Best-selling cars in the UK: electric car sales continue to rise in January

It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of the Kia Sportage – in fact, we liked it so much we named it our Family SUV of the Year. Not only is it spacious and exceedingly practical, it also offers great value at a very reasonable price.

Our favourite engine is the 1.6-litre petrol, which is assisted by mild hybrid power to keep your fuel bills low. It pumps out 157bhp, and has more than enough oomph for everyday driving, so you won’t feel out of depth at motorway speeds.

Perhaps one of the reasons why the Sportage is so popular is its lofty driving position, which will please SUV fans. It’s also competitively priced, with mild hybrid models undercutting the likes of the Ford Kuga and Hyundai Tucson.

Our favourite version 1.6T GDi 3

List price £33,390
Target price £30,899
Target PCP NA

January sales 3476

Read our in-depth Kia Sportage review

 

The fact that the Qashqai is such a big seller shouldn’t come as a surprise – it practically launched the family SUV trend that has taken over the car industry, and it’s a main rival of the best-selling Kia Sportage.

Like with the Sportage, our favourite version comes assisted by mild hybrid technology to help keep your fuel bills low.

The Qashqai does everything you’d expect it to – it offers that fantastic driving position that SUV fans love, and it’s decently practical. Our recommended trim, N-Connecta, comes with plenty of kit, including 18in alloy wheels, a fully digital driver’s display and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Our favourite version 1.3 DiG-T MH N-Connecta

List price £32,305
Target price £26,476
Target PCP NA

January sales 3421

Read our in-depth Nissan Qashqai review

The Vauxhall Corsa has been a staple on the British market for years, and it can attribute its popularity to its sheer versatility. Indeed, there’s a version of the Corsa for everyone, thanks to its range of engines and trims that fit every budget and need.

You get a choice of both petrol and hybrid models with the Corsa, but for the more eco-conscious buyer, there’s also a fully electric model, aptly named the Vauxhall Corsa Electric. 

The Corsa comes with a decent amount of standard kit, including rear parking sensors, LED headlights and daytime running lights and a 10in touchscreen infotainment system. Although, while it’s a very competent small car, it doesn’t quite match up to rivals such as the Peugeot 208 and Seat Ibiza.

Our favourite version 1.2 Turbo 100 GS

List price £22,740
Target price £17,599
Target PCP NA

January sales 3379

Read our in-depth Vauxhall Corsa review

 

The VW Golf has a reputation of being the quintessential family car, and that’s because it strikes the perfect balance of comfort and practicality that makes it ideal for both long and short journeys.

It’s available with petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power, but the mid-range 1.5-litre petrol should serve the needs of most buyers. Company car drivers, however, might be tempted by the low tax advantages of the plug-in hybrid.

The Golf feels right at home around town, with light steering which can feel a bit flimsy on faster, twistier roads. You can remedy that with some of the higher trim levels, though, which offer a larger selection of driving modes.

Our favourite version 2.0 TSI 300 GTI Clubsport

List price £45,225
Target price £39,990
Target PCP NA

January sales 2614

Read our in-depth Volkswagen Golf review

Thanks to a recent refresh, the Peugeot 3008 certainly stands out from the crowd, combining a familiar SUV shape with sleek coupé features. These updates didn’t stop it from doing what it does best though, and it still benefits from generous boot space, even with its sloping roofline.

You can get the Peugeot 3008 with either mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid power. We haven’t yet tested the plug-in hybrid version, but the 134bhp 1.2-litre petrol engine in the mild hybrid provides effortless power, even if it isn’t the punchiest off the line. There’s also the all-electric e-3008.

When it comes to interior quality, the 3008 is a step above most of its competitors, with lots of soft-touch plastics, as well as trim finishers and fabric on the dashboard and doors. Its infotainment system is equipped with sharp graphics, but the many menus can be difficult to navigate.

Our favourite version 1.2 Hybrid 136 Allure

List price £35,350
Target price £29,950
Target PCP NA

January sales 2567

Read our in-depth Peugeot 3008 review

 

Like its bigger sibling, the Peugeot 2008 stands out with its classy interior and comfortable ride. That said, we find that the 2008 generally delivers on what it’s supposed to do, but other rivals such as the Ford Puma and Skoda Kamiq trump it in all-round capability.

