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Best-selling cars UK 2026: top 10 most popular models ranked

Consumer appetite for SUVs continues with seven making the top 10 best-sellers for February 2026, headed overall by the Ford Puma.

Written by: Keith WR Jones Last updated: 5th March 2026

After a disappointing January the Ford Puma – the UK's best-selling car for the past three years –has regained the top-spot for 2026's year-to-date registrations, placing it ahead of the Kia Sportage and the Jaecoo 7, according to the most recent official registration figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

February is traditionally a quiet month for new car registrations, so the revelation that they rose by 7.2% in 2026 to their highest level in 22 years is a welcome boost for the industry. A total 91,460 models were added to the DVLA's databse.

That seven of 2026's 10 best-sellers to date are SUVs is only a slight surprise – for months there have been eight. They remain in high demand by car buyers who appreciate their elevated seating positions and additional practicality. Whether there's also a belief that they're more adept at dealing with the nation's pot-holed roads is surely worthy of academic study.

In terms of brand performance, Volkswagen remain at the top of the rankings, ahead of Kia with Ford grabbing third spot from BMW. It's not all great news for Ford, though – its registration tally is just 53 ahead of the combined number of Chery, Jaecoo and Omoda, a remarkable performance for those Chinese newcomers.

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Best selling cars February 2026

1. Ford Puma: 6,935 registered so far in 2026

It's worth noting that the Ford Puma got off to a disappointing sales campaign last year yet ended up as the best-seller, so that it jumped from third position to first in the first two months of 2026 won't be ringing too many alarm bells. It's still the UK's most popular small SUVs so it isn't as though demand has dried-up.

Blessed with excellent handling and a huge boot, the Ford Puma is both fun to drive and practical for younger families. Its range of mild hybrid 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engines perfectly suit the Puma's sportiness, while its comfortable cabin makes it great for urban jaunts and longer motorway trips.

It's also available in fully electric guise as the Ford Puma Gen-E – although they appear very similar from the outside the EV is differentiated by its blanked-off, body-coloured front grille, mimicking that of the larger Ford Mustang Mach-E.

2. Kia Sportage: 6,880 registered so far in 2026

A distinctive looking, family-sized SUV, the Kia Sportage is arguably less boldly styled than the Hyundai Tucson it shares its underpinnings and engines with. It's no longer a budget buy, with a starting price north of £30,000, but you get masses of kit for your money, backed by Kia's seven-year warranty.

Mild, self-charging and plug-in petrol hybrids are available but there's no diesel alternative these days. The facelifted Kia Sportage has been on sale since summer 2025 — expect to see plenty more of those refreshed models on the road during 2026.

3. Jaecoo 7: 5,505 registered so far in 2026

Jaecoo 7 static front three-quarter

If you're surprised to see the Jaecoo 7 in the top 10 best-sellers list then you should have been paying closer attention to its popularity last year. Despite only reaching UK showrooms at the start of 2025, the Jaecoo 7 spent much of the latter half of the year burrowing its way into the UK's most popular cars.

Naysayers may be keen to dismiss it as the Temu Range Rover, but self-evidently the Jaecoo's pastiche styling and extraordinary value for money are attractions which are difficult to ignore. A little over £30,000 gets you behind the wheel of the petrol-powered 7, while £5k more nets you the fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid alternative – both represent a lot of car and equipment for the money.

As the brand's line-up has already expanded down the pricing scale, don't be surprised if the smaller Jaecoo 5 also appears in the top 10 during 2026.

4. Vauxhall Corsa: 4,237 registered so far in 2026

After enjoying a strong 2025 it's more of the same for the Vauxhall Corsa. Its place as the UK's best-selling non-SUV has been aided and abetted by tempting deals on its Yes specification models, which have seen a surge of buyers tempted to go battery-powered as the Vauxhall Corsa Electric becomes a value for money proposition.

Despite several manufacturers abandoning the small hatchback market, many customers still want new models of similar dimensions to what they're trading in, allowing various Stellantis brands to capitalise on the opportunity. With the Ford Fiesta consigned to the annals of history — for now, at least — the Corsa could be picking up Blue Oval loyalists coming to the end of their PCP deals for a year or two more yet. 

5. Nissan Qashqai: 4,135 registered so far in 2026

A 2024 makeover for the best-selling British-built car reinvigorated the Nissan Qashqai, keeping it looking fresh-faced in the company of newer rivals. Further enhancements came along last year, with an uprated version of its clever e-Power self-charging hybrid, which maximises its electric drive potential, making it a cost-effective plug-in hybrid alternative.

Other engine choices for this highly effective family SUV include mild hybrid petrols, but diesels are no longer part of the Qashqai portfolio.

Why has it been a popular choice for so long? The Nissan's highlights include its comfortable, good quality interior which is packed with equipment and peppered with practical touches, complemented by an enormous boot.

6. Volkswagen Tiguan: 3,804 registered so far in 2026

British buyers have a long-standing fondness for the Volkswagen Tiguan which appears to have continued with this third-generation model. In fact, demand is so strong that it's started this year as the brand's best-selling model, outstripping the VW Golf in the process.

Spacious, well-equipped and built to a high standard, the Tiguan's a family focused SUV which can prove inexpensive to run, with a choice of efficient petrols and diesels as well as eHybrid PHEV options.

Note that the old seven-seater VW Tiguan Allspace was replaced in 2025 by the Volkswagen Tayron, so its sales figures aren't included here.

7. MINI Cooper: 3,593 registered so far in 2026

MINI Cooper 3-door static front three-quarter

Due to the way the SMMT records new car registrations, there's something of a quirk in terms of the MINI Cooper. The lion's share of sales went the way of the petrol-powered 3- and 5-door Cooper hatch models, yet the number here include not only the soft-top MINI Cooper Convertible, but also the otherwise unrelated MINI Cooper Electric.

Confused? Don't worry – in short, all the little MINIs are included here. Whatever the propulsion type, all maximise driving fun over outright practicality, with prices starting at a shade over £25,000. That said, you can end up spending significantly more with higher power outputs, equipment levels and optional extras.

8. Nissan Juke: 3,590 registered so far in 2026

An evergreen top 10 fixture, the Nissan Juke is built alongside the Nissan Qashqai at the company's plant in the northeast of England plant. Its styling remains distinctive but isn't as divisive as the original's, broadening its appeal to the benefit of sales volumes.

The Juke was freshened-up inside and out during 2024 although the engine range — shared with its Renault Captur cousin — remained essentially unchanged  with a choice of petrol-only and self-charging hybrids.

Nissan has announced that an all-new electric-only Juke will go on sale during this sitting below the latest-generation Nissan Leaf SUV in its line-up. Will it prove as popular?

9. BYD Seal U: 3,358 registered so far in 2026

BYD Seal U dynamic front three-quarters

Although the BYD Seal U didn't chalk-up as many registrations as its Jaecoo 7 rival at the start of 2026, that it's the second car to make the top 10 list from a Chinese-origin brand is an impressive feat. 

There's an argument that it's even more dramatic given the BYD starts from a higher £33,340 price point, in part because all Seal U models have a version of the firm's DM-i plug-in hybrid drive system. For those who like the idea of the package but don't fancy an SUV, the BYD Seal 6 saloon and Seal 6 Touring estate are available for even less money.

Rather than a solitary petrol-electric package, the Seal U DM-i offers three combinations allowing customers to choose between all-round economy, a long 78-mile zero-emission driving range or 5.9-second 0-62mph performance. Each packed to the rafters with high levels of standard equipment.

10. Volkswagen Golf: 3,286 registered so far in 2026

Comfort, solidity and fine handling are long-standing Volkswagen Golf hallmarks, qualities amplified further thanks to its 2024 facelift, which introduced a suite of interior improvements that have largely banished our previous gripes about this VW.

Available with a wide range of petrol and diesel engines, in addition to mild and plug-in hybrid options, VW's most popular model is now only available as a hatchback — UK sales of the even roomier Volkswagen Golf Estate ended during 2025.

Underneath its bodywork, the Golf continues to share hardware with the better-value SEAT Leon and Skoda Octavia as well as the pricier Audi A3 and Cupra Leon.

UK car sales insights

Total car registrations for February 2026 paint a bright picture overall, although sales of fully electric models continue to fall short of manufacturers' hopes according to the SMMT's data. 

While the first few months of any year are rarely reliable yardsticks from which to predict the year ahead, achieving the government-mandated 33% of all registrations being for EVs by the year-end is going to be a tall order. Don't be surprised if the Electric Car Grant (ECG) is made more generous during 2026 to persuade more new car buyers to make the switch. 

  • So far in 2026 some 234,227 cars have been registered, representing a welcome 4.8% increase over 2025's tally of 223,399 for the same period.
  • Petrol-engined cars continue to dominate with 47.26% of 2026's year-to-date sales although the 110,692 total represents just a 0.7% rise over 2025's equivalent figures.
  • Electric cars have a 21.98% market share in so far in 2026 with 51,494 sales representing a modest 1.2% increase compared with this time last year.
  • Self-charging hybrids have captured a 13.28% slice of the market so far with 31,104 registrations – a  chunky 4.2% rise over 2025.
  • Plug-in hybrids represented the largest market growth are in 2025 and that looks set to continue judging by 2026's numbers to date as they enjoy a 45.9% increase over last year, totting-up 28,995 sales for a 12.38% stake of the market.
  • Diesel's decline continues in the UK with a 7.2% fall in sales compared with the same period in 2025, taking just 5.10% of 2026's registrations to this point. That still represents 11,942 cars, making diesels worthwhile for those manufacturers which continue to offer them.

Which are the UK's best-selling car brands in 2026?

Volkswagen has started off 2026 in the same manner it enjoyed last year, by being the most popular car brand for the year to date, only just shy of surpassing the 20,000 registrations. All of the top nine brands have accrued at least 10,000 registrations in 2026, with the first 33 cracking 1,000.

There's a significant gulf between VW's top-ranking sales tally and Kia in second place, which has already put some distance between itself and Ford in third.

With just two months counted, the tallies are inevitably close at this point, with fewer than 2,500 registrations difference between BMW in fourth position and Peugeot in nineth. Filling the gap between them are Audi, Vauxhall, Mercedes and Skoda, with Hyundai rounding-out the top 10.

Of the recently launched Chinese-origin brands, Jaecoo remains ahead of BYD so far in 16th and 18th places respectively for the year to date. Jaecoo is from Chery's suite of marques, with its own-brand models' registrations outranking those of its Omoda nameplate. Chery has already announced that a fourth brand – Lepas – will be launched in the UK during 2026. Based on their sales so far, who'd bet against them making the top 3 by the year end when their registrations are combined?

There's less happy reading at the bottom of the chart – Maxus has yet to register a single new car in 2026, while Chevrolet has sold just one Corvette this year. 

