Best-selling cars in the UK: tax changes bite in a tough April

It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of the Kia Sportage – in fact, we liked it so much we named it our Family SUV of the Year. Not only is it spacious and exceedingly practical, it also offers great value at a very reasonable price.

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 3

List price £33,670
Target price £31,720
Target PCP NA

April sales 3514

Read our in-depth Kia Sportage review

As the most popular car of 2024 and a former What Car? Car of the Year, it comes as no surprise that the Ford Puma continues to sell in big numbers. In fact, we think it’s 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, too.

Our favourite version 1.0 Ecoboost mHEV 155 ST-Line

List price £27,297
Target price £23,995
Target PCP NA

April sales 3311

Read our in-depth Ford Puma review

One of the most recognisable faces in the UK, the Vauxhall Corsa consistently sells in big numbers on the UK sales charts. And that might be because there's a version of the Corsa for everyone – even a full EV, the Vauxhall Corsa Electric.

The Corsa comes with both petrol and hybrid options. Our favourite is the 1.2-litre 99bhp petrol engine, which packs more punch than the entry-level version, and copes well with motorway speeds. That said, it's not quite as settled as an Audi A1.

Equipment is a real strong suit for the Corsa. Our recommended mid-level GS trim comes with 17in alloy wheels, electronic climate control, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, sportier styling and sports seats.

Our favourite version 1.2 Turbo 100 Yes

List price £18,505
Target price £16,490
Target PCP NA

April sales 2376

Read our in-depth Vauxhall Corsa review

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 £32,965
Target price £27,695
Target PCP NA

April sales 2197

Read our in-depth Nissan Qashqai review

The Audi A3 has been a stalwart of the family car class since the 1990s, and even today many of the original car’s hallmarks remain. It’s a desirable choice in a competitive market — and the steep costs of some of the more upmarket models are considered to be prices worth paying, given the numbers they’re sold in.

Yet we think it’s the relatively modest 1.5-litre petrol engine, which carries the 35 TFSI badge, that represents the sweet spot because it feels lively and running one won’t break the bank.

It’s a similar story when it comes to trims, too, with the entry-level Sport providing the best balance of price and spec. It’s very well kitted-out, with cruise control, three-zone air-con, heated front seats, and auto lights and wipers coming as standard. has softer suspension than more expensive models, too.

Our favourite version 35 TFSI Sport

List price £29,725
Target price £26,693
Target PCP NA

April sales 2112

Read our in-depth Audi A3 review

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 can 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 Dark

List price £45,910
Target price £43,910
Target PCP NA

April sales 2008

Read our in-depth Volvo XC40 review

If you want a reason to feel patriotic, then you might be pleased to hear that the Nissan Juke is one only a few cars on this list still built in the UK, alongside the Qashqai. 

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 £26,045
Target price £23,395
Target PCP NA

April sales 1959

Read our in-depth Nissan Juke review

If you’re looking for a small SUV that has the look and the feel of something far more upmarket when you’re sitting behind the wheel, then the Peugeot 2008 could well be the car for you. Yes, it has the small steering wheel arrangement which you view the instruments over, rather than through, but it has the air of quality you’d expect to find in a VW T-Roc or even an Audi Q2.

The 1.2-litre PureTech 130 engine is the most popular in the range, and with good reason because it provides plenty of oomph and in our real-world independent fuel tests, managing 47.3mpg.

Allure is our favourite trim because it adds alloy wheels, privacy glass and some extra USB sockets to the entry-level Active trim’s decent roster of equipment. And it doesn’t attract much of a premium, either.

Our favourite version 1.2 PureTech 130 Allure

List price £27,940
Target price £21,740
Target PCP NA

April sales 1822

Read our in-depth Peugeot 2008 review

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 £32,790
Target price £27,735
Target PCP NA

April sales 1781

Read our in-depth Hyundai Tucson review

The latest Mini Cooper can be had with both petrol and electric power, but whichever version you choose, you'll be getting a competent small car with plenty of character to match its cutesy charm.

It's the electric version which we think will suit most buyers best, but we'd recommend that you go for the larger of the two battery options on offer. That's because in entry level Cooper E form, the car only receives a 36.6kWh battery which offers an official range of 190 miles, which is rather short. Go for our recommended Cooper SE model, though, and that figure is boosted to a much more usable 250 miles.

Inside, you'll find a minimalist dashboard dominated by a rounded infotainment screen, which also acts as your main source of driving data – but there's also a head-up display which puts the most vital information right into your line of sight.

Being a small car, you won't be expecting acres of space in the Mini, but even by the standards of the class it's pretty tiny, especially in the rear seats. Plus, where most small cars offer three rear seats, the Mini Cooper only has two.

Our favourite version Cooper SE Classic

List price £29,905
Target price £29,905
Target PCP NA

April sales 1624

Read our in-depth Mini Cooper Electric review