Honest John Guides

Best-selling cars in the UK 2025

British car buyers' appetite for SUVs continues in 2025 with eight of them making the Top 10 best-sellers list so far this year, headed overall by the Ford Puma.

Last year's best-selling car, the Ford Puma, has retained its position at the top of the sales charts so far in 2025 according to the latest official figures supplied by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Although the Kia Sportage ran the Puma very close during 2024, the Puma remains the year-to-date best-seller overall, topping May 2025's sales chart by a margin of 2300 cars.

That eight of the 10 best-sellers so far in 2025 are SUVs should no longer surprise anyone given how in-demand they've been for years. Car buyers appreciate their elevated seating positions and additional practicality — whether there's an additional belief that they're more adept at dealing with the nation's pot-holed roads is surely worthy of an academic study.

For the first five months of 2025 850,903 cars were registered, representing a modest 2.8% increase over 2024's tally of 827,500 over the corresponding period. While this is positive news, how much buyer confidence exists in June due to market instability following Donald Trump's tariff debacle and his public rift with Elon Musk remains to be seen.

Petrol-engined cars continue to dominate with 49.0% of 2025's sales, although the 416,811 total represents a significant 10.4% decline over 2024's equivalent figures.

Electric cars have a 20.9% market share so far in 2025 with 177,487 sales representing an enormous 33.4% increase compared with the same period in 2024. The chances of the UK maintaining its status as Europe's largest market for pure EVs looks increasingly likely.

Self-charging hybrids have captured a 13.2% slice of the market with 122,942 registrations — a 13.2% rise over the same months in 2024.

After pure EVs, the largest growth has been with plug-in hybrids — these have enjoyed a 31.9% increase over 2024 so far, totting-up 85,657 registrations for a 10.1% stake of the market.

Diesel's decline continues in the UK, with a 13.5% fall in sales compared with 2024, taking just 5.6% of 2025's registrations so far. That still represents 48,006 cars making it worthwhile for those manufacturers which continue to offer diesel-powered models.

Read on to find out more about 2025's best-selling UK cars — and how highly we rate them.

1. Ford Puma

21,936 registered

After a disappointing start to 2025's sales campaign, the Ford Puma seized the top spot in March with a very strong showing for the first full month of 74-plate sales, only to drop back to second place in April, before regaining the initiative in May. It's one of the very best cars on sale full stop, not just among small SUVs, so its popularity is understandable. The Ford Puma has a huge boot and excellent handling, making it practical and fun to drive, with its range of mild hybrid 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engines perfectly suiting the Puma's sportiness, while the comfortable cabin makes it great for urban jaunts and long motorway trips. It's also now available to order in fully electric guise as the Ford Puma Gen-E — will that model's introduction help it remain at the top for the rest of 2025?

Read our full Ford Puma review

2. Kia Sportage

19,636 registered

The current Kia Sportage is a distinctive looking, family-sized SUV — although, arguably less bold than the Hyundai Tucson it shares its underpinnings and engines with. It's no longer a budget buy, with a north of £30,000 starting price 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 Kia Sportage is on the brink of receiving a significant mid-life refresh — expect to see plenty of those facelifted models on the road later in in the year — but that hasn't stopped the outgoing design from contuing to rack-up sales in 2025.

Read our full Kia Sportage review

3. Nissan Qashqai

17,077 registered

A mid-life makeover for the 2024's best-selling British-built car has reinvigorated the Nissan Qashqai, keeping it looking fresh-faced in the company of newer rivals. It's an effective family SUV with a comfortable, good quality interior peppered with practical touches and complemented by an enormous boot. There's no diesel option as the range consists of mild hybrids and the self-charging kind — the latter, badged e-Power, operates in a way that maximises its its electric drive potential, making it a cost-effective plug-in hybrid alternative. 

Read our full Nissan Qashqai review

4. Vauxhall Corsa

16,545 registered

Getting off to a strong start in 2025 is the Vauxhall Corsa, aided and abetted by very attractive deals on its Yes specification models. These have seen a surge of buyers tempted to go battery-powered as the Yes-grade versions of the Vauxhall Corsa Electric are great value for money. 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 now consigned to history, the Corsa could be picking up Blue Oval loyalists coming to the end of their PCP deals for a year or two yet. 

