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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 so far in 2026, headed overall by the Ford Puma.

Written by: Keith WR Jones Last updated: 9th April 2026

Britain's best-selling car for the past three years – retains the top-spot for 2026's first quarter registrations, placing it ahead of the Jaecoo 7 and the Kia Sportage, according to the most recent official registration figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

March is traditionally a busy month for new car sales with the introduction of the latest 26-plate registrations, so the revelation that they rose by 6.6% in 2026 to their highest level since 2019 is a welcome boost for the industry. A total 380,627 models were added to the DVLA's databse during March.

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 BMW grabbing third spot from Ford. It's not all great news for more established brands, though – the combined number of registrations for Chery, Jaecoo and Omoda so far in 2026 would give it second position if the Chinese newcomers were sold under a single brand name.

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2026's best-selling cars

1. Ford Puma: 16,128 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's only topped the monthly charts once in the first three months of 2026 won't be ringing too many alarm bells. It's still the UK's most popular small SUV, 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 it appears very similar to the combustion-engined versions from the outside, the Gen-E is differentiated by its blanked-off, body-coloured front grille, mimicking that of the larger Ford Mustang Mach-E.

2. Jaecoo 7: 15,569 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. Nevertheless, that it was the most popular car in the first full month of 26-plate registrations is a warning shot to more established manufacturers.

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.

3. Kia Sportage: 14,190 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.

4. Nissan Qashqai: 12,853 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.

5. Vauxhall Corsa: 10,552 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. 

6. Volvo XC40: 9,288 registered so far in 2026

Volvo XC40

Normally when a car's at the wintry end of autumn in its production run, sales tend to tail-off dramatically, but that's not the case with the popular Volvo XC40.

Today's line-up isn't as comprehensive as it used to be for the chunky SUV, restricted to just two mild hybrid-assisted petrols and only front-wheel drive. A fully electric version remains on sale, but it's now badged Volvo EX40, therefore its sales aren't figured into the XC40's tally any more.

Safe, well equipped and decent value, sales appear set to continue defy its age for a while yet.

7. Volkswagen Golf: 9,176 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.

8. MG HS: 9,147 registered so far in 2026

MG HS

Following a positive jump in sales from the middle of 2025, the second-generation MG HS has continued to win buyers over with its combination of excellent value for money and high levels of standard equipment. So far it's also out-selling its similarly sized electric MG S5 EV sibling.

Like its predecessor, the MG HS is available in petrol-only and fuel-sipping plug-in hybrid guises, the latter appealing to those who don't yet feel ready to go fully electric. Further expansion of the line-up last year saw the choice broadening with the arrival of the self-charging hybrid version.

9. Nissan Juke: 8,512 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?

10. MINI Cooper: 8,109 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.

UK car sales insights

Total car registrations for March 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 614,854 cars have been registered, representing a welcome 5.9% increase over 2025's tally of 580,502 for the same period.
  • Petrol-engined cars continue to dominate with 45.0% of 2026's year-to-date sales although the 276,689 total represents a 3.5% fall compared with 2025's equivalent figures.
  • Electric cars have a 22.4% market share in so far in 2026 with 137,614 sales representing a substantial 14.5% increase over this time last year, doubtless influenced by rising fuel prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
  • Self-charging hybrids have captured a 14.9% slice of the market so far with 91,372 registrations – a  chunky 6.2% rise over 2025.
  • Plug-in hybrids represented the largest market growth area in 2025 and that looks set to continue judging by 2026's numbers to date as they enjoy a 46.5% increase over last year, totting-up 78,666 sales for a 12.8% stake of the market.
  • Diesel's decline continues in the UK with a 9.8% fall in sales compared with the same period in 2025, taking just 5.0% of 2026's registrations to this point. That still represents 30,513 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 style as last year by being the most popular car brand for the year to date, being the only one to surpass 40,000 registrations so far. All of the top 15 brands have accrued at least 20,000 registrations in 2026, with the first 36 cracking 1,000. 

There's a significant gulf between VW's top-ranking sales tally and Kia in second place, which has a narrow lead over BMW in third and fourth placed Ford.

