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)
2026 is well underway, but plenty of car brands are already setting their sights on the coveted title of Britain’s best-selling car, and you can see just how fierce the competition is below.
Unsurprisingly, cars like the Ford Puma and Kia Sportage have started this year off in a similar fashion to how they ended 2025: near the top of the charts. But Chinese cars like the MG HS, and most notably, the Jaecoo 7, are mounting a serious challenge for the top-spots by racking-up big sales numbers over the first three months of 2026.
While the year is still young, it’s clear that SUVs continue to be 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 are a top choice with new car buyers.
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How did the new car market perform in March 2026?
In March 2026, a total of 380,627 new cars hit the road, with the new car market growing by a whopping 6.6 per cent compared to March 2025. This marked the best March performance since 2019.
Electrified vehicles (Battery Electric Vehicles, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars) have enjoyed their best month on record, increasing their market share for the year to a combined 51.4 per cent. This is up from 44.7 per cent in March 2025.
Petrol remains a very popular fuel choice, taking up a share of 43.6 per cent, while diesel sat at a 4.9 per cent market share. It remains to be seen how external factors such as the Iran war and rising fuel prices impact the demand for new petrol and diesel cars in April and beyond.
Best-selling cars in March
The Jaecoo 7 was the best-selling car in March, with a total of 10,064 models being registered. This Chinese car is becoming increasingly popular with UK buyers thanks to its competitive pricing and generous equipment list as standard.
The Ford Puma came home in second place with 9,193 registrations, while the hugely-popular Nissan Qashqai completed the top-three with 8,718 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 - 16,128
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 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.
2. Jaecoo 7 - 15,569
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 just over £30,000.
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.
3. Kia Sportage - 14,190
Having just missed out on the overall best-seller crown in both 2024 and 2025, the Kia Sportage is off to a very strong start in 2026 and is well-within striking distance of both the Jaecoo 7 and Ford Puma.
The fifth-generation Sportage has been around since 2021, although a facelift in 2024 has helped keep this mid-size SUV fresh. Its eye-catching looks, comfortable ride and attractive seven-year/100,000-mile warranty are clearly a hit with the car buyers.
4. Nissan Qashqai - 12,853
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 - 10,552
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 £20,000, it’s great value too.
6. Volvo XC40 - 9,288
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.
7. Volkswagen Golf - 9,176
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.
8. MG HS - 9,147
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 MG’s long seven-year/80,000-mile warranty.
9. Nissan Juke - 8,512
The quirky Nissan Juke has been a sales success for Nissan and it doesn’t look like this will change anytime soon.
The second-generation Juke has been on sale since 2019, but a mid-life facelift in 2024 has helped this small SUV keep pace with rivals. Nissan didn’t change the formula too much as it’s still great to drive, and as practical as ever but the infotainment system is much more intuitive to use.
10. MINI Cooper - 8,109
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 around £25,500. 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.
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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