Best-selling cars in the UK: more than two million new cars hit the roads in 2025
2025 marked the best year for new-car sales since the Covid-19 pandemic...
More than two million new cars were registered on British roads in 2025 — an increase of more than 3.5% on the year before, according to latest official figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Those figures are the strongest since the Covid-19 pandemic, and marked the third year of successive growth.
Demand from private buyers increased slightly over 2024, with a 4.5% increase to 779,587 registrations. However, in total, just 38.6% of new cars were destined for private buyers; fleet and business customers accounted for the remainder.
Electrified cars — which include electric cars and hybrids — accounted for nearly half (48.5%) of all new car registrations, but combustion models — petrol and diesel — still make up a narrow majority.
Sales of hybrids grew by 7.2% to a total market share of 13.9%, although plug-in hybrids enjoyed the fastest-growing popularity, with sales increasing by 34.7% to take a total of 11.1% of all new registrations.
Almost half a million (473,348) new electric cars were registered in 2025, which is more than 2021 and 2022 combined. In total, electric cars accounted for 23.4% of new cars registered last year — expected to place the UK as the second largest EV market in Europe — but it's still behind the 28% set out in the ZEV Mandate.
The Electric Car Grant has stoked demand for EVs, but only a quarter of new models are eligible for the incentive. The SMMT says that car makers have subsidised their models to the tune of £5 billion in 2025, which is the equivalent of £11,000 per electric car registered.
Still, demand has been blunted by the planned introduction of a new pay-per-mile scheme for EV drivers, dubbed 'eVED', in 2028.
But which models sold the most last month? Below we've listed the top 10. And if you like the look of any of them, just follow the links to read more or see how much you can save on the best new car deals.
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Strengths
- Great fun to drive
- Remarkable blend of performance and fuel economy
- Big and cleverly designed boot
Weaknesses
- Rear space is adequate rather than outstanding
- Visibility could be better
- VW T-Roc is more comfortable and quieter
The Ford Puma was the biggest-selling car of 2024 and 2025 — and the former What Car? Car of the Year shows little sign of slowing. And despite its advancing years, we think it’s still one of the best small SUVs on the market.
With fantastic agility and impressive pace, there aren’t many cars that provide a more enjoyable driving experience than the Puma. What’s more, all of its engines are assisted by mild hybrid technology to boost efficiency.
If comfort is a top priority, then you’ll be better off with a Skoda Kamiq or VW T-Roc, which are both fitted with softer suspension, but the Nissan Juke will jostle you round more. The Puma also benefits from a reasonably plush interior, and it offers practical boot space.
Our favourite version 1.0 Ecoboost mHEV 155 ST-Line
List price £29,280
Best price £28,259
2025 sales 55,488
Read our in-depth Ford Puma review
Strengths
- Lower-spec models are great value
- Smart interior
- Generous rear leg room and boot space
Weaknesses
- Rear head room compromised with panoramic roof
- No clever rear seat functions
- Auto gearbox feels frustratingly slow with non-hybrid engine
It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of the Kia Sportage – in fact, we liked it so much we named it our 2025 Family SUV of the Year. Not only is it spacious and exceedingly practical, it also offers great value for money.
Our favourite engine is the 1.6-litre petrol, which is assisted by mild hybrid power to keep your fuel bills low. It pumps out 157bhp, and has more than enough oomph for everyday driving, so you won’t feel out of depth at motorway speeds.
Perhaps one of the reasons why the Sportage is so popular is its lofty driving position, which will please SUV fans. It’s also competitively priced, with mild hybrid models undercutting the likes of the Ford Kuga and Hyundai Tucson.
Our favourite version 1.6T GDi Pure
List price £30,885
Best price £27,995
2025 sales 47,788
Read our in-depth Kia Sportage review
Strengths
- Smooth, quiet engines
- Lower trim levels are great value for private buyers
- Smart, easy-to-use interior
Weaknesses
- So-so performance
- Some rivals are more fun to drive
- Lacks the seating flexibility of many rivals
The fact that the Qashqai is such a big seller shouldn’t come as a surprise – it practically launched the family SUV trend that has taken over the car industry, and it’s a main rival of the best-selling Kia Sportage.