With just three months counted, the tallies are inevitably close at this point, with fewer than 6,000 registrations difference between Audi in fifth position and Skoda in 10th. Filling the gap between them are Mercedes, a resurgent Vauxhall, Toyota and Peugeot.

Of the recently launched Chinese-origin brands, BYD appears to be performing best in 15th position for the year to date. However, Chery's suite of marques includes Jaecoo and Omoda, with a fourth brand – Lepas – joining them during 2026. Based on their combined sales so far of 36,038 already placing them in the number two spot, who's willing to bet against them challenging VW before the year's end?

There's less happy reading at the bottom of the chart. Maxus has yet to register a single new car in 2026, while Skywell has only shifted 15, proving being inexpensive doesn't guarantee sales. Woeful tallies have also been recorded for Stellantis's Abarth and DS marques.

Ranking Brand Manufacturing Group  2026 Registrations to end of March
1 Volkswagen Volkswagen Group 46,994
2 Kia Hyundai Motor Company 34,616
3 BMW BMW Group 33,907
4 Ford Ford Motor Company 32,774
5 Audi Volkswagen Group 30,043
6 Mercedes Mercedes-Benz Group 28,296
7 Vauxhall Stellantis 27,840
8 Toyota Toyota Motor Corporation 25,408
9 Peugeot Stellantis 25,018
10 Skoda Volkswagen Group 24,431
11 Nissan Nissan Motor Corporation* 24,310
12 Hyundai Hyundai Motor Company 24,201
13 MG SAIC Motor Corporation 23,878
14 Land Rover Tata Motors 21,479
15 BYD BYD Company 21,337
16 Volvo Zhejiang Geely Holding Group 19,125
17 Jaecoo Chery Automobile Co. 18,912
18 Renault Renault Group* 18,844
19 MINI BMW Group 14,040
20 Cupra Volkswagen Group 11,799
21 Tesla Tesla Inc. 11,739
22 Mazda Mazda Motor Corporation^ 10,543
23 Citroen Stellantis 9,584
24 Omoda Chery Automobile Co. 9,049
25 Suzuki Suzuki Motor Corporation^ 8,588
26 Dacia Renault Group* 8,452
27 Chery Chery Automobile Co. 8,077
28 Honda Honda Motor Co. 7,351
29 SEAT Volkswagen Group 4,830
30 Porsche Volkswagen Group 4,481
31 Polestar Zhejiang Geely Holding Group 4,151
32 Lexus Toyota Motor Corporation 4,064
33 Jeep Stellantis 3,771
34 Leapmotor Zhejiang Leapmotor# 3,096
35 Fiat Stellantis 1,612
36 Geely Zhejiang Geely Holding Group 1,595
37 Other British   904
38 Changan China Changan Automobile Group 753
39 Alfa Romeo Stellantis 739
40 Alpine Renault Group* 712
41 Subaru Subaru Corporation^ 657
42 Smart Mercedes-Benz and Zhejiang Geely 583
43 KGM KG Group 578
44 XPeng Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors 353
45 Other Imports   348
46 Genesis Hyundai Motor Company 292
47 Lotus Zhejiang Geely Holding Group 235
48 GWM Great Wall Motor Company 109
49 Maserati Stellantis 104
50 Abarth Stellantis 91
51 Ineos Ineos Automotive 83
52 DS Stellantis 46
53 Skywell Skyworth Group 15
54 Chevrolet General Motors 10
55 Jaguar Tata Motors 7
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 March 2026?

While much of March 2026's top 10 best-sellers also appear in the year-to-date equivalent rankings, there's no escaping the very impressive registrations tally of the Jaecoo 7. For a brand new to the UK market little over a year ago to top the first month of 26-plate sale is extraordinary.

  1. Jaecoo 7: 10,064 registrations
  2. Ford Puma: 9,193 registrations
  3. Nissan Qashqai: 8,718 registrations
  4. Kia Sportage: 7,310 registrations
  5. Vauxhall Corsa: 6,315 registrations
  6. Volvo XC40: 6,311 registrations
  7. MG HS: 6,135 registrations
  8. Volkswagen Golf: 5,890 registrations
  9. Tesla Model Y: 5,177 registrations
  10. BMW 1 Series: 4,936 registrations

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

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: