Best-selling cars in the UK: new car sales fall in October
The number of new cars registered last month was down compared with October 2023, but the best-selling models still left showrooms in their thousands – what were they?...
The number of new cars sold in the UK in October fell compared with the same month last year, new figures have revealed.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveals that a total of 144,288 new cars were registered last month – 6% down on October 2023.
While sales from company car fleets and businesses helped to drive growth in the new car market in September, both sectors slowed in October, declining by 1.7% and 12.8% respectively. Sales from private buyers continued to dwindle, too, accounting for just 38.8% of the market share.
The only vehicle type that recorded growth in October was fully electric cars, which were up 24.5% to account for 20.7% of the market – meaning one-in-five new cars sold in October was fully electric.
The recent Government budget has re-confirmed the ban on new petrol and diesel car sales as being introduced from 2030. This, along with a gradual hike in the road taxes for hybrid and combustion-engined cars, and the ZEV mandate, which requires car makers to sell a certain percentage of electric cars in the years leading up to 2030, is expected to continue to fuel electric car growth.
Despite this, petrol cars remained the go-to fuel choice for the majority of buyers in October, with 55.2% of the market share. Meanwhile, diesel sales fell by 20.5% compared with last year, with just 8961 being registered.
But which models were the biggest sellers in October? Below we've listed the top 10. And if you like the look of any of them, just follow the links to read more or see how much you can save with our New Car Deals service.
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here
Our pick: 1.6T GDi 157 48V ISG 3 5dr
Strengths
- Lower-spec models are great value
- Smart interior
- Generous rear leg room and boot space
Weaknesses
- Rear head room compromised with panoramic roof
- No clever rear seat functions
The Kia Sportage is a standout car not just for its popularity – it's also our reigning Family SUV of the Year. It does everything a family SUV needs to do: it's spacious enough for all types of passengers, it's exceedingly practical and our recommended 1.6-litre engine is equally as powerful as it is frugal.
Its interior also impresses, with quality materials that feel more plush than those in the closely-related Hyundai Tucson, and a lofty driving positions that will please SUV fans.
While it's slightly more expensive than the Tucson to buy, the Sportage is still temptingly priced, although we'd recommend splashing out a bit more on the 3 trim to benefit from some useful extras, such as heated front seats and keyless start.
Our favourite version 1.6T GDi 157 48V ISG 3
List price £29,390
Target price £25,730
Target PCP NA
October sales 4533
Read our in-depth Kia Sportage review
Strengths
- Great fun to drive
- Remarkable blend of performance and fuel economy
- Big and cleverly designed boot
Weaknesses
- Rear space is adequate rather than outstanding
- Visibility could be better
- Volkswagen T-Roc is more comfortable and quieter
A former What Car? Car of the Year, the Ford Puma excels as one of the best small SUVs on the market, and despite having since been usurped by the rival Lexus LBX, it should still put a smile on your face.
It's exceedingly fun to drive, with fantastic agility particularly when you opt for a sporty ST-Line version, and responsive steering that helps you zip nimbly around both open and urban roads.
It also offers a reasonably plush interior, although it feels slightly less upmarket than the rival Volkswagen T-Roc, and visibility isn't the best with certain driving positions, due to the aggressively angled front pillars. However, it is practical, with a large boot that has a height-adjustable floor, making for even more storage space.
Our favourite version 1.0 Ecoboost mHEV 155 ST-Line
List price £26,350
Target price £24,299
Target PCP NA
October sales 3521
Read our in-depth Ford Puma review
Our pick: 1.5 C Classic 3dr Auto
Strengths
- Stylish interior
- Lots of performance
- Nippy around town
Weaknesses
- Ride is on the firm side
- One of the least practical small cars
- A fair bit of wind and road noise
It's no surprise that the Mini Cooper is one of the best-selling new cars in the country – its English heritage and cameos in the likes of The Italian Job and the Bourne Identity have driven its popularity to the point of icon status.
