Top 10 best-selling cars in the UK

Top 10 best-selling cars in the UK in 2025

TL;DR: What is the best-selling car in the UK in 2025?

The Ford Puma was the UK’s best-selling car in 2025, with 55,488 registrations – its third consecutive year at the top.

The Kia Sportage came in second with 47,788, followed by the Nissan Qashqai in third with 41,141. Compact crossovers and family SUVs dominated the top 10, with the Volkswagen Golf and the Vauxhall Corsa the only traditional hatchbacks to feature.

Once again, the UK car market has delivered a year of genuinely interesting results

Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that new car registrations reached 2,020,520 in 2025 – a 3.5% increase on the 1,952,778 registered in 2024 – with drivers continuing to seek out affordable, practical, and increasingly electrified options.

Petrol remains the most popular fuel type, though its grip on the market is gradually loosening, with pure petrol cars slipping to below 50% of 2025’s new car registrations.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) continue to grow, with a combined market share of 48.4%. That’s two whole percentage points above pure petrol, and represents a combined growth of 7% from 2024.

And with the petrol and diesel ban on the horizon, that trajectory is only going one way.

So, which cars did the UK fall in love with in 2025?

Which models climbed the charts, which slipped, and which new names showed up to shake things up?

Here are the UK’s 10 best-selling cars of 2025 – and what they could mean for your next lease.

Ford Puma: 55,488 registrations

For the third year running, the Ford Puma is the UK’s best-selling car.

And the race wasn’t even close.

Registrations grew from 48,340 in 2024 to 55,488 in 2025, which tells you everything you need to know about how well Ford’s compact crossover has landed with British drivers.

Good looks, a clever boot with a large underfloor storage well, punchy mild-hybrid engines, and one of the more entertaining drives in its class.

It’s practical, it’s fun, and it leases well.

There’s not much more you could ask for from Britain’s favourite car.

Browse our latest Ford Puma lease deals

Kia Sportage: 47,788 registrations

Up from fourth place in 2024, the Kia Sportage has had a strong year.

What Car?’s Family SUV of the Year for 2026, the Sportage offers a spacious interior, large boot, comfortable ride, and a seven-year warranty that most rivals can’t match.

It’s well-priced for the class too, undercutting several direct competitors at entry level.

The hybrid version is the pick of the range – quieter, quicker, and more economical than the standard petrol.

And residual values tend to be strong, which makes it a solid leasing proposition and helps keep monthly costs competitive.

Browse our latest Kia Sportage lease deals

Nissan Qashqai: 41,141 registrations

The car that arguably started the family SUV craze is still very much in the thick of it.

The Nissan Qashqai slipped one place from 2024, but remains a firm UK favourite. It’s well-priced, refined, practical, and straightforward to live with – exactly what most buyers are looking for.

The e-Power hybrid variant is the standout of the range. The petrol engine acts purely as a generator, powering an electric motor, which delivers smooth, quiet performance without the need to plug in.

It’s not the most exciting drive in its class, and the boot is slightly smaller than some rivals.

But for everyday usability and value, the Qashqai remains a very easy car to recommend for a lease.

Browse our latest Nissan Qashqai lease deals

Vauxhall Corsa: 35,947 registrations

Back in the top five after a year outside it, the Vauxhall Corsa is proof that the humble supermini still has plenty of life left in it.

Sure, it’s not the absolute best car in its class – the VW Polo is more spacious, and the SEAT Ibiza more fun to drive – but the Corsa has always won on value, and that hasn’t changed.

It’s well-equipped from entry level, efficient, and competitively priced.

The hybrid variants offer strong fuel economy and a lower Benefit in Kind (BiK) tax rate, making them worth a look for company car drivers.

If you’re after something small that’ll keep more of your cash in your pocket, you can’t go far wrong with a Corsa.

Browse our latest Vauxhall Corsa lease deals

Nissan Juke: 34,773 registrations

The Nissan Juke has been turning heads since it launched – albeit not always for the right reasons – but the numbers don’t lie.

It’s slipped to fifth place this year, but the second-generation model is still a significant improvement on the original in almost every area that matters.

The interior is genuinely impressive for the class, the boot is a decent size, and the standard equipment list is generous from entry level.

For anyone who wants a compact SUV with real personality, the Juke remains a compelling option.

Browse our latest Nissan Juke lease deals

Volkswagen Golf: 32,478 registrations

Some things just endure.

The VW Golf has been a UK favourite across eight generations now, and the ninth isn’t showing any signs of breaking that streak.

It’s not the most practical family hatchback, nor the sharpest to drive. What it does offer is a well-judged balance of comfort, efficiency, and refinement that’s proven very hard to argue with over the decades.

The updated infotainment system addresses one of the previous model’s biggest criticisms, and the eHybrid PHEV is a strong option for company car drivers thanks to an impressive 73-mile electric range (WLTP Comb).

Sometimes, you just can’t beat the classics.

Browse our latest Volkswagen Golf lease deals

Volvo XC40: 30,404 registrations

The Volvo XC40 has quietly climbed from ninth in 2024 to seventh in 2025, and it’s a deserved rise.

A former What Car? Car of the Year, it remains one of the most convincing all-rounders in the premium family SUV segment. The interior quality is genuinely class-leading – it puts the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and VW Tiguan to shame on that score – and the ride comfort is among the best in class.

Strong residual values make it one of the more attractive options on a lease, with monthly costs that are competitive for a premium badge.

For comfort, quality, and kerb appeal? The Volvo XC40 is a winner.

Browse our latest Volvo XC40 lease deals

MG HS: 30,191 registrations

The MG HS is back for a second consecutive year in the top 10, and it’s not hard to see why it keeps showing up.

What Car?’s PHEV of the Year for 2025, the HS punches well above its price point.

The interior feels genuinely premium for the money, the plug-in hybrid variant has an electric-only range of around 74 miles (WLTP Comb) – comfortably ahead of most PHEV rivals – and the standard equipment list is generous from entry level.

The seven-year warranty is a strong selling point, too.

Go for the PHEV, and you have one of the best-value family SUVs on the market.

Browse our latest MG HS lease deals

Volkswagen Tiguan: 29,857 registrations

A new entry on the 2025 list, the third-generation VW Tiguan arrives with a fresh design, revised interior, and one of the biggest boots in the class – 652 litres with the rear seats up.

Which is, quite frankly, impressive.

The Tiguan is a polished, well-rounded family SUV. The ride and handling balance is well-judged, the interior is spacious front and rear, and the 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats are more versatile than most rivals.

The PHEV variant is the pick for company car drivers, with an official electric range of around 75 miles (WLTP Comb) and a fast 40kW charging capability.

For a car that does almost everything well without making a fuss about it, the Tiguan is a very easy thing to recommend.

Browse our latest Volkswagen Tiguan lease deals

Hyundai Tucson: 28,613 registrations

Dropping from seventh in 2024 to tenth in 2025, the Hyundai Tucson is still very much a top ten fixture – and with good reason.

It’s one of the most practical family SUVs on this list, with a boot of up to 620 litres, generous rear passenger space, and a 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench.

The hybrid and PHEV variants are smooth and well-suited to everyday driving, and Hyundai’s five-year/unlimited mileage warranty is one of the better coverage packages in the class.

A solid, dependable choice for families who need the space.

Browse our latest Hyundai Tucson lease deals

What does 2026 look like so far?

We’re only a few months into 2026, but the early SMMT data makes for interesting reading.

And one name in particular is turning heads.

The Ford Puma leads the year-to-date standings as expected, with the Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai, and Vauxhall Corsa all sitting comfortably in the top five.

But in second place, with 15,569 registrations by the end of March, sits the JAECOO 7 – a name that won’t be familiar to everyone, but probably should be.

JAECOO is a Chinese brand that launched in the UK in 2024, and the 7 is a compact SUV that’s found an audience quickly by offering strong specifications at a competitive price point.

In March alone it registered 10,064 units, more than any other car on sale that month.

Whether that momentum continues across the full year remains to be seen, but it’s a remarkable early showing from a brand that didn’t exist in the UK market two years ago.

Beyond the JAECOO story, the 2026 picture looks broadly familiar.

The Puma, Sportage, and Qashqai look well-placed to feature prominently again, and the Volvo XC40 is already sixth in the year-to-date standings. The MINI Cooper makes an appearance in the top ten, too, which could signal a stronger year ahead for the iconic British nameplate.

One to watch: The Tesla Model Y, which dropped off the 2025 top 10 entirely, reappears in ninth place in the March data.

It may yet have something to say about the full-year rankings.

Which of the UK’s best-selling cars can you lease?

The good news is that all the cars on this list are available to lease – and their popularity tends to work in your favour.

High-volume models attract competitive lease deals, and strong residual values on cars like the Kia Sportage and Volvo XC40 help keep monthly costs down.

Whether you’re after a practical family SUV, a refined hatchback, or something a little more left field, there’s likely something on this list that fits.