Best-selling cars in the UK: company car fleets drive record EV demand in 2024
Was it a hybrid SUV, a petrol-powered small car or perhaps an electric car which was the UK's best-selling model in 2024? The answer might surprise you...
The number of new cars sold in the UK in 2024 was up by 2.6% on the previous year – but the growth came almost entirely from company car fleets and businesses rather than from private buyers.
New data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reveals that of the 1,952,778 new cars registered in the previous 12 months, 14.9% went to fleets or businesses, with the former recording growth of 11.8% over 2023's numbers. Sales to private car buyers, meanwhile, were down by 8.7% compared with 2023.
That falling demand from private buyers has been blamed on the need to sell more electric cars. Car makers face fines of up to £15,000 per car if they don't sell a certain percentage of fully electric cars as part of the Zero-Emission Vehicle mandate. That figure was 22% of each manufacturer's total sales in 2024, and rises to 28% in 2025.
While company car fleets and businesses have been able to go green, buoyed by tax incentives, there has been a lack of demand from private buyers. The figures reveal that while one-in-five new cars sold in 2024 were fully electric, only one-in-ten private buyers chose an EV.
The Government may soon step in to help car makers, however, with business secretary Jonathan Reynolds telling a recent motor industry event that targets may be lowered in the short term, and noting that "the EV policies we inherited clearly aren't working as envisaged".
Elsewhere, demand for petrol and diesel-powered cars, including mild hybrids, fell by 4.4% and 13.6% respectively on the previous year. Despite that, cars powered by petrol still took the lion's share of sales, representing 52.2% of the total for 2024, while diesel cars accounted for just 6.3% – down from 7.5% in 2023. To put those numbers into context, more buyers chose a plug-in hybrid car in 2024 than a diesel car.
But which models were the biggest sellers across the year? 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.
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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 £28,050
Target price £26,380
Target PCP NA
2024 sales 48,340
Read our in-depth Ford Puma review
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 3
List price £32,890
Target price £31,660
Target PCP NA
2024 sales 47,163
Read our in-depth Kia Sportage 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
List price £32,315
Target price £27,095
Target PCP NA
2024 sales 42,418
Read our in-depth Nissan Qashqai review
Our pick: 1.0 DiG-T N-Connecta 5dr
Strengths
- Smart interior
- Good safety rating
- Lots of toys on our recommended trim
Weaknesses
- Choppy ride
- Slightly claustrophobic in the rear seats
- Disappointing fuel efficiency on hybrid version
Just like the larger Nissan Qashqai did for family SUVs, the Nissan Juke has set the formula for many of the small SUVs we see today – namely offering smaller engines in a practical package, but with the high-set driving positions and easy access which SUV buyers love.
Our favourite Juke engine is also the cheapest option in the range, the 112bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol. It's not especially quick – the 0-60mph sprint took 11.7sec in our tests, which is slower than rivals – but it pulls strongly enough for most situations and should be cheap to run.
That being said, the Ford Puma, with its fuel-saving mild hybrid technology, should cost you even less in fuel. There is a full Juke hybrid, which features an electric motor and petrol engine, but it's rather expensive.
Interior quality has taken a huge leap forward in the latest Juke compared with earlier models, and while not up to the standard of the Audi Q2, it still impresses, with most surfaces coated in fancy materials, and everything feeling built to last. Your family will have a reasonable amount of room to stretch out on the Juke's rear bench, and you can get almost as much luggage into the boot as you can into the larger Qashqai.
Our favourite version 1.0 DiG-T 114 N-Connecta
List price £26,125
Target price £19,495
Target PCP NA
2024 sales 34,454
Read our Nissan Juke review
Strengths
- Rapid acceleration
- Long range between charges
- Tesla’s charging infrastructure
Weaknesses
- Unsettled ride
- Noisy for an electric car
- A Model 3 is cheaper and better to drive
Think of the Tesla Model Y as being a Tesla Model 3 on stilts, distilling everything that's great about that car into a more practical, family friendly package, and you won't be far wrong.
While the Model Y can't match the Model 3's rapid performance because of its extra weight, it still doesn't feel slow. In fact, the Long Range version managed to blast from 0-60mph in 4.8sec in our tests, while the range-topping Performance model dropped that time to 3.5sec – that's faster than any version of the rival Audi Q4 e-tron can manage, and a match for the Kia EV6 GT.
Range is a strength of every Model Y, and our recommended Long Range models can officially take you up to 331 miles according to official figures – that figure fell to a still respectable 277 miles in real-world conditions. Ride comfort could use some work, however, and the Model Y jostles you around in your seat while you're driving along. Road noise is also more noticable than in rival electric SUVs.
The Model Y has the same minimalist interior as the Model 3, and offers lots of room in both the front and rear seats for your family to stretch out. Plus, we managed to fit 10 carry-on suitcases on board the Model Y.