Our pick of the range is the entry-level 154bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, which delivers remarkably feisty power for a small car, completing the 0-62mph sprint in just 7.7 seconds. It's agile and darty around town, but you'll find that the rival VW Polo, which was the UK's 7th best-selling car in September, won't jostle you around as much.
One of the Mini Cooper's biggest strengths is its modern, stylish interior, which is certainly a step above rivals such as the Fiat 500 Hybrid when it comes to quality.
Our favourite version 1.5 C Classic 3dr Auto
List price £23,150
Target price £22,750
Target PCP £225
October sales 2921
Read our in-depth Mini Cooper Review
Our pick: 2.0 B3P Plus Dark 5dr Auto
Strengths
- Stylish and high-quality interior
- Comfortable ride on most versions
- Comprehensive safety kit
Weaknesses
- Lacks the rear-seat flexibility of some rivals
- Fairly small infotainment screen
- Some road noise on the motorway
The Volvo XC40 occupies a well-deserved spot on this list. Not only is it a former What Car? Car of the Year, but it's also one of the best family SUVs you can buy.
The XC40 strikes the perfect balance of practicality, style and safety, all in one compact package that keeps it simple to drive on congested city streets. Our pick of the range, the B3 engine, is sprightly enough for most buyers, and is assisted by mid-hybrid technology which will keep running costs low.
While not quite as fun to drive as the Cupra Formentor or Ford Kuga, the XC40 doesn't scrimp on comfort, with a wide range of front-seat adjustment and plenty of rear space even for tall passengers. It also has a decently large square-shaped boot space which makes packing super easy, and it comes with plenty of standard kit.
Our favourite version 2.0 B3P Plus Dark 5dr Auto
List price £36,310
Target price £35,254
Target PCP £343
October sales 2675
Read our in-depth Volvo XC40 review
Strengths
- Well-judged ride and handling balance
- Has a large boot and great seating flexibility
- Roomier than many rivals
Weaknesses
- Higher trims have to contend with upmarket rivals
- Option packs drive up the price
- Slightly coarse 1.5-litre petrol engine
It's difficult to stand out in the competitive family SUV market, but the Tiguan does so by separating the mass-market options like the Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq, and more premium models like the BMW X1 and the Volvo XC40.
The Tiguan is enjoyable to drive – it's well controlled and comfortable, delivering an even smoother ride than the X1, and our recommended 1.5-litre mild hybrid petrol engine will outrun the equivalent XC40 to motorway speeds.
It's also one of the roomier cars in its class, not just in terms of passenger space but also boot space, which was big enough to swallow nine carry-on suitcases in our tests – two more than an XC40.
Our favourite version 1.5 TSI 150 Match
List price £34,085
Target price £31,995
Target PCP £317
October sales 2477
Read our in-depth Volkswagen Tiguan review
Our pick: 2.5 FHEV ST-Line 5dr CVT
Strengths
- Good to drive
- Spacious in the back
- Well equipped
Weaknesses
- Interior quality doesn’t impress
- Relatively small boot
- Busy low-speed ride on ST-Line trims
It's possible that the Ford Kuga owes its popularity to the sheer amount of choice it offers – it's available with petrol, regular hybrid and plug-in hybrid power, as well as a huge variety of trim levels, meaning that there's something for almost everyone.
While the plug-in hybrid version is a popular choice for company car drivers thanks to its low CO2 emissions, our favourite is the 2.5-litre hybrid. It can travel short distances on purely electric power, plus it can tow up to 2100kg – enough for a good-sized caravan.
Inside, SUV fans will love the lofty driving position, although forward visibility is a little restricted by the wide front pillars. There's plenty of space for passengers, though, and the Kuga one of the more spacious family SUVs available in the UK.
