Best-selling cars 2026: EV sales reach new heights in June
The UK car market grew significantly in June, delivering the best performance for the month since 2019. But which models were the most popular?...
The new car market grew significantly in June, new figures have revealed, with 213,166 cars leaving showrooms, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). That's the best performance for the month since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fleet customers made up the majority of registrations, with 59.5% of the market being used as company cars, but growth among private buyers was more significant, with a 12.5% increase on the year before. Such cars accounted for 80,571 registrations.
Traditional petrol cars continue to sell in big numbers, making up 39.7% of the market. However, this represents a decline of 4% compared with 2025. Diesel sales were also on a downward trajectory, with 8099 sales and accounting for just 3.8% of the market – a decline of nearly a quarter (24.4%).
Growth in June was driven wholly by electrified vehicles. More than one in four (26.5%) vehicles registered was powered by either a plug-in hybrid or regular hybrid set-up, while electric cars reached record heights, representing 30% of the total market. That marks a 35% increase compared with the year before – the largest of all fuel types.
Now halfway through 2026, electric vehicles account for a quarter of the new car market, which is still some way behind the 33% target set out in the ZEV Mandate. According to the SMMT, 100% of automotive leaders who responded to its latest UK Automotive Business Leaders Barometer survey view the Mandate's 2030 target as currently unachievable – this being that 80% of all new car sales must be electric by the end of the decade.
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
- Rapid acceleration
- Long range between charges
- Tesla’s brilliant charging infrastructure
Weaknesses
- Some fiddly interior controls
- Doesn't ride as well as some rivals
- No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
You could say that the presence of the Tesla Model Y at the top of this list perfectly exemplifies the dominance of SUVs over traditional saloons, which have gradually fallen out of favour over the last few years. Why? Well, because Tesla sold more than a thousand more examples of this SUV than its low-slung sibling, the Model 3, in June – you can find that car in second place.
We'd argue that Model Y's popularity is warranted, because it's one of our favourite family electric SUVs, thanks to its rapid acceleration, great range between charges and abundance of space inside. We recommend the Premium Long Range RWD, which has a super-impressive official range figure of 387 miles – on par with the MG IM6.
While the Model Y's interior tech is second-to-none, it might not be for everyone. Pretty much all of the car's functions, including steering wheel adjustment and even changing gears, are controlled via the infotainment touchscreen.
Our favourite version Premium Long Range RWD
List price £48,990
Best price £48,990
June sales 6765
Read our in-depth Tesla Model Y review
Strengths
- Fast and reliable charging via Tesla's Supercharger network
- Long range between charges
- Surprisingly practical
Weaknesses
- Fiddly interior controls
- Handling not as entertaining as the best petrol-powered rivals
- Windscreen pillars can hamper visibility
We've already talked about its jacked-up SUV sibling, but the Tesla Model 3 has earned a rightful spot on this list, trailing only the larger Model Y in sales in June.
Like that car, we could barely recommend the Model 3 more highly – in fact, we named it Executive Car of the Year at our annual What Car? Awards earlier this year. That's thanks to its impressive electric range, surprising practicality and competitive pricing.
As with the Model Y, our favourite version of the Model 3 is the Premium Long Range RWD variant, which is even more efficient than its SUV sibling thanks to its slipperier shape. It can officially travel up to 466 miles, making it one of the longest-range electric cars on the market.
Our favourite version Premium Long Range RWD
List price £44,990
Best price £44,990
June sales 5408
Read our in-depth Tesla Model 3 review
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
- Interior quality could be better
- There are more comfortable and quieter rivals
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 ST-Line
List price £28,045
Best price £24,995
June sales 5284
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 like it so much we've named it our Family SUV of the Year two years on the trot. Not only is it spacious and exceedingly practical, it also offers great value for money.
Our favourite engine is the 1.6-litre hybrid, which has recently received a boost in power. It pumps out 235bhp, and is considerably punchier than the entry-level non-hybrid, so you won’t have any issues getting up to speeds no matter the journey.
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 entry-level models undercutting the likes of the Ford Kuga and Hyundai Tucson.
Our favourite version 1.6T Hybrid Pure
List price £34,895
Best price £32,495
June sales 4554
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, rivalling the hugely popular Jaecoo 7 and Kia Sportage.
