Last year was a positive one for the automotive industry, with the UK experiencing its best year for car sales since the pandemic.
More than 1.9 million new cars were registered – but one stood out among the rest. The Ford Puma was the best-selling car in the UK in 2023, becoming the first Ford to top the charts since the Ford Fiesta’s 12-year run ended in 2020.
It fought off stiff competition from the Nissan Qashqai, the Vauxhall Corsa and Volkswagen T-Roc to reach the summit.
However, the market looks like it could be even more hotly contested than ever before in 2024.
So, which cars are the top 10 best-sellers in the UK so far? See the year-to-date list below, starting from January 2024 and using data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Best-selling cars in the UK in 2024
1. Ford Puma – 26,374 units
Last year's best-selling car, the Ford Puma, is continuing its success in 2024. The crossover still impresses us, thanks to its fun driving dynamics and attractive pricing, and a fun-filled ST variant tops the range.
It may not be the Fiesta we all know and love, but it’s a good, capable alternative nonetheless. It even outsold the Transit and Transit Custom vans, which is no mean feat.
Read our Ford Puma review
2. Kia Sportage - 24,139 units
The Kia Sportage had a good year in 2023, finishing fourth in the UK sales charts. And it has had an even stronger showing in 2024 so far, hovering close to the very top of the table.
Consistency is key for this crossover, which entered its fifth generation at the tail end of 2022, sporting an eye-catching design, on-trend powertrains and compelling value for money.
Read our Kia Sportage review
3. Nissan Qashqai – 22,881 units
The Nissan Qashqai – the best-seller of 2022 – finished 2023 in second place, and it’s still hot on the heels of the Puma and the Kia Sportage midway through 2024.
The British-built crossover continues to appeal to buyers here with its excellent practicality. Its appeal has also no doubt been bolstered by the addition of electrified powertrains for its third generation.
Read our Nissan Qashqai review
4. Nissan Juke - 19,429 units
The Nissan Juke remains a popular car among UK buyers, having finished 2023 in eighth place. The crossover went on sale with a brand-new design in 2020. Then a facelifted version arrived in the middle of last year, along with hybrid power for the first time. A big sales jump in June enabled it to move up two places, from sixth to fourth.
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Are we buying purely on the best deals?, people could be buying a car just for transport,not particularly bothered what it looks like ( have we noticed that Battleship grey is thee colour just now?) or indeed if they like how it drives, if you knock of a sizeable discount you'll sell more, how much are punters prepared to pay these days?, or more like, can the afford to pay.
When Autocar write a new, updated article like this, why don't they start again with new comments? Its too much of a chore looking through all the old ones from previous articles.
So no exclusive EVs in the UK's YTD top 10 - and no Ford Focus despite two VAG hatchbacks and a BMW 1-Series appearing. Maybe that's why Ford is dropping it. It's interesting how the UK market is becoming mopre fragmented with lots of cars selling modest volumes rather than clear winners and losers of the past.
Nope, Focus isn't selling because the starting price for the sad as .... 1 litre is only 250 quid less than the much quicker BMW 1 series.