Like with the Sportage, our favourite version comes assisted by mild hybrid technology to help keep your fuel bills low.
The Qashqai does everything you’d expect it to – it offers that fantastic driving position that SUV fans love, and it’s decently practical. Our recommended trim, N-Connecta, comes with plenty of kit, including 18in alloy wheels, a fully digital driver’s display and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Our favourite version 1.3 DiG-T MH N-Connecta
List price £33,085
Best price £26,944
2025 sales 41,141
Read our in-depth Nissan Qashqai review
Strengths
- Well equipped
- Cheaper than rivals
- Efficient engines
Weaknesses
- Fiddly infotainment system
- Below-par safety rating
- Smaller boot than rivals
The Vauxhall Corsa has long been one of the biggest sellers in the UK, so it's no surprise that it's a regular fixture in the top 10 best-sellers list. It owes its popularity to its ability to appeal to everyone, thanks to its wide variety of engines and trims.
Our favourite engine in the Corsa is the 99bhp 1.2-litre petrol engine, which acts as the entry point to the range. It's flexible and competent at motorway speeds, although some rival small cars, like the Audi A1 and Volkswagen Polo, are more comfortable.
There are four trim levels available with the Corsa, but even with all that choice, we still think the entry-level 'Yes' is the one to go for. It comes well-equipped with 16in alloy wheels, heated front seats, cruise control, air-conditioning and a flat-bottomed leather steering wheel.
Our favourite version 1.2 Turbo Yes
List price £20,225
Best price £15,495
2025 sales 35,947
Read our in-depth Vauxhall Corsa review
Strengths
- Smart interior
- Good safety rating
- Lots of toys on our recommended trim
Weaknesses
- Choppy ride
- Claustrophobic in the rear seats
- Poor reliability record
If you want a reason to feel patriotic, then you might be pleased to hear that the Nissan Juke is one of two cars on this list manufactured here in the UK – the other being the Qashqai. And it follows in its larger sibling’s footsteps by setting the standard for many of the small SUVs we see today.
The Juke offers everything you’d expect it to: a lofty driving position and small, economical engines, all at an accessible price. Our favourite engine, the entry-level 112bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol, isn’t the fastest we’ve ever tested, but it pulls strongly enough and should prove pretty frugal.
That said, it’s not particularly comfortable to drive, and it doesn’t offer the same level of fun as the Ford Puma does. In fact, even the Skoda Kamiq and VW T-Roc are more composed. Where the Juke does excel is inside, where it’s easy to get comfortable behind the wheel and the lofty driving position gives a nice view of the road ahead.
Our favourite version 1.0 DiG-T 114 N-Connecta
List price £26,265
Best price £22,815
2025 sales 34,773
Read our in-depth Nissan Juke review
Strengths
- Exceedingly comfortable ride with adaptive suspension
- Tidy handling
- Strong and frugal 1.5 TSI 150 engine
Weaknesses
- Automatic gearbox can be hesitant
- Interior quality could be better
- There are more spacious rivals
The VW Golf has a reputation of being the quintessential family car, and that’s because it strikes the perfect balance of comfort and practicality that makes it ideal for both long and short journeys.
It’s available with petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power, but the mid-range 1.5-litre petrol should serve the needs of most buyers. Company car drivers, however, might be tempted by the low tax advantages of the plug-in hybrid.
The Golf feels right at home around town, with light steering which can feel a bit flimsy on faster, twistier roads. You can remedy that with some of the higher trim levels, though, which offer a larger selection of driving modes.
Our favourite version 1.5 TSI Match
List price £29,135
Best price £23,491
2025 sales 32,478
Read our in-depth Volkswagen Golf review
Strengths
- Stylish and high-quality interior
- Comfortable ride on most versions
- Comprehensive safety kit
Weaknesses
- Lacks the rear-seat flexibility of some rivals
- Fairly small infotainment screen
- Some rivals are tidier to drive
Despite being launched back in 2018, the Volvo XC40 remains one of the best-selling family SUVs.