The most popular engine – and our pick of the range – is the 129bhp 1.2 PureTech 130, offering flexible performance which won’t leave you feeling out of your depth. It’s available with both an automatic and manual gearbox, though we find that the automatic can be a bit iffy when you need a sudden turn of pace.

The 2008 offers a nice SUV-style driving position, with plenty of adjustment in the steering wheel and driver’s seat. If you want lumbar adjustment, though, you’ll have to splash out on a rather costly package.

Our favourite version 1.2 Puretech 130 Allure

List price £28,830
Target price £23,749
Target PCP NA

January sales 2478

Read our in-depth Peugeot 2008 review

 

As the most popular car of 2024 and a former What Car? Car of the Year, it comes as no surprise that the Ford Puma continues to sell in big numbers. In fact, we think it’s one of the best small SUVs on the market.

With fantastic agility and impressive pace, there aren’t many cars that provide a more enjoyable driving experience than the Puma. What’s more, all of its engines are assisted by mild hybrid technology to boost efficiency.

If comfort is a top priority, then you’ll be better off with a Skoda Kamiq or VW T-Roc, which are both fitted with softer suspension, but the Nissan Juke will jostle you round more. The Puma also benefits from a reasonably plush interior, and it offers practical boot space, too.

Our favourite version 1.0 Ecoboost mHEV 155 ST-Line

List price £28,050
Target price £26,380
Target PCP NA

January sales 2332

Read our in-depth Ford Puma review

If you want a reason to feel patriotic, then you might be pleased to hear that the Nissan Juke is one of two cars on this list manufactured here in the UK – the other being the Qashqai. And it follows in its larger sibling’s footsteps by setting the standard for many of the small SUVs we see today.

The Juke offers everything you’d expect it to: a lofty driving position and small, economical engines, all at an accessible price. Our favourite engine, the entry-level 112bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol, isn’t the fastest we’ve ever tested, but it pulls strongly enough and should prove pretty frugal.

That said, it’s not particularly comfortable to drive, and it doesn’t offer the same level of fun as the Ford Puma does. In fact, even the Skoda Kamiq and VW T-Roc are more composed. Where the Juke does excel is inside, where it’s easy to get comfortable behind the wheel and the lofty driving position gives a nice view of the road ahead.

Our favourite version 1.0 DiG-T 114 N-Connecta

List price £26,125

Target price £19,495

Target PCP NA

January sales 2320

 

Read our Nissan Juke review

Probably the MG HS’s most attractive trait is its extremely reasonable price. You’ll pay much less for an HS than most other rivals, with even the top-spec trim with a regular petrol engine undercutting both the entry-level Kia Sportage and cheapest Hyundai Tucson. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) – which we recently crowned our Plug-in Hybrid of the Year – is even more keenly priced, undercutting the likes of the Ford Kuga PHEV by thousands of pounds.

You do have to work the HS’s 1.5-litre petrol engine quite hard to get it up to speed, but it’s flexible enough for everyday driving. The PHEV, however, is quicker than most of its rivals, with a 0-62mph time of 6.8sec, and it can officially travel an impressive 75 miles on pure electric power.

You also get plenty of kit as standard with your HS, including 19in alloy wheels, keyless entry and start and cruise control.

Our favourite version 1.5 SE

List price £24,030

Target price £20,799

Target PCP NA

January sales 2148

Read our in-depth MG HS review

Like its stablemate, the MG ZS arguably owes much of its popularity to its extremely keen pricing. And despite the fact that it measures in at slightly longer than a Nissan Qashqai, it actually undercuts multiple small SUVs, including the Ford Puma and Peugeot 2008, on price.

Don’t be fooled by its inexpensive price, though, because the ZS offers some surprisingly nippy acceleration, with an official 0-62mph time of 8.7sec. It’s available exclusively as a hybrid, and pumps out 194bhp with the help of an electric motor, which keeps your fuel bills to a minimum.

The ZS also offers a plush interior, which feels even more upmarket than its closest rival, the Dacia Duster. That said, you might have to search elsewhere for a comfy driving position, as there’s a noticeable lack of adequate lower back support, and there’s not much adjustment with the steering wheel.

Our favourite version 1.5 VTi-TECH Excite

List price £20,835

Target price £18,531

Target PCP NA

January sales 2107

Read our in-depth MG ZS review

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