Unlike those cars, our favourite version of the Qashqai 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 £33,105
Best price £25,990
June sales 4544
Read our in-depth Nissan Qashqai review
Strengths
- Classy interior with loads of kit for the money
- Hybrid versions are good to drive
- Plug-in hybrid has a genuinely impressive electric range
Weaknesses
- MG's poor reliability record
- Non-hybrid 1.5 petrol is disappointing
- Some rivals has more luggage space
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 2026 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 £32,495
Best price £25,288
June sales 3246
Read our in-depth MG HS review
Strengths
- Smart interior
- Spacious in the back
- PHEV has a long electric-only range
Weaknesses
- Fidgety ride
- Wayward handling
- Frustrating infotainment system
The Jaecoo 7 is something of a new kid on the block, having only been launched in the UK last year. However, in its first few months of being on the market, it has recorded an impressive number of sales. In fact, Jaecoo as a brand outsold well-established marques such as Mini, Renault and Volvo in the UK in January, and it was second only to MG in sales among Chinese car brands.
You can have your Jaecoo 7 with either petrol or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power, the latter of which is well-priced and delivers a competitive official electric-only range of 57 miles – more than the rival Hyundai Tucson PHEV, but not as far as the equivalent MG HS or Volkswagen Tiguan.
Like the Kia Sportage, the Jaecoo 7 offers a lofty driving position that's popular with SUV fans, and it's spacious inside. However, it's let down by its subpar driving experience, with its unsettled ride and sloppy handling.
Our favourite version 1.5T SHS 18.3kWh Luxury
List price £35,170
Best price £31,499
June sales 3145
Read our in-depth Jaecoo 7 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 consistently ranks among our favourite family SUVs, and is only really let down by a slightly higher list price than rivals, and not being quite as good to weave along a country road.
There are plenty of power options to choose from, all built around a 1.6-litre petrol engine, which you can have with mild hybrid, full hybrid or plug-in hybrid power. The latter will be of particular interest to company car drivers, because its official electric-only range of 43 miles puts it in the lowest tax band of any Tucson.
Inside the Tucson, you'll find supportive seats and high-quality materials. Indeed, upgrades made as part of a mid-life facelift in 2024 did a lot to lift the ambience inside, and although it's still not up to the standard of, say, the Volvo XC40, it still represents a nice place to be.
Our favourite version 1.6 T-GDi Element
List price £30,985
Best price £26,660
June sales 3082
Read our in-depth Hyundai Tucson review
Strengths
- Stylish interior
- Lots of performance
- Strong engines
Weaknesses
- Ride is on the firm side
- One of the least practical small cars
- A fair bit of wind and road noise
The Mini Cooper is one of just two cars on this list built right here in the UK — at least in petrol guise — which makes sense, because it is something of a British icon.
Indeed, this small car has a lot of history behind it, and even in its fourth generation, it continues to top the sales charts. Currently, you can have your Mini Cooper with petrol or battery electric power, and there are also high-powered John Cooper Works editions on offer.
Our favourite is the entry-level Cooper C thanks to its feisty 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, fun driving manners and quiet ride.
Our favourite version 1.5C Classic
List price £25,485
Best price £25,485
June sales 3004
Read our in-depth Mini Cooper review
Strengths
- Good to drive
- Spacious in the back
- Well equipped
Weaknesses
- Interior quality doesn’t impress
- Relatively small boot
- Busy low-speed ride on ST-Line trims
The Ford Kuga is one of several family SUVs on this list, but we'd argue it has added appeal due to the sheer number of variants available. Indeed, there's a Kuga for most buyers, with petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid engine options, as well as a choice of trims.
Buyers looking for a family SUV that's fun to drive will appreciate the Kuga's tidy handling, but depending on the version you opt for, its ride can be a bit unsettled. We'd recommend the full hybrid version in ST-Line trim, mostly because it offers decent pace and sporty suspension, which keeps the Kuga nicely upright through corners.
The Kuga is also one of the more spacious family SUVs on sale here in the UK. Indeed, you shouldn't have any trouble fitting your whole tribe and their belongings inside.
Our favourite version 1.6 T-GDi Element
List price £38,360
Best price £35,195
June sales 2948
