Best-selling cars in the UK: March sales continue car market growth

For many buyers, the Nissan Qashqai exemplifies the family SUV class. After all, it was the car that first popularised the idea of a tall car without the sky-high running costs of a traditional off-roader. The latest version is a fine all-rounder, combining good practicality with some efficient engine options.

Our preferred choice is the entry-level 1.3-litre petrol, which has mild hybrid technology to help lower your fuel bills.

Meanwhile, there's a good reason why most Qashqai buyers choose N-Connecta trim, because it bundles together lots of desirable kit – including 18in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and keyless entry – for a very reasonable price.

Our favourite version Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DiG-T MH N-Connecta
List price £31,890
Target price £28,573
Target PCP £241

March sales 8931

Read our Nissan Qashqai review

The Ford Puma is a former What Car? Car of the Year, and even though its small SUV crown has now been taken by the excellent Lexus LBX, it remains one of the best cars in its class.

The Puma should certainly put a smile on your face, because it's very agile, especially in ST-Line guise with sports suspension, and has well-weighted, engaging steering.

The interior is well laid out and reasonably plush, although rivals such as the Mini Countryman and Volkswagen T-Roc provide a much more upmarket feel. Also, rear visibility isn’t ideal, and the view out of the front can be limited, depending on your seating position.

The boot is large for the class and has a height-adjustable floor with even more storage underneath. Excellent fuel economy and a low CO2 output also help to make the case for the playful Puma being a sensible buy. 

Our favourite version Ford Puma 1.0 Ecoboost mHEV 155 ST-Line
List price £27,340
Target price £25,311
Target PCP £243

March sales 8318

Read our Ford Puma review

The family SUV market is extremely competitive, so a car has to be truly excellent to stand out. The Kia Sportage absolutely is, though – in fact, it's our reigning Family SUV of the Year.

Practicality is a particular strength, with the boot spacious and thoughtfully designed, and the interior offering plenty of leg and head room in both the front and the rear. In addition, the Sportage is plush inside – more so than the Hyundai Tucson which it is closely related.

The entry-level model is very temptingly priced, but upgrading to our recommended 3 trim gives you lots of useful extras, such as heated front seats and keyless start.

Our favourite version Kia Sportage 1.6T GDi 48V ISG 3
List price £32,875
Target price £30,884
Target PCP £366

March sales 7445

Read our Kia Sportage review

Just like the larger Nissan Qashqai did for family SUVs, the Nissan Juke has set the formula for many of the small SUVs we see today – namely offering smaller engines in a practical package, but with the high-set driving positions and easy access which SUV buyers love.

Our favourite Juke engine is also the cheapest option in the range, the 112bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol. It's not especially quick – the 0-60mph sprint took 11.7sec in our tests, which is slower than rivals – but it pulls strongly enough for most situations and should be cheap to run.

That being said, the Ford Puma, with its fuel-saving mild hybrid technology, should cost you even less in fuel. There is a full Juke hybrid, which features an electric motor and petrol engine, but it's rather expensive.

Interior quality has taken a huge leap forward in the latest Juke compared with earlier models, and while not up to the standard of the Audi Q2, it still impresses, with most surfaces coated in fancy materials, and everything feeling built to last. Your family will have a reasonable amount of room to stretch out on the Juke's rear bench, and you can get almost as much luggage into the boot as you can into the larger Qashqai.

Our favourite version 1.0 DiG-T 114 N-Connecta
List price £24,585
Target price £21,879
Target PCP £225

March sales 7346

Read our Nissan Juke review

The Audi A3 is one of our favourite upmarket family cars, and we think in 40 TFSIe guise, it’s one of the best plug-in hybrids on the market. It’s no surprise then, that the A3 frequently makes the list of Britain’s best sellers.

Audi’s family hatchback is better to drive than the Mercedes A-Class and is quieter than the BMW 1 Series. And with physical controls, its tech is easier to use than that of the Volkswagen Golf. 

It’s worth singling out the plug-in hybrid 40 TFSIe because it has a 40-mile all-electric range and attracts appealing low company car tax bills.

Our favourite version 40 TFSIe Sport
List price £36,400
Target price £34,355
Target PCP £299

March sales 6010

Read our Audi A3 review

The Vauxhall Corsa has enjoyed enduring popularity on UK roads, and regularly features among the best-selling new cars in the country.

Our preferred version gets a peppy 99bhp 1.2-litre petrol engine, which is more flexible than the entry-level choice, and won't have any trouble keeping up with faster traffic. 

No matter which Corsa you choose, the ride is generally good, but the Peugeot 208 glides over surface imperfections better. And while the Corsa's ride improves more at higher speeds, the rival Audi A1 is comfier still. 

It's a similar story with handling, because while the Corsa feels sure-footed and offers good grip, it won't put a smile on your face in the way that the Seat Ibiza can. Plus, its light steering doesn't weight up at speed, which can make it feel less engaging than rivals – on the plus side, though, it does help you manouvre into tight parking spaces easily.

Our recommended GS models come with 17in alloy wheels, climate control, sports seats and racier styling than other Corsa models.

Our favourite version 1.2 Turbo GS
List price £22,905
Target price £19,590
Target PCP £232

March sales 5932

Read our Vauxhall Corsa review

The latest Mercedes A-Class is a solid choice if you're in the market for a family car with a premium badge, and one which places comfort above sportiness.

You see, while dynamically the rival Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series have the edge of keener drivers, the A-Class trumps both for comfort – in fact, it's one of the comfiest family cars around, gliding over pock-marked roads and sleeping policemen like they weren't there.

Our pick of the A-Class' engine line-up – which includes petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid options – is the mid-range A200 petrol. It's noticably faster than the entry-level A180 engine, and is quicker on the 0-62mph sprint than both of its rivals from Audi and BMW in similarly-matched form.

The A-Class nails visual appeal inside, too, with its classy use of materials, soft ambient lighting and faux metal and leather inserts covering most surfaces.

Sadly, the build quality isn't as good as it looks at first glance, with some panels flexing when you prod them, and other components, such as the outer heater vent surrounds, not feeling especially well secured. The latest 1 Series, in particular, feels better screwed together.

Our favourite version A200 AMG Line 
List price £35,555
Target price £32,055
Target PCP £314

March sales 5892

Read our Mercedes A-Class review

It's one of the most well-known family cars on the market, but the Golf more than deserves its popularity. For a start, it mixes comfort and practicality very well – it rides around town with similar levels of comfort to the pricier Mercedes A-Class, for example, yet also has space for five carry-on suitcases in its boot.

There's a good choice of Golf engines, including mild and plug-in hybrid options, as well as a diesel for those covering lots of miles, but our top choice is the mid-range 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol, which can get you up to motorway speeds in a swift 8.5sec, yet should also keep your running costs in check.

While the Golf handles well, the Seat Leon is even more of a hoot to drive quickly, while the Ford Focus is slightly quieter at speed.

Our favourite version 1.5 TSI Life
List price £27,555
Target price £25,967
Target PCP £264

March sales 5631

Read our Volkswagen Golf review

Think of the Tesla Model Y as being a Tesla Model 3 on stilts, distilling everything that's great about that car into a more practical, family friendly package, and you won't be far wrong.

While the Model Y can't match the Model 3's rapid performance because of its extra weight, it still doesn't feel slow. In fact, the Long Range version managed to blast from 0-60mph in 4.8sec in our tests, while the range-topping Performance model dropped that time to 3.5sec – that's faster than any version of the rival Audi Q4 e-tron can manage, and a match for the Kia EV6 GT.

Range is a strength of every Model Y, and our recommended Long Range models can officially take you up to 331 miles according to official figures – that figure fell to a still respectable 277 miles in real-world conditions. Ride comfort could use some work, however, and the Model Y jostles you around in your seat while you're driving along. Road noise is also more noticable than in rival electric SUVs.

The Model Y has the same minimalist interior as the Model 3, and offers lots of room in both the front and rear seats for your family to stretch out. Plus, we managed to fit 10 carry-on suitcases on board the Model Y.

Our favourite version Long Range
List price £52,990
Target price £52,990
Target PCP £494

March sales 5602

Read our Tesla Model Y review

Proving that you don't need to spend a lot of money to drive a cracking SUV, the latest MG HS majors on value for money. That's because not only does it undercut most rivals on price, but it's also predicted to hold its value better than the rival Citroen C5 Aircross or Mazda CX-5. And, if you go for our recommended plug-in hybrid model and can plug it in regularly, you'll find your running costs cut to the bone, too.

Speaking of the plug-in hybrid HS, it's pleasantly quick, and accelerated up to 60mph faster than the rival Ford Kuga PHEV in our tests. It can't go quite as far on electric power alone, with an official range of 32 miles compared with the Kuga's 39 miles, but that might still be enough to cover the school run without using a drop of fuel.

Ride quality on the plug-in hybrid HS isn't as good as on the regular car, with larger bumps sending a fair thump back through the car when you hit them. Plus, the extra weight of the car's battery affects its handling, with a good amount of body lean through corners, and less grip – the Kuga might be a little slower off the line, but it's a more engaging car to drive.

Our favourite version 1.5 T-GDi PHEV SE
List price £31,095
Target price £30,021
Target PCP £381

March sales 5460

Read our MG HS review