Read our full Vauxhall Corsa review

5. Nissan Juke

15,249 registered

Strong sales have seen the Nissan Juke cement its Top 10 ranking overall for 2025's year-to-date sales. Built alongside the Qashqai in the northeast of England, the Juke's styling remains distinctive but isn't as divisive as the original's, meaning its appeal's broader to the benefit of sales volumes. The Juke received a freshen-up in 2024 inside and out, although the engine range, shared with its Renault Captur cousin, remains essentially as before, with a choice of petrol and self-charging hybrids. Nissan has recently confirmed that an all-new electric-only Juke will go on sale during 2026.

Read our full Nissan Juke review

6. Volkswagen Golf

14,198 registered

Comfort, solidity and fine handling are long-standing Volkswagen Golf hallmarks, qualities amplified further thanks to its 2024 facelift, which introduced interior improvements that have largely banished our previous gripes about this VW. The best-selling non-SUV of 2024, the Golf's available with a wide range of petrol and diesel engines, in addition to mild and plug-in hybrid options, while the even roomier Volkswagen Golf Estate caters for those who need more space. Underneath, 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.

Read our full Volkswagen Golf review

7. MG ZS

12,918 registered

MG ZS Hybrid+

MG's second-generation ZS was launched in 2024 as a self-charging hybrid-powered SUV sibling to the MG 3 compact hatchback. Evidently, the superior practicality of the ZS is more of a winner with customers and despite the recent introduction of an array of new Chinese brands, the familiarity of the MG brand means this is the top-selling car from that country so far in 2025. Earlier this year the previous-generation MG ZS EV was replaced by the MG S5 EV, meaning it will no longer be counted within the ZS's sales tally. Countering this, MG also launced a non-hybrid version of the ZS with a much lower price point around the same time.

Read our full MG ZS review

8. Volkswagen Tiguan

12,634 registered

British buyers have a long-standing fondness for the Volkswagen Tiguan which appears to have continued with this third-generation model. A strong start to 2025 has seen the VW vault into the top 10 for the year-to-date as the brand's second best-selling car, with only the Golf ahead of it. Spacious, well-equipped and built to a high standard, the Tiguan's a family friendly SUV that can prove inexpensive to run with a choice of efficient petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid drive systems. Punchier, performance-focused models are also now on sale although Volkswagen's stopped short of applying GTI badges to their tailgates. Note also that the old seven-seater Tiguan Allspace has recently been replaced by the Volkswagen Tayron.

Read our full Volkswagen Tiguan review

9. Volvo XC40

12,606 registered

Volvo XC40

Despite its design now approaching its eighth birthday, the shrunken Tonka styling of the Volvo XC40 continues to ensure its popularity — so much so that strong April 2025 sales have seen it reappear in the year-to-date Top 10 best-sellers. Remember, that registration tally is only for the mild hybrid-equipped petrol-electric XC40s as for the past year the fully electric versions have been badged Volvo EX40 and no longer count towards these figures.

Read our full Volvo XC40 review

10. MG HS

12,548 registered

MG HS

Following a positive jump in sales during March, the MG HS is continuing to win buyers over with its combination of excellent value for money and high levels of standard equipment since this all-new model appeared in summer 2024. Like its predecessor, it's available in petrol-only and fuel-sipping plug-in hybrid guises, the latter appealing to those who don't yet feel ready to go full EV. Further expansion of the line-up during May also saw the launch of the first self-charging hybrid-powered MG HS providing even broader customer choice.

Read our full MG HS review

What were the UK's best-selling cars in May 2025?

Month-to-month sales often vary considerably from one another, just as they frequently do from the year-to-date picture. Compare May 2025's Top 10 below with the registrations for the year-to-date above and you'll notice four differences:

  1. Ford Puma — 3695 registrations
  2. Kia Sportage — 3256 registrations
  3. Nissan Qashqai — 3088 registrations
  4. Nissan Juke — 2876 registrations
  5. Vauxhall Corsa — 2693 registrations
  6. MG ZS — 2624 registrations
  7. Volkswagen Polo — 2295 registrations
  8. Hyundai Kona — 2189 registrations
  9. Peugeot 2008 — 2096 registrations
  10. MINI Cooper — 2079 registrations

What were the UK's best-selling cars in April 2025?

