Best-selling cars 2026: the year's 10 most popular models so far
These are officially Britain’s biggest-selling new cars so far in 2026, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)
We’ve finally hit the mid-point of 2026 and car brands are fiercely battling it out and setting their sights on the coveted title of Britain’s best-selling car. You can see just how hotly-contested it is below.
Unsurprisingly, hugely popular cars and previous best-sellers like the Ford Puma and Kia Sportage are still enjoying their time near the top of the chart. But a wave of ultra-competitive Chinese cars like the MG HS, and most notably, the Jaecoo 7, are mounting serious challenges for the top-spots by racking-up big sales numbers over the first six months of 2026.
So far in 2026, it’s clear that SUVs are the flavour of the moment, as this popular body shape holds seven of the top ten spots on this list, though the continued success of the MINI Cooper, Vauxhall Corsa and Volkswagen Golf show superminis and hatchbacks still have significant staying power and remain a top choice with new car buyers.
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How did the UK new car market perform in June 2026?
In June 2026, a total of 213,166 new cars hit UK roads, with the car market growing by a healthy 11.4 per cent compared to June 2025. This was the best June performance since 2019 and was driven mostly by the demand for electrified vehicles, alongside expanding manufacturer line-ups and attractive prices.
It was a notable month for fully-electric cars, which saw Battery Electric Vehicles account for 25 per cent of the market, a record achievement.
When combined with hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars, electrified vehicles accounted for more than half of the new car market in June at 56.5 per cent, rising from 48.5 per cent in June 2025.
Petrol remains the single most popular fuel choice, taking up a share of 39.7 per cent, while diesel cars sat at a 3.8 per cent market share.
Best-selling cars in June
The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling car in the UK in June with a total of 6,765 models being registered.
The Tesla Model 3 came home in second place with 5,408 registrations, while the current best-selling car of the year so far, the Ford Puma, rounded out the podium in third place with 5,284 registrations.
Top 10 best-selling cars 2026
Without further ado, here are the UK’s official best-selling cars of 2026 according to data from the SMMT.
1. Ford Puma - 29,642
- Prices from: £26,245
The Ford Puma has been the best-selling car in the UK for the past three years in-a-row, but if the Puma wants to take the crown in 2026, it’s going to have to work very hard for it.
Thankfully, the Puma has plenty of strengths. Not only is this small SUV one of the best handling cars in its class, it’s great value for money and well-equipped. What’s more, the electric Puma Gen-E qualifies for the full £3,750 Electric Car Grant, making it the cheapest variant in the range, too.
2. Kia Sportage - 25,828
- Prices from: £31,395
Having just missed out on the overall best-seller crown in both 2024 and 2025, the Kia Sportage remains an incredibly popular family car, and so far in 2026 it remains well-within striking distance of the Ford Puma.
The fifth-generation Sportage has been around since 2021, although a facelift and update in 2024 has helped keep this mid-size SUV fresh and up-to-date with rivals. Its eye-catching looks, comfortable ride and attractive seven-year/100,000-mile warranty are clearly a hit with the car buyers.
3. Jaecoo 7 - 23,840
- Prices from: £29,210
Jaecoo might be a relatively new entry to the UK market, but this Chinese brand is clearly hitting all the right notes with car buyers.
Why is the Jaecoo 7 so popular? It’s because this stylish SUV squares up to premium competitors like the BMW X1 and MINI Countryman, comes loaded with lots of kit as standard and has plenty of space. What’s even more attractive is the starting price of around £29,000 and incredibly tempting finance offers.
With over 23,000 cars registered so far this year, we suspect you’re going to see quite a few 7’s on UK roads going forward but could this be the car which takes the 2026 top spot from the Ford Puma? Only time will tell.
4. Nissan Qashqai - 23,102
- Prices from: £30,635
- Commended at the 2026 Auto Express New Car Awards
Think of mid-size SUVs and the chances are the Nissan Qashqai will be among the first cars to spring to mind. Besides, it’s been a pretty common sight on UK roads since the first generation car hit UK roads around two decades ago.
The latest Qashqai is arguably the best yet. While it does have some pretty bold styling, it retains familiarity where it matters with the usual solid build and practical cabin. Opt for the clever e-Power hybrid engine and you’ll be driving around in one of the best SUVs money can buy.
5. Vauxhall Corsa - 18,470
- Prices from: £19,090
It’s safe to say that Britain loves an SUV, but the plucky Vauxhall Corsa is leading the way for supermini sales.
The Corsa is one of the most recognisable names on UK roads, and with such a wide variety of choice when it comes to trim, kit and powertrains, it’s easy to see why. With a starting price from around £19,000, it’s great value too.
6. Volkswagen Golf - 17,552
- Prices from: £28,910
- Golf GTI named Auto Express Hot Hatch of the Year 2026
While SUVs are the flavour of the moment, the humble hatchback is still a sought-after bodystyle and the Volkswagen Golf is proof of that.
The eight-generation car had a few niggles which weren’t too popular with buyers, but a recent facelift aimed to right these wrongs. Gone are the annoying haptic control panels and the fiddly tech has mostly been ironed out.
Whatever you want in a car, chances are there’s a Golf to suit your needs. From a simple family runaround to a fire-breathing hot hatchback, this long-standing model remains a firm favourite.
7. MG HS - 16,721
- Prices from: £26,495
- Auto Express Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year 2026
MG as a brand is going from strength to strength in the UK, and the new MG HS is proof that good-value, economical, well-equipped and spacious cars are a winning-formula with UK buyers.
Available with a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or pure-petrol powertrain, the HS has a starting price of well under £27,000. Combine this with a very practical cabin and a generously-sized boot, it’s a car which really stands out in a crowded market.
What further sweetens the deal is the fact the HS was crowned our 2026 Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year, not to mention MG’s attractive long seven-year/80,000-mile warranty as standard, too.
8. MINI Cooper - 16,295
- Prices from: £24,735
It’s undeniable that since BMW relaunched the modern-day MINI Cooper in the early 2000s, it has been a great sales success. All you have to do is look around a packed car park and chances are you’ll spot a new MINI…or three.
The current fourth-generation MINI Cooper is arguably the best iteration yet. This small supermini offers a great combination of premium quality and desirability at a competitive starting price of well under £25,000. There’s a choice of punchy electric or petrol power, but whichever version you opt for, you’ll have one of the best handling cars at your finger tips.
Practicality isn't the Cooper’s strongest point, but the 210-litre boot should easily swallow the weekly shop or a few overnight bags. You can also get the Cooper in a five-door configuration which boosts versatility further.
9. Volvo XC40 - 16,031
- Prices from: £35,860
If you’re after a stylish but small SUV, then look no further than the Volvo XC40.
It might be one of the smallest cars Volvo sells but there’s more space than you might expect given the car’s 4.4-metre length. Getting comfy up front is straightforward, even for tall passengers, while in the rear there should be enough room for three adults side-by-side.
The ISOFIX child seat anchor points are easy to access, and the spacious 443-litre boot helps make it an ideal car for young families.
Throw in a stellar reputation for safety, a range of punchy (if not class-leadingly frugal) engines, and competitive pricing from under £36,000, it’s not hard to see why the Volvo’s become a hit with the UK car buying public.
10. Tesla Model Y - 15,341
- Prices from: £41,990
The Tesla Model Y is regularly amongst the best-selling electric cars and for good reasons: it’s efficient, easy to drive, quiet and refined at speeds, and full of tech. Plus, with a range of up to 360 miles, what more could you ask for?
One of the Model Y strengths comes in the form of practicality compared to its rivals. Its tall and boxy body style means there’s plenty of cabin space for passengers who shouldn’t feel cramped, and the boot is one of the largest in class.
The Model Y won’t return white-knuckle driving thrills on a country road, although it’s much more competent than pre-facelifted cars. Performance is generous across the board, and there’s even the 453bhp Model Y Performance which caters for those who want supercar-rivalling levels of pace.
Some people might still have reservations when it comes to buying an electric car but this is where Tesla has an ace up its sleeve in the form of its Supercharger network. Tesla now has over 2,700 Supercharger and destination EV chargers set up across the UK, and these chargepoints are no longer exclusive to just Tesla drivers, while owners automatically have access to the lowest prices available.
Sales vs registrations: inside the numbers
There’s an important distinction to be made where the UK’s monthly and annual ‘car sales’ figures are concerned. Namely, that they don’t actually count the number of cars sold in the sense that many people might expect. The numbers provided by the SMMT are for car ‘registrations’ rather than being sales figures.
When customers buy a new car, it is registered before it can be driven on the road, but cars are also registered by manufacturers and dealers before they have a customer to go to.
This practice of processing pre-registered cars is done for various reasons, but often the goal is to move stock through the supply chain, avoiding bottlenecks or to hit targets. It means that a significant proportion of the cars in the figures could be pre-registered, and estimates of how many range between 10 and 20 per cent.
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