Ford Puma returns to top spot as UK electric car sales hit two million milestone
Following its shock rise to the top of the new-car sales charts in March, the Jaecoo 7 could only prop up the top 10 in April 2026, with the ever-popular Ford Puma returning to the top spot.
Ford sold 4211 Pumas last month, comfortably ahead of the Kia Sportage in second with 3645 sales and the Nissan Qashqai in third, shifting 2846 units.
2099 examples of the Jaecoo 7 found homes, meaning it's still the third best-selling new car in the UK for 2026, behind the Puma and Sportage, with Ford's small family SUV bidding to hold its crown as best-selling car in the UK for the fourth consecutive year.
See the best selling cars of 2026 so far
April no shower for sales
April's sales represent a 24% increase for the UK new car market, with 149,247 registrations over the previous April, making it the best April since 2019 for new-car sales.
April 2025 was unusual for its slow selling, as buyers snapped up cars in March instead to avoid tax increases like VED and the Expensive Car Supplement on electric vehicles.
Two million EVs find homes
Sales of petrol cars are up 8.2% while diesels fell 1% and plug-in vehicles made up over half (53.2%) of sales for the second time this year.
This April also saw the two millionth electric car registered in the UK – 2,012,758 and counting, representing 59.1% sales growth compared with last year.
To date, full EVs represent 23.1% of the new car market, a figure which remains significantly behind the 33% required by the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate, despite plentiful manufacturer discounts and the introduction of the Electric Car Grant last year.
Ask HJ
Should I buy petrol, diesel or electric?
I am confused. I am looking to change my nearly 10 year old petrol Kia Venga but am not too sure which route to take.
With the current issues in the world fuel at my local petrol stations is out of stock many days. I have also read that in London soon it might not be possible to purchase diesel fuel due to diesel vehicles not entering London.
So I personally feel I am being pushed to electric vehicles only. Do you have any ideas/advice of what route the country is going?
It is completely understandable that you feel pushed toward an EV. Between shifting government deadlines and the current spikiness in fuel supplies, the landscape for a petrol car owner has become quite stressful. There is no official ban on selling diesel fuel in London. However, you aren't imagining things — industry reports in early 2026 suggest that as demand for diesel cars collapses (due to ULEZ and high fuel prices), some smaller urban forecourts are starting to phase out diesel pumps simply because they aren't profitable to maintain.
Diesel isn't banned but it is becoming harder to find in the capital. For a petrol Kia Venga driver this shouldn't affect you directly, but it does signal a shift in how the industry views fossil fuels. The out of stock signs you’re seeing at your local stations in early 2026 are largely due to temporary supply chain disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, rather than a permanent shortage of petrol itself. While prices have spiked (petrol often sitting above 150p and diesel near 177p), the supply is technically stable.
The UK is currently in a transition decade. 2030 will see the ban on the sale of new purely petrol and diesel cars returns (reinstated from the 2035 delay). In 2035 the ban on new hybrid cars comes into force. Post-2035 you can still legally drive and buy second-hand petrol cars. They aren't going to be taken off the road overnight
Since you’re coming from a Kia Venga (a practical, high-riding small car), if you are looking for a reliable transition, the safe hybrid route offers no range anxiety and requires no plugging in — cars like the Toyota Yaris Cross or Honda Jazz use petrol but are much more efficient than your current Venga.
If you want to bridge the gap you can go for a PHEV option, such as the Kia Niro PHEV, which can cover 40–60 miles on electric power for local trips while retaining a petrol engine for longer journeys. Alternatively, you could take the full jump EV with a Kia EV3 or Hyundai Kona Electric, but only if you can charge from home.
Our advice? You don't have to go 100% electric yet, especially if the upfront cost or charging at home is a concern. We'd go for a hybrid like the Honda Jazz or Toyota Yaris Cross.
Answered by David Ross
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