Ranking Brand Manufacturing Group  2026 Registrations to end of February
1 Volkswagen Volkswagen Group 19,643
2 Kia Hyundai Motor Company 14,480
3 Ford Ford Motor Company 13,596
4 BMW BMW Group 12,722
5 Audi Volkswagen Group 12,056
6 Vauxhall Stellantis 11,733
7 Mercedes Mercedes-Benz Group 11,325
8 Skoda Volkswagen Group 10,292
9 Peugeot Stellantis 10,289
10 Hyundai Hyundai Motor Company 9,554
11 Nissan Nissan Motor Corporation* 8,589
12 Toyota Toyota Motor Corporation 8,303
13 MG SAIC Motor Corporation 8,158
14 Land Rover Tata Motors 7,726
15 Renault Renault Group* 7,403
16 Jaecoo Chery Automobile Co. 6,878
17 Volvo Zhejiang Geely Holding Group 6,713
18 BYD BYD Company 6,175
19 MINI BMW Group 6,029
20 Cupra Volkswagen Group 4,581
21 Mazda Mazda Motor Corporation^ 4,133
22 Citroen Stellantis 4,094
23 Chery Chery Automobile Co. 3,533
24 Dacia Renault Group* 3,156
25 Tesla Tesla Inc. 3,140
26 Omoda Chery Automobile Co. 3,132
27 Suzuki Suzuki Motor Corporation^ 2,930
28 SEAT Volkswagen Group 1,960
29 Honda Honda Motor Co. 1,756
30 Polestar Zhejiang Geely Holding Group 1,745
31 Porsche Volkswagen Group 1,715
32 Lexus Toyota Motor Corporation 1,390
32 Leapmotor Zhejiang Leapmotor# 1,205
34 Jeep Stellantis 975
35 Fiat Stellantis 445
36 Other British   383
37 Alfa Romeo Stellantis 310
38 Geely Zhejiang Geely Holding Group 290
39 Subaru Subaru Corporation^ 280
40 KGM KG Group 254
41 Alpine Renault Group* 238
42 Changan China Changan Automobile Group 213
43 Genesis Hyundai Motor Company 147
44 Other Imports   139
45 Smart Mercedes-Benz and Zhejiang Geely 132
46 Lotus Zhejiang Geely Holding Group 78
47 Abarth Stellantis 48
48 Maserati Stellantis 43
49 Ineos Ineos Automotive 39
50 DS Stellantis 24
51 XPeng Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors 22
52 GWM Great Wall Motor Company 15
53 Skywell Skyworth Group 10
54 Jaguar Tata Motors 7
55 Chevrolet General Motors 1
56 Maxus SAIC Motor Corporation 0

*Strategic partnership within the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance

^Shareholding owned by the Toyota Motor Corporation

#Shareholding owned by Stellantis

Which were the UK's best-selling cars in February 2026?

February's top 10 best-sellers were more diverse than the pattern for 2026 as a whole, including four models not in the year's ten most-registered cars list. Most surprising of those was the Ford Kuga, an ageing family SUV, which hasn't flirted with the upper echelons of sales charts for a considerable length of time.

  1. Ford Puma: 3,220 registrations
  2. Kia Sportage: 2,205 registrations
  3. MINI Cooper: 1,828 registrations
  4. Tesla Model 3: 1,584 registrations
  5. Jaecoo 7: 1,446 registrations
  6. Volvo XC40: 1,392 registrations
  7. Vollkswagen Tiguan: 1,379 registrations
  8. Vauxhall Corsa: 1,335 registrations
  9. Nissan Qashqai: 2,995 registrations
  10. Ford Kuga: 1,286 registrations
  11. Hyundai Tucson: 1,222 registrations

Which were the UK's best-selling cars in January 2026?

Although their relative positions have moved around, nine of January 2026's best-selling cars remained in the year-to-date top 10 after February's figures were included – only the MG HS dropped out, replaced by the MINI Cooper.

January was a stunning result for the Jaecoo 7, being 567 registrations shy of nabbing the top spot.

  1. Kia Sportage: 4,625 registrations
  2. Jaecoo 7: 4,059 registrations
  3. Ford Puma: 3,715 registrations
  4. Nissan Qashqai: 2,995 registrations
  5. Vauxhall Corsa: 2,902 registrations
  6. BYD Seal U: 2,550 registrations
  7. Nissan Juke: 2,517 registrations
  8. Vollkswagen Tiguan: 2,425 registrations
  9. Vollkswagen Golf: 2,072 registrations
  10. MG HS: 2,035 registrations

Best-selling cars frequently asked questions

What are the UK's best-selling cars over the last 50 years?

Over the past 50 years the variety of brands, models, shapes and sizes of cars to have been the UK's annual-best-seller is extraordinary. Which of these cars have played a part in your motoring history?

What is the UK's best-selling car of all time?

With 4,132,294 sales to its name, the Ford Fiesta is the most popular car ever sold in the UK. Of course, that's the total number of cars badged Fiesta over seven generations across six different decades: