861 units). The Model Y was the best-selling electric car (and fifth best-selling overall car) in 2024 but still doesn't quite feature in the top ten - though we're expecting that to change. EV sales dropped slightly (-1%) year on year in February, and the UK is still lagging well behind ZEV mandate targets - to the point where the industry is calling on the UK government to have a car tax rethink. Keep reading to find out the top 10 best-selling new cars for 2025 so far, according to the SMMT’s registration data. The most popular new cars of 2025 1. Kia Sportage – 4992 units The Kia Sportage finished fourth in the sales charts in 2024, and we suspect the people in Seoul will be thrilled to start the year in first. Consistency is the key to this family SUV. It entered its fifth generation at the tail end of 2022 and still looks fresh, eye-catching and modern. Its mild-hybrid, full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains ensure a great variety for buyers, too. Read our Kia Sportage review 2. Nissan Qashqai – 4948 units The Nissan Qashqai was the UK's best-seller in 2022, but it has since been outpaced by rivals, finishing second in 2023 and third in 2024. That said, it's still extremely popular and continues to appeal to buyers here with its excellent practicality. The British-built family crossover's appeal has also no doubt been bolstered by the addition of electrified powertrains for its third generation. Read our Nissan Qashqai review 3. Vauxhall Corsa – 4625 The sales figures for the evergreen Vauxhall Corsa have been a bit up and down of late. It was the best-seller of 2021 but failed to place in the top 10 for 2024. So Vauxhall will be thrilled to have it performing well again. A 2024 facelift and keen finance offers have given the supermini a real shot in the arm, and it's deserving of its place on the podium. Today, the Corsa offers great value for money, with strong, economical powertrains and a pretty impressive roster of digital tech. Read our Vauxhall Corsa review 4. Volkswagen Golf – 4302 units The Volkswagen Golf isn’t quite as popular as it once was, but it’s still a top pick for drivers on the hunt for a good all-round family hatchback or estate. In fact, it has been slowly creeping its way back up the charts. The German stalwart has been kept fresh with a wide-reaching technology update, a design revamp, a more powerful GTI and a longer-range plug-in hybrid, so it could climb higher still. Read our Volkswagen Golf review 5. Nissan Juke – 3943 units The Nissan Juke remains a popular car among UK buyers, having finished 2024 in fourth place. The small SUV went on sale with a brand-new design in 2020 and then a facelifted version arrived in the middle of 2023, along with hybrid power for the first time. Read our Nissan Juke review 6. Peugeot 3008 – 3851 units Quite different-looking to the 10-year-old Peugeot 3008 your uncle has, right? The new 3008’s skills aren’t just skin deep, either. It offers hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains, and the EV scores a 435-mile range, which is pretty impressive for the price. Peugeot’s range of appealing finance offers, as well as the popular Motability scheme, also contribute to the crossover's strong placing here. Read our Peugeot 3008 review 7. Peugeot 2008 – 3826 units Close call between the 3008 (above) and the 2008 here – and Peugeot's smaller crossover is another sales success broadly for the same reasons. Like the 3008, it’s sharply styled and offers an electric powertrain – albeit one that offers only a 251-mile range. Read our Peugeot 2008 review 8. Mini Cooper - 3802 units The Mini hatchback continues to be one of the UK’s most popular cars, and it's better to drive than ever following the arrival of its fourth generation. Last year, it finished ahead of key rivals including the Volkswagen Polo and Toyota Yaris. With a versatile line-up of petrol, electric and Cooper performance variants, the Mini can always be relied on for drivability and alluring looks. A hotly anticipated new model will arrive next year. 9. Ford Puma – 3798 units The best-selling car of 2024 has slipped down the rankings considerably. Which is a shame, as it's engaging to drive and attractively priced, plus it offers the option of a hot Puma ST variant. Perhaps the impending arrival of the e
Kia Sportage tops the sales charts for February 2025
2024 was quite the year for the car industry. New car registrations increased by 2.6% compared with the year before, while the Ford Puma was crowned the best-seller.
The Blue Oval’s small SUV topped the charts for the second consecutive year – but it dropped down to seventh place in January 2025, according to newly released data.
While Tesla saw some losses in the first month of January, the brand achieved some major success in February. While the Mini Cooper was the month's best-selling car with 2074 units sold, the second and third spots were claimed by the Tesla Model 3 (1990 units) and the Tesla Model Y (1861 units).
