Best-selling cars 2026: EV sales achieve record heights in March as new car market grows
March marked the best month for new car sales since 2019 in what is usually the busiest month of the year...
In what is usually the busiest month of the year for automotive sales, the new car market grew in March, with 380,627 registrations, according to the latest official figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Indeed, it was the best performance of any month since 2019.
Private buyers drove most of the growth, recording a 10.1% increase to 162,470 (42.7%) registrations. Fleet customers accounted for almost 55% of all registrations (up 3.5%), while the smaller business sector was up 18.8% with 9304 registrations.
Most buyers are still opting for traditional petrol and diesel cars, which accounted for a combined share of 55.4% of the market. However, both fuel types recorded a decline compared with 2025, with petrol cars dropping 6.1% and diesel cars 11.4%.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) were once again the fastest-growing sector, with sales increasing by 46.9% to take a total of 13% of all new registrations. Sales of hybrids grew by 7.3% to account for 15.8% of the market.
Electric car (EV) sales grew by 24.2% with 86,120 registrations. This is a record high for EV uptake, though with a market share of just 22.6% for the month, sales continue to lag behind the targets set out in the ZEV Mandate. The SMMT puts this down to high battery costs and industrial energy prices, as well as expensive public charging rates. Demand is expected to remain uncertain with the situation in the Middle East.
According to the ZEV Mandate, EVs must account for 33% of the new car market by the end of 2026. While they represented less than a quarter of the market in 2025, in February the SMMT predicted a more optimistic year for EV uptake, with these vehicles expected to make up 28.5% of the market by the end of the year. This would mark a considerable improvement on 2025, but would still lag behind government targets.
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
- 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 somewhat 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 £35,715
Best price £31,299
March sales 10,064
Read our in-depth Jaecoo 7 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
March sales 9193
Read our in-depth Ford Puma 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 £33,085
Best price £25,590
March sales 8718
Read our in-depth Nissan Qashqai 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 £30,795
March sales 7310
Read our in-depth Kia Sportage 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
March sales 6315
Read our in-depth Vauxhall Corsa 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
The XC40 is the smallest petrol-powered SUV Volvo sells – but it's proof that great things can come in little packages. A former What Car? Car of the Year, this family SUV blends premium quality and style with generous practicality.
Our favourite engine is the entry-level B3, which offers 161bhp from its 2.0-litre mild hybrid set-up. With that power, it can whisk you up to motorway speeds in an efficient and relaxed manner. While its steering is hardly sporty, it's accurate and grips through corners more nicely than a Mini Countryman or Volkswagen Tiguan.
There are a few trim levels available, but we'd opt for Plus, which is just one step above the base-spec option. It adds keyless entry, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel and a heated front windscreen, on top of the standard heated front seats, dual-zone climate control and adaptive cruise control.
Our favourite version 2.0 B3 MHEV Plus
List price £40,090
Best price £38,590
March sales 6311
Read our in-depth Volvo XC40 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 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 £32,495
Best price £25,490
March sales 6135
Read our in-depth MG HS 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 £29,150
Best price £23,395
March sales 5890
Read our in-depth Volkswagen Golf review
Strengths
- Rapid acceleration
- Long range between charges
- Tesla’s charging infrastructure
Weaknesses
- Some fiddly interior controls
- Visibility isn’t great
- No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
As the brand with the only fully-electric car on this list, it's fair to say that Tesla has a pretty strong hold over the EV market – and if the Model Y is anything to go by, it's for very good reason.
Not only is it great to drive, but it also has a very impressive range, particularly in our favourite Long Range RWD guise. It can officially manage 383 miles on a single charge – a figure that increases to a huge 391 miles if you specify all-wheel drive.
Traditionalists might not appreciate the Model Y's minimalist interior, which requires most functions to be operated through the large central touchscreen, and does away with indicator stalks in favour of buttons on the steering wheel.
Our favourite version Long Range RWD
List price £44,990
Target price £44,990
March sales 5177
Read our in-depth Tesla Model Y review
Strengths
- Sharp handling
- Punchy performance
- Class-leading interior quality
Weaknesses
- Firm ride for a family car
- No plug-in hybrid option
- No iDrive rotary controller
A premium-badged rival to the VW Golf, the BMW 1 Series has long served as a popular, more upmarket offering in the family car class.
Just two versions of the 1 Series are available here in the UK, and we'd go for the entry-level 120 option, which features a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with 168bhp and mild hybrid tech. It can sprint from 0-62mph quicker than an equivalent Golf or Audi A3.
The 1 Series is a class leader when it comes to interior quality, with everything feeling beautifully screwed-together and plush. The same can't quite be said about boot space, because with just 300 litres, the 1 Series trails behind its main rivals.
Our favourite version 120 M Sport
List price £34,625
Best price £30,399
March sales 4936