Our favourite version 2.5 FHEV
List price £32,895
Target price £29,308
Target PCP £273
October sales 2428
Read our in-depth Ford Kuga review
Our pick: 1.5 Hybrid Design 5dr CVT
Strengths
- Excellent real-world fuel economy
- Toyota's reliability record
- Slow predicted depreciation
Weaknesses
- Firm ride, especially on higher-spec models with bigger wheels
- Poor rear passenger space
- So-so interior quality
The Yaris is an ideal choice if you're struggling to make the leap from petrol to electric power. That's because the Yaris is a hybrid, meaning it can travel short, low-speed distances on electricity alone, which helps to keep your running costs exceedingly low.
On top of that, Toyota has an excellent reliability record which means you hopefully won't have to spend too much on repairs.
The Yaris isn't the most fun small car to drive, mind – it outdoes the rival Honda Jazz, but you'll get more enjoyment out of a Renault Clio or Seat Ibiza. It's also not overly spacious, but it has a solid interior that feels more plush than that of the Hyundai i20.
Our favourite version 1.5 Hybrid Design 5dr CVT
List price £22,640
Target price £21,000
Target PCP £246
October sales 2369
Read our in-depth Toyota Yaris review
Strengths
- Lots of standard safety kit
- Great driving position
- Smart interior
Weaknesses
- So-so performance
- Some rivals are more fun to drive
- Lacks the seating flexibility of many rivals
The Nissan Qashqai is often credited with being a trailblazer in the family SUV class, with most brands following its lead to produce a rival model. The latest version does everything you'd expect it to do, combining practicality with some efficient engine options.
Our favourite is the entry-level 1.3-litre petrol, which is assisted by mild-hybrid power to help lower your fuel bills.
We'd recommend teaming that with N-Connecta trim, which comes with lots of useful kit – including 18in alloy wheels, a fully digital driver display and a leather-wrapped steering wheel – at a very reasonable price.
Our favourite version 1.3 DiG-T MH N-Connecta 5dr
List price £27,135
Target price £25,566
Target PCP £264
October sales 2348
Read our in-depth Nissan Qashqai review
Strengths
- Cheap yet very well equipped
- Plush interior for the price
- PHEV has impressive official EV range
Weaknesses
- Compromised visibility at junctions
- Coarse engine
- Reliability record could be better
The original HS was a hit with buyers when it hit the market, and the latest version is just as popular, and for good reason – it's extremely reasonably priced.
There's an awful lot to like about the HS. It's available as both a petrol-powered version and a plug-in hybrid, and while the PHEV has an impressive electric range, we find that the petrol version offers the best value for money. The entry-level SE trim offers plenty of kit as standard, including 19in alloy wheels, keyless entry and start and cruise control.
Inside, tall passengers will have no issues stretching out, although the rival Honda CR-V is roomier. There's 507 litres of boot space, which is decent but it's not quite as much as other rivals in its class, such as the 562 litres offered by the Kia Sportage.
Our favourite version
List price £24,030
Target price £20,799
Target PCP NA
October sales 2299
Read our in-depth MG HS review
Strengths
- Very comfortable for a small car
- Smart and high-quality interior
- Punchy and frugal 1.2 Puretech 100 petrol engine
Weaknesses
- Steering wheel design can cause issues
- So-so infotainment system
- Rivals are more fun to drive
The Peugeot 208 is one of the best small cars you can buy in the UK, thanks to its comfortable ride, fantastic quality interior and punchy engine.
You'll have fun driving the 208 when you opt for our recommended 99bhp PureTech 100 engine, which pulls from low revs and will whisk you up to speed on motorways and open roads without fuss. It's also gentler than even an Audi A1 or VW Polo, with an impressively smooth drive.
However, visibility isn't the best, since it's slightly hindered intrusive windscreen pillars, and while the interior feels super upmarket, the infotainment could be more responsive.
Our favourite version 1.2 Puretech 100 Allure
List price £23,710
Target price £18,424
Target PCP NA
October sales 2267
Read our in-depth Peugeot 208 review
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here
