The UK car market is finally shaking off the supply chain chaos of the last few years, and the latest sales figures show a big change in what we’re actually choosing to put on our driveways.
While the Ford Puma has clawed its way back to the top spot, its lead isn’t as safe as it used to be, especially with a fresh wave of electric models and practical SUVs nipping at its heels. It’s a weird time for British motorists in that we’re stuck between the old reliable petrol engines and a growing pressure to go green, and the top 10 list reflects that exact tug-of-war.
From surprisingly affordable newcomers to the luxury regulars that refuse to budge, these are the models that are currently dominating the motorways. If you’re thinking about changing your car this year, these 10 picks are the ones setting the pace for everything from fuel efficiency to tech.
What’s been going on with car sales
New car sales spiked by 24 per cent in April, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, with a total of 149,247 new cars registered across the month. It’s a strong month for an industry that’s been navigating quite a lot of change recently, including the rapid rise of Chinese brands in the UK market and the steady push towards electric vehicles.
April also marked another notable milestone, with the UK passing the two millionth electric vehicle registration. Behind all those numbers, though, the most interesting story is which models people actually chose, and how the rankings changed from March.
The Ford Puma clawed back the top spot.
The Ford Puma is back at number one, with 4,211 sales in April. It’s a model that’s been quietly dominating UK sales charts for years, and despite a brief loss of the top spot in March, it’s reasserted itself with a strong lead over everything else on the list. The Puma’s appeal is fairly simple.
It’s a small SUV that doesn’t feel too big for British roads, has decent practicality, isn’t too expensive to run, and looks tidy enough that buyers don’t feel like they’ve compromised. It’s the kind of car that doesn’t try too hard to impress and ends up being chosen because it ticks every box without making a fuss about it.
The Kia Sportage is in second place.
The Kia Sportage took second with 3,645 sales, which is a respectable showing for what’s become one of the most popular family SUVs on UK roads. The Sportage has been a consistent presence in the top ten for years, and its appeal lies in offering proper SUV space and a long warranty without the eye-watering price tag of a German equivalent.
Recent updates to the styling and the option of hybrid versions have kept it competitive in a crowded segment, and April’s numbers suggest it’s still firmly on the shopping list of British families looking for something practical and well-equipped.
The Nissan Qashqai came in third.
The Nissan Qashqai rounded out the podium with 2,846 sales. The Qashqai practically invented the family crossover segment when it first launched, and even with a lot more competition around now, it remains a default choice for a huge number of buyers.
It’s built in Sunderland, too, which gives it a small but meaningful boost with people who care about buying British. The Qashqai’s continuing strength on the sales charts is a sign that, despite the influx of new brands and new models, plenty of buyers still go with what they know.
The Volkswagen Golf and the Mini Cooper are also on the list.
The Volkswagen Golf took fourth place with 2,845 sales, just one behind the Qashqai. The Golf has been a fixture of British driveways for decades and continues to attract a particular kind of buyer who wants something well-built, refined, and quietly classy without going full luxury.
The Mini Cooper followed in fifth with 2,577 sales, which says a lot about how much love there still is for the brand, even as it has moved further into electric and crossover territory. The Mini still does what it’s always done, which is sell on character and design rather than on raw practicality.
The rise of the Chinese brands can’t be ignored.
Sixth place went to the Omoda 5 with 2,308 sales, which is another genuinely interesting result. The Omoda 5 is a Chinese-built SUV that only entered the UK market in 2024, and it’s already comfortably outselling plenty of long-established European models. It sits under the wider Chery umbrella alongside the Jaecoo 7, which had a remarkable debut in March when it briefly took the number one spot.
The Jaecoo 7 came tenth in April with 2,099 sales, which is a sharp drop from its peak but still puts it firmly in the top ten. Between them, the two Chery brands are showing that Chinese carmakers aren’t just turning up in the UK, they’re seriously competing for top sales positions.
Vauxhall, Volkswagen, and MG are in the lower half.
The Vauxhall Corsa took seventh with 2,236 sales, holding its place as one of the most popular small cars in the UK. The Volkswagen Tiguan followed in eighth with 2,234 sales, just behind the Corsa, which is impressive for a larger and pricier SUV. The MG HS took ninth with 2,146 sales, continuing the strong run of MG-branded cars in the UK market.
MG has been one of the success stories of the past few years, with its mix of competitive pricing, generous equipment, and a familiar British badge winning over buyers who might otherwise have gone for a Korean or German option.
What the chart actually tells us
Looking at April’s top ten as a whole, a few things stand out. SUVs and crossovers dominate the list, with the smaller hatchbacks and the Mini being the only real exceptions. Chinese brands are no longer outsiders looking in, they’re proper contenders, with two models in the top ten and clearly more on the way.
The traditional European and Korean names are still strong, but they’re being challenged in ways they weren’t even two or three years ago. And the Ford Puma, despite all the new arrivals and changing trends, remains the car people keep picking when they walk into a showroom and try to decide what to buy.
April’s results suggest the UK car market is in a really interesting moment. Sales are up, the chart has more variety than it did a few years ago, and the gap between established brands and newer arrivals is closing fast. Whether the Ford Puma can hold its lead through the rest of the year, or whether one of the Chinese newcomers will pull off another shock month, will be worth keeping an eye on as the year goes on.