Our favourite version Long Range
List price £46,990
Target price £46,990
Target PCP NA
2024 sales 32,862
Read our in-depth Tesla Model Y review
Our pick: 2.0 TSI 300 GTI Clubsport 5dr DSG
Strengths
- Exceedingly comfortable ride with adaptive suspension
- Tidy handling
- Strong and frugal 1.5 TSI 150 engine
Weaknesses
- Automatic gearbox can be hesitant
- Interior quality could be better
- There are more spacious rivals
For many, the Golf is the quintessential family car, mixing premium comfort with the kind of space and practicality which means it can tackle both long and short journeys with ease.
You can have your Golf with petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power, and while company car drivers will enjoy the low tax advantages of the plug-in hybrid model, we reckon most private buyers will be best served by the mid-range 1.5-litre petrol option. With 148bhp, it feels pleasantly peppy, and has no trouble getting up to motorway speeds or overtaking on faster roads.
We'd pair that engine with Match trim. It's one up from entry-level Life, but comes with luxuries including keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise control and a touchscreen infotainment system.
Inside, the Golf's logical instrument layout means it's easier to feel at home than you might in the rival Toyota Prius or Peugeot 308, and there's marginally more room for passengers sitting in the rear seats than in the pricier BMW 1 Series.
Our favourite version Style 1.5 TSI 150 Match
List price £23,705
Target price £27,210
Target PCP NA
2024 sales 32,370
Read our in-depth Volkswagen Golf review
Strengths
- Punchy and frugal hybrid is a worthy alternative to diesel
- Well-made, user-friendly interior
- Spacious for passengers and luggage
Weaknesses
- So-so handling with more body lean than some rivals
- Slightly more expensive than a Kia Sportage
- No sliding rear seats
Choice is the order of the day in the Hyundai Tucson, which is available with three types of hybridisation – mild, regular and plug-in hybrid – in a bid to help it stand out in the crowded family SUV class.
It's the regular hybrid which we think will suit most buyers the best, and matches a punchy 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor. You can drive for short distances on electric power alone, and when the petrol engine joins the fray you'll notice its extra punch. Indeed, in our tests, the Tucson beat the rival Kia Sportage in a dash to 60mph.
The Tucson rides more softly than its Sportage rival, too, although a Skoda Karoq or Volvo XC40 will be even more composed along winding country roads.
Those seeking a lofty driving position might be a little disappointed, because the Tucson doesn't place you as high up as some family SUV rivals, but it fights back on space, with the hybrid version able to swallow eight carry on suitcases in our tests.
Our favourite version 1.6 T-GDI Hybrid 230 Advance
List price £27,365
Target price £27,365
Target PCP NA
2024 sales 32,174
Read our in-depth Hyundai Tucson review
Our pick: 1.5 T-GDI PHEV SE 5dr Auto
Strengths
- Cheap yet very well equipped
- Plush interior for the price
- PHEV has impressive official electic range
Weaknesses
- MG's poor reliability record
- Coarse engine
- Compromised visibility at junctions
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 1.5 SE
List price £24,030
Target price £20,799
Target PCP NA
2024 sales 30,207
Read our in-depth MG HS 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 Auto
List price £40,960
Target price £39,460
Target PCP NA
2024 sales 30,202
Read our in-depth Volvo XC40 review
Our pick: 1.0 TSI Life 5dr
Strengths
- Good to drive
- Generous interior space
- Attractive PCP finance deals
Weaknesses
- Fiddly touch-sensitive controls
- Gutless entry-level petrol
- Reliability could be better
If you're in the market for a small car but still want a smattering of big car luxury, then the Volkswagen Polo deserves a spot on your shortlist – because it gets many of the same comforts and technology features as the larger Volkswagen Golf family car.
Let's start inside, where drivers of all shapes and sizes should have no trouble getting comfortable, because the Polo offers lots of adjustment for the seat and steering wheel. Its interior is a nice place to be, too, with materials which feel a cut above rivals like the Skoda Fabia and Suzuki Swift. And while you can spend a fair amount to upgrade the standard-fit 8.0in infotainment system to a larger 9.2in screen, we don't think you need to bother, because the standard setup looks good enough and reacts quickly to your inputs.
Our recommended 1.0-litre petrol engine gives the Polo plenty of pep around town, yet doesn't feel out of its breath on faster roads. We'd avoid the entry-level TSI 80 engine if you can, because it doesn't have a turbocharger, so can feel a bit weedy when you need to get up to speed quickly.
Our favourite version 1.0 TSI 95 Life
List price £21,650
Target price £19,490
Target PCP NA
2024 sales 28,981
Read our in-depth Volkswagen Polo review
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