In fact, its popularity is a testament to its talents, because it's a stylish and immensely practical offering, with spacious back seats and a large, square-shaped boot. The interior is smart yet very plush, with a great mix of high-end plastics, leather and metal or wood inlays. Only the similarly priced Genesis GV70 and Range Rover Evoque really match it.
Over the years, Volvo has slimmed down the XC40's engine line-up. As such, we now think the entry-level B3 is the best option for it. It consists of a 161bhp mild hybrid 2.0-litre petrol engine that provides flexible performance, with 0-62mph taking 8.6 seconds. It's noticeably gutsier than the 1.5-litre mild hybrid engine you get in the VW Tiguan.
Our favourite version B3 Plus
List price £40,090
Target price £38,590
2025 sales 30,404
Read our in-depth Volvo XC40 review
Strengths
- Cheap yet very well equipped
- Plush interior for the price
- PHEV has impressive electric range
Weaknesses
- MG's poor reliability record
- Non-PHEV's performance is disappointing
- Compromised visibility at junctions
The MG HS is a long way from the two-seaters MG was known for in the past, but judging by the fact that the HS sells in big numbers, that's no bad thing.
You can have your HS with pure petrol or plug-in hybrid power – and the latter is our favourite option. As our 2025 Plug-In Hybrid of the Year, the HS PHEV impresses with its long electric-only range and fantastic value. Indeed, it can officially travel up to 75 miles on a single charge, which is further than most rivals, including the Jaecoo 7 and Kia Sportage.
We can't recommend the 1.5-litre petrol engine as highly, but it does offer decent acceleration and has more than enough oomph once you're on the move.
Our favourite version 1.5T Plug-in Hybrid SE
List price £32,245
Best price £26,999
2025 sales 30,191
Read our in-depth MG HS review
Strengths
- Well-judged ride and handling balance
- Has a large boot and great seating flexibility
- Roomier than many rivals
Weaknesses
- Higher trims are as pricey as premium-badged rivals
- Option packs drive up the price
- 1.5-litre petrol engine is noisy when revved
The Tiguan was once Volkswagen's biggest global seller, so it's little surprise that UK buyers love it so much. The current generation is stylish and modern on the outside, while offering plenty of space for families inside – but it is at the pricier end of its segment, which means it has a lot of upmarket rivals to contend with.
You can have your Tiguan with mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, diesel or petrol power, so you shouldn't have many issues finding a version that suits you. Our favourite is the mild hybrid eTSI 150, which combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a small electric motor to bolster performance and fuel economy. It's pleasantly peppy for everyday driving.
Inside the Tiguan, there's plenty of head and leg room for even the tallest of occupants. However, if you need space for more, you'll have to opt for the larger VW Tayron, because the Tiguan Allspace seven-seater no longer exists.
Our favourite version 1.5 eTSI 150 Match
List price £39,120
Best price £30,691
2025 sales 29,857
Read our in-depth Volkswagen Tiguan review
Strengths
- Well-made, user-friendly interior
- Spacious for passengers and luggage
- Good range of engines
Weaknesses
- Some rivals have tidier handling
- Slightly more expensive to buy than rivals
- No sliding rear seats
The Hyundai Tucson is among the most practical family SUVs – there’s lots of space in the front and the rear, and the boot is one of the biggest in the class.
Practicality aside, the interior is well laid out and feels solid, but lacks the premium feel you get inside rivals such as the Volvo XC40. More positively, the entry-level Advance trim is very well equipped, and includes a 12.3in digital driver's display, a 12.3in infotainment screen, dual-zone climate control and ambient interior lighting as standard.
If you go for the petrol version you can expect reasonable performance and a competitive price, but ride comfort in all versions of the Tucson could be better, especially considering how comfortable some family SUVs manage to be.
Our favourite version 1.6T Advance
List price £33,105
Target price £25,950
2025 sales 28,613