Month-to-month sales often vary considerably from one another, just as they frequently do from the overall year-to-date picture. Compare April 2025's top 10 with the registrations for the year so far and spot the differences:

  1. Kia Sportage — 3514 registrations
  2. Ford Puma — 3311 registrations
  3. Vauxhall Corsa — 2376 registrations
  4. Nissan Qashqai — 2197 registrations
  5. Audi A3 — 2112 registrations
  6. Volvo XC40 — 2008 registrations
  7. Nissan Juke — 1959 registrations
  8. Peugeot 2008 — 1822 registrations
  9. Hyundai Tucson — 1781 registrations
  10. MINI Cooper — 1624 registrations

What are the UK's best-selling car brands in 2025?

Volkswagen has enjoyed an impressive start to 2025 with a significant gulf between its top-ranking sales tally and BMW in second place, which in turn has a slender margin over Kia in third.

Ford, which dominated the UK market for years is in fourth, just ahead of Audi which sailed past Peugeot after a strong showing in recent months. Rounding-out the Top 10, Toyota has dropped out to 11th place, swapping positions with Hyundai.

Of the recently launched Chinese brands BYD's sales tally continues to impress as it's on the cusp of replacing Tesla in the Top 20, a feat that could be made all the more easier by the American marque's controversial figurehead.

Meanwhile, the accumulated registrations of Jaecoo and Omoda, both part of Chery Automobile Company, are extraordinary compared with established names. Together they've sold more cars in the UK this year than Honda. Factor-in that Chery also intends to launch its iCaur and Lepas brands in the UK within 12 months and its combined sales will have many legacy manufacturers deeply concerned.

There's less happy reading at the bottom of the chart for newcomers Skywell with just nine examples of its BE11 electric SUV registered so far in 2025 with no sales recorded at all for May.

Ranking Brand Manufacturing Group  2025 Registrations (to end of May)
1 Volkswagen Volkswagen Group 77,192
2 BMW BMW Group 52,972
3 Kia Hyundai Motor Company 51,962
4 Ford Ford Motor Company 50,198
5 Audi Volkswagen Group 43,914
6 Peugeot Stellantis 40,603
7 Mercedes Mercedes-Benz Group 39,872
8 Nissan Nissan Motor Corporation* 39,638
9 Vauxhall Stellantis 39,549
10 Hyundai Hyundai Motor Company 38,669
11 Toyota Toyota Motor Corporation 37,926
12 Skoda Volkswagen Group 35,489
13 MG SAIC Motor Corporation 35,055
14 Land Rover Tata Motors 29,575
15 Volvo Zhejiang Geely Holding Group 28,132
16 Renault Renault Group* 27,278
17 MINI BMW Group 18,444
18 Cupra Volkswagen Group 15,274
19 Mazda Mazda Motor Corporation^ 15,178
20 Tesla Tesla Inc. 15,002
21 BYD BYD Company 14,807
22 Dacia Renault Group* 13,397
23 Honda Honda Motor Co. 11,542
24 SEAT Volkswagen Group 10,642
25 Suzuki Suzuki Motor Corporation^ 8,082
26 Porsche Volkswagen Group 7,944
27 Lexus Toyota Motor Corporation 6,943
28 Citroen Stellantis 6,649
29 Jeep Stellantis 5,983
30 Jaecoo Chery Automobile Co. 5,967
31 Polestar Zhejiang Geely Holding Group 5,728
32 Omoda Chery Automobile Co. 5,596
33 Fiat Stellantis 5,379
34 Jaguar Tata Motors 1,725
35 Other British   1,518
36 Alfa Romeo Stellantis 1,109
37 Subaru Subaru Corporation^ 1,032
38 Other Imports   893
39 KGM KG Group 686
40 Smart Mercedes-Benz and Zhejiang Geely 651
41 Genesis Hyundai Motor Company 629
42 Bentley Volkswagen Group 460
43 Leapmotor Zhejiang Leapmotor# 399
44 DS Stellantis 371
45 Abarth Stellantis 184
46 GWM Great Wall Motor Company 157
47= Maserati Stellantis 138
47= Alpine Renault Group* 138
49 Ineos Ineos Automotive 106
50 XPeng Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors 51
51 Maxus SAIC Motor Corporation 35
52 Chevrolet General Motors 31
53 Skywell Skyworth Group 9

*Strategic partnership within the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance

^Shareholding owned by the Toyota Motor Corporation

#Shareholding owned by Stellantis

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?

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