The Model Y was the best-selling electric car (and fifth best-selling overall car) in 2024 but still doesn't quite feature in the top ten - though we're expecting that to change.
EV sales dropped slightly (-1%) year on year in February, and the UK is still lagging well behind ZEV mandate targets - to the point where the industry is calling on the UK government to have a car tax rethink.
Keep reading to find out the top 10 best-selling new cars for 2025 so far, according to the SMMT’s registration data.
The most popular new cars of 2025
1. Kia Sportage – 4992 units
The Kia Sportage finished fourth in the sales charts in 2024, and we suspect the people in Seoul will be thrilled to start the year in first.
Consistency is the key to this family SUV. It entered its fifth generation at the tail end of 2022 and still looks fresh, eye-catching and modern.
Its mild-hybrid, full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains ensure a great variety for buyers, too.
Read our Kia Sportage review
2. Nissan Qashqai – 4948 units
The Nissan Qashqai was the UK's best-seller in 2022, but it has since been outpaced by rivals, finishing second in 2023 and third in 2024.
That said, it's still extremely popular and continues to appeal to buyers here with its excellent practicality.
The British-built family crossover's appeal has also no doubt been bolstered by the addition of electrified powertrains for its third generation.
Read our Nissan Qashqai review
3. Vauxhall Corsa – 4625
The sales figures for the evergreen Vauxhall Corsa have been a bit up and down of late. It was the best-seller of 2021 but failed to place in the top 10 for 2024. So Vauxhall will be thrilled to have it performing well again.
A 2024 facelift and keen finance offers have given the supermini a real shot in the arm, and it's deserving of its place on the podium.
Today, the Corsa offers great value for money, with strong, economical powertrains and a pretty impressive roster of digital tech.
Read our Vauxhall Corsa review
4. Volkswagen Golf – 4302 units
The Volkswagen Golf isn’t quite as popular as it once was, but it’s still a top pick for drivers on the hunt for a good all-round family hatchback or estate. In fact, it has been slowly creeping its way back up the charts.
The German stalwart has been kept fresh with a wide-reaching technology update, a design revamp, a more powerful GTI and a longer-range plug-in hybrid, so it could climb higher still.
Read our Volkswagen Golf review
5. Nissan Juke – 3943 units
The Nissan Juke remains a popular car among UK buyers, having finished 2024 in fourth place.
The small SUV went on sale with a brand-new design in 2020 and then a facelifted version arrived in the middle of 2023, along with hybrid power for the first time.
Read our Nissan Juke review
6. Peugeot 3008 – 3851 units
Quite different-looking to the 10-year-old Peugeot 3008 your uncle has, right?
The new 3008’s skills aren’t just skin deep, either. It offers hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains, and the EV scores a 435-mile range, which is pretty impressive for the price.
Peugeot’s range of appealing finance offers, as well as the popular Motability scheme, also contribute to the crossover's strong placing here.
Read our Peugeot 3008 review
7. Peugeot 2008 – 3826 units
Close call between the 3008 (above) and the 2008 here – and Peugeot's smaller crossover is another sales success broadly for the same reasons.
Like the 3008, it’s sharply styled and offers an electric powertrain – albeit one that offers only a 251-mile range.
Read our Peugeot 2008 review
8. Mini Cooper - 3802 units
The Mini hatchback continues to be one of the UK’s most popular cars, and it's better to drive than ever following the arrival of its fourth generation.
Last year, it finished ahead of key rivals including the Volkswagen Polo and Toyota Yaris.
With a versatile line-up of petrol, electric and Cooper performance variants, the Mini can always be relied on for drivability and alluring looks. A hotly anticipated new model will arrive next year.
9. Ford Puma – 3798 units
The best-selling car of 2024 has slipped down the rankings considerably. Which is a shame, as it's engaging to drive and attractively priced, plus it offers the option of a hot Puma ST variant.
Perhaps the impending arrival of the electric Ford Puma Gen-E will give it a boost.
Read our Ford Puma review
10. Volkswagen Tiguan - 3676 units
Volkswagen's popular SUV has long been one of its best sellers, and it's the brand's second model on this list after the Golf.
A practical and versatile option, the Tiguan gets a wide range of engines including petrol, diesel, mild hybrid and plug-in hybrids.
Standard equipment is good too, with a reversing camera, parking sensors, wireless smartphone mirroring and dual infotainment scenes all basic equipment.
