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Best-selling cars 2024: the UK’s top 10 most popular models

These are the country’s most popular cars of the year so far, but which is in pole position?

Just like the wider UK economy, the UK new car market has had a rocky time over recent years. It’s continuing to grow stronger in the face of these challenges however, with the past month being the strongest February for 20 years. 84,886 new cars hit the road in February 2024, which is a fourteen per cent year-on-year increase, and all the UK’s best-selling cars added significantly to their year-to-date totals.

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Many of the most popular new car models with UK buyers were available on enticing deals last month as dealerships cleared the way for brand-new ‘24’-plate stock from March 1st. It’s a time of year that can be great for car bargain hunters, but we would generally expect March to be even stronger so let’s see how that goes in the coming weeks.

It wasn’t all great news for carmakers, as private electric car sales continue to stall. Private buyers accounted for fewer than one in five of all battery-electric vehicles registered in February. Petrol remained the most popular fuel on the market, with a 56.5 per cent market share and our list of the top 10 best-selling cars for 2024 so far doesn’t include a single EV.

One brand which does have cause for celebration, though, is Ford. After a slightly shaky January, last year’s best-seller, the Ford Puma, has raced to the top of this year’s sales charts with 2,535 hitting the road in February alone.

Top 10 best-selling cars 2024

Without further ado, here are the UK’s official best-selling cars of 2024 so far, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

10. Nissan Juke - 3,860

Much like the larger Qashqai, the Nissan Juke enjoys a pretty constant stream of steady sales. This funky crossover is undoubtedly one of the more distinctive models in this area of the market, but it’s struggling to top the mighty Ford Puma when it comes to outright appeal. A new Nissan Juke is on the way with an all-electric power, but the brand is yet to confirm when this will arrive. 

9. Volkswagen T-Roc - 4,152

Many people see the Volkswagen Golf as a staple of the hatchback world but, in today’s market, many buyers prefer SUVs. This is where the T-Roc comes in, this compact SUV shares the same underpinnings as the Golf, so owners essentially get the best of both worlds. It’s still good to drive and running costs are reasonable, but it has more presence on the road and there’s more room inside.

8. Audi A3 - 4,483

Hot on the heels of its arch-rival, the BMW 1 Series, the  Audi A3’s popularity is further evidence that UK buyers are still big fans of the big three German premium brands. The A3 isn’t quite as much fun to drive as the 1 Series, but it boasts a plush interior that’s filled with the brand’s latest technology. It’s well suited to use as a family car, too.

7. MG HS - 4,568

After a brief stint as the UK’s best-selling car in January 2023, the MG HS is still doing its part to bring the iconic octagonal badge back into the mainstream. This family-oriented SUV is one of the older members of MG’s line-up, but it still carries a starting price that’s far lower than most of the competition at just £23,995. It’s a hit with budget-conscious buyers as a result. 

6. Volkswagen Golf - 4,659

The latest Volkswagen Golf has been met with its fair share of criticism, with VW customers being deterred by oversights such as an infuriating lack of physical controls and backlighting. However, the latest iteration of VW’s staple hatchback is still holding its own in the sales charts, and the brand intends to right many of the wrongs with the updated Mk8.5 model.

5. MINI - 4,907

An all-new model is imminent, but buyers are still snapping up the existing MINI in droves. It’s a well-built car that offers plenty of the retro charm of the original, as well as the affordability, but it’s been a while since we’ve seen a MINI at the top end of this list. Perhaps the new version will be the car to change that.

4. BMW 1 Series - 5,019

This list may be heavily populated with SUVs, but there’s still room for a premium hatchback. The BMW 1 Series offers all of the driver engagement and quality that you’d expect, but wraps it up in a more compact yet highly practical body. It’s pretty easy to see why it’s proving so popular. 

3. Nissan Qashqai - 5,624

2022’s British-built best-seller is still a firm favourite, even though it's no longer top-dog. Just like the Ford Puma, the Nissan Qashqai is set to gain an all-electric variant very soon, so this could bring in swathes of buyers who are searching for a zero-emission family car. The electric SUV competition is fierce, though, so Nissan will need to get the price just right.

2. Kia Sportage - 6,187

The fifth-generation Kia Sportage has been a regular sight on this list since it launched in 2021, and it seems that it’s only increasing in popularity. With its distinctive styling, technology that’s bang up-to-date and overall quality feel, the latest Sportage is worlds apart from its predecessors. In fact, we think it’s one of the best mid-size SUVs to buy right now.

1. Ford Puma - 6,736

2023’s best-selling car is off to a flying start this year, too. Although it fell short of the Kia Sportage in January, a highly successful February has pushed the Ford Puma back into pole position in the 2024 sales charts. This sporty small SUV is based on the same underpinnings as the now-defunct Fiesta supermini, so many buyers could be flocking to this model as the closest alternative. An all-electric version is also set to arrive later this year, which could bring in yet another sales boost.

The UK’s best-selling cars 2024

  1. Ford Puma
  2. Kia Sportage
  3. Nissan Qashqai
  4. BMW 1 Series
  5. MINI
  6. Volkswagen Golf
  7. MG HS
  8. Audi A3
  9. Volkswagen T-Roc
  10. Nissan Juke

Sales vs registrations: inside the numbers

There’s an important distinction to be made where the UK’s monthly and annual car sales numbers are concerned. Namely, that they don’t actually count the number of cars sold in the sense that many people might imagine. 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 ‘sales’ figures could be pre-registered and estimates range from between 10 and 20 per cent.

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Shane is responsible for looking after the day-to-day running of the Auto Express website and social media channels. Prior to joining Auto Express in 2021, he worked as a radio producer and presenter for outlets such as the BBC.

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