Last year in 2024, the Kia Sportage was the UK’s second-best-selling car, trailing the Ford Puma, but so far in 2025, the big Kia is leading the pack. It’s closely followed by the Nissan Qashqai, which placed third in 2024, with the Puma dropping down to seventh place so far in 2025.
In this guide, we give you a detailed breakdown of the top 10 best-selling models on the new car market so far in 2025.
The 10 Bestselling New Cars in 2025
- 1. Kia Sportage
- 2. Nissan Qashqai
- 3. Vauxhall Corsa
- 4. Volkswagen Golf
- 5. Peugeot 3008
- 6. Peugeot 2008
- 7. Ford Puma
- 8. Nissan Juke
- 9. MG HS
- 10. MG ZS
- The new car market so far in 2025
1. Kia Sportage
Registrations in 2025: 3,476
The Sportage finished fourth on the list of best-sellers in 2023, and climbed up to second place in 2024, but so far in 2025, it’s going one better in top-spot. And it's no wonder. It comes with extrovert styling and the option of plug-in or full hybrid variants, on top of more conventional petrol engines. Inside, the Sportage is smart, too, with glossy materials, clever design touches and a slick infotainment system. As you’d expect, there’s plenty of space and practicality on offer, too.
Kia Sportage Mk5 Review
2. Nissan Qashqai
Registrations in 2025: 3,421
The Qashqai topped the best-sellers list outright in 2022, and with second-place and third-place finishes in 2023 and 2024, respectively, it has maintained an impressively strong performance over a number of years. And that’s continuing so far in 2025, because it’s currently tracking second in the list of best-sellers. No wonder it’s been so successful; the Qashqai is just the right size to make it perfect for most British families, and its range of engines and trims ensures broad appeal.
Nissan Qashqai Review
3. Vauxhall Corsa
Registrations in 2025: 3,379
The Vauxhall Corsa’s sales performance has been rather up-and-down in recent years, but it usually features somewhere on this list, and at the moment, it’s very much up, currently placing in third. This perennial favourite is one of the most recognisable names in motoring, and the latest incarnation of the Corsa combines good looks, impressive quality and strong value for money. No wonder it remains popular.
Vauxhall Corsa Review
4. Volkswagen Golf
Registrations in 2025: 2,614
The Volkswagen Golf has been plying its trade for many decades now, and for a good proportion of that time, it's featured somewhere in the list of the UK's top 10 best-sellers. The latest Mk8 version arrived in 2020, and was revised in 2024 to keep it competitive with newer rivals. It provides the same enjoyable-but-sensible driving experience that the Golf always has, along with competitive practicality, exemplary quality and a fair amount of technology. No wonder it's as popular as ever.
Volkswagen Golf Review
5. Peugeot 3008
Registrations in 2025: 2,567
The Peugeot 3008 has been a stylish choice in the family SUV sector for a number of years now, thanks to sharp looks and a posh-feeling interior, but the latest version of the car, released in 2024, takes that appeal to new heights. It looks truly fabulous inside and out, and it also comes with a spacious and versatile cabin and stacks of standard luxury equipment. And the car’s appearance on this list is proof that buyers clearly value its charms.
Peugeot 3008 Review
6. Peugeot 2008
Registrations in 2025: 2,478
A second entry on our list for Peugeot in quick succession, showing that the French firm is doing a great job of giving the UK’s car buyers what they want. This compact supermini-sized SUV may be small in stature, but it’s big on appeal, with smart looks, a comfortable ride and a nicely finished interior. A variety of powertrain options are available, including an all-electric version, so there should be a 2008 to suit every taste.
Peugeot 2008 Review
7. Ford Puma
Registrations in 2025: 2,332
The Puma is Ford's de rigueur small SUV, and since the untimely demise of the company's previous best-seller, the Fiesta supermini, it's ably taken on the mantle as the company's most popular model. Buyers clearly value its blend of involving driving dynamics, a high driving position, good fuel economy from its mild-hybrid engines, and a clever boot with an extra waterproof compartment - the Megabox - beneath the floor.
Ford Puma Review
8. Nissan Juke
Registrations in 2025: 2,320
The original Nissan Juke was one of the very first supermini-based crossovers, and as such it set the tone for what has become a hugely popular segment of the market. The latest model moves the game on in every area. Of particular note is that it maintains the Juke's distinctive styling while adding more powertrain options, including a self-charging hybrid.
Nissan Juke Review
9. MG HS
Registrations in 2025: 2,148
MG has been resurgent in recent years, thanks largely to the dedicated following it's managed to develop for its portfolio of impressive electric cars. That being the case, it might be something of a surprise to see the HS on this list rather than one of the EVs, but it really shouldn't be. There's a plug-in hybrid version on offer for those who aren't quite ready to take the plunge on a full EV, and with aggressive prices and a heaving list of standard luxury and safety equipment, the HS is sensational value for money.
MG HS Review
10. MG ZS
Registrations in 2025: 2,107
The last-generation ZS was arguably the car that made UK buyers start taking the reborn MG brand seriously, and the latest version of the car makes it even clearer that the Chinese-owned marque is not messing about. This is a really convincing compact SUV, with a roomy interior, lots of equipment, impressive quality and an economical self-charging hybrid system, and it all comes at a very tempting price. Expect to see more of MG on this list in the future.
MG ZS Review
The new car market so far in 2025
According to monthly year-to-date figures from the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders), a total of 139,345 new cars have been registered so far in 2025, which is -2.5% down on 2024’s equivalent figure of 142,876.
Sales of diesel cars continue to dwindle, those numbers being -7.7% down on 2024, but most other types of car are on the rise. Petrol remained the dominant fuel type with 50.3% of the market, followed by battery electric cars with 21.3% of the market. Self-charging hybrids come next with 13.2%. Plug-in hybrids follow with 9.0% of the market, with diesel bringing up the rear with 6.2%.
Fleet cars made up the majority of new registrations in the UK with 62.4% of the market in January 2025, and only 35.9% of the UK’s new cars were bought privately.
In terms of how the various manufacturers are doing so far in 2025, here are the top 10 car-makers in terms of overall sales for the year.
- Volkswagen - 13,565
- Kia - 10,813
- BMW - 9,265
- Peugeot - 8,096
- Nissan - 7,129
- Vauxhall - 7,084
- Ford - 6,636
- Audi - 6,433
- Mercedes-Benz - 6,361
- Hyundai - 6,332
