The most popular company cars in the UK – updated
New SMMT figures reveal the most popular company car in the UK plus the full top 10 of car and SUV models chosen by fleet car drivers last year. Will they stay on top in 2024?...
The Nissan Qashqai is the UK's most popular company car, according to new figures that reveal the top 10 fleet car models by registration last year.
The Qashqai family SUV was followed in second place by the Vauxhall Corsa small car (in petrol and electric form), the Kia Sportage in third, the Tesla Model Y electric SUV in fourth and the MG HS in fifth.
Reflecting the market as a whole, the list – provided by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) – is dominated by family SUVs. Electric cars are represented by the Model Y and versions of the Corsa and the Vauxhall Mokka (in sixth place), but most of the models are available with petrol or hybrid petrol engines only.
Read more fleet and company car advice
Below we list the 10 most popular company cars by fleet registrations based on the SMMT's figures for the whole of 2023 (January 1 to December 31).
We also give our What Car? road testers' rating for each model, details of the cheapest version based on list price, and how much it will cost to run in benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax, plus a link to our full new car review.
Note that for some models, a version with a higher list price might work out cheaper to run as a fleet car if the CO2 emissions figure is much lower (or zero, as is the case with fully electric cars). You can check the BIK cost for each model using our company car tax calculator.
The 10 best-selling fleet cars in the UK
1. Nissan Qashqai
Number of registrations 29,158
What Car? rating 4/5
Cheapest version 1.3 Visia
List price £26,820
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £147.50
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £295
This immensely popular family SUV has long been a big seller, so it's no surprise to see that it's a favourite with company car drivers too. Our road testers have been impressed by its smart interior and great driving position, but if you're looking for a fun-to-drive model, there are other strong contenders to consider.
2. Vauxhall Corsa and Corsa Electric
Number of registrations 24,529
What Car? rating 3/5
Cheapest version 1.2 Design (petrol)
List price £19,360
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £93.58
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £187.67
The Corsa has been one of the UK's most popular models for years, offering low-costs motoring to small car buyers. And now its available not only with a choice of 1.2-litre petrol engines, but also as an electric car. It's a solid choice if you can get a good deal, but we think there are better rivals out there.
Vauxhall Corsa review
Vauxhall Corsa Electric review
3. Kia Sportage
Number of registrations 24,039
What Car? rating 5/5
Cheapest version 1.6T GDi 2
List price £29,075
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £164.75
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £329.50
As a category winner at our 2023 Car of the Year Awards, the Sportage is a very impressive family SUV. It gives you plenty of practicality at a competitive price, and is also available with a wide choice of engines, including a mild hybrid (MHEV) and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
4. Tesla Model Y
Number of registrations 23,973
What Car? rating 4/5
Cheapest version RWD
List price £44,935
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £15
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £30
The Model Y is an electric SUV that takes many of the qualities of the Tesla Model 3 but combines them with a bit more interior space and a higher driving position. Performance is quick and the official range varies from 283 miles to 331 miles, depending on the version.
5. MG HS
Number of registrations 23,231
What Car? rating 4/5
Cheapest version 1.5 T-GDI SE
List price £23,295
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £143.67
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £287.33
This big SUV gives you a lot for your money. As well as a big interior and boot, the MG HS comes with plenty of equipment, including front and rear parking sensors (handy with such a big car), built-in sat-nav and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. A new, face-lifted version of the HS has recently been launched.
6. Vauxhall Mokka and Mokka Electric
Number of registrations 22,827
What Car? rating 3/5
Cheapest version 1.2 Turbo 100 Design (petrol)
List price £24,395
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £117.92
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £235.83
Like the Corsa, the Mokka small SUV comes with traditional 1.2-litre petrol engines with various power outputs or as an electric SUV. Also like the Corsa, our road testers have given it a three-star rating, so we think it's wise to consider whether other models meet your needs better before committing.
Vauxhall Mokka review
Vauxhall Mokka Electric review
7. Hyundai Tucson
Number of registrations 20,977
What Car? rating 4/5
Cheapest version 1.6 TGDi SE Connect
List price £30,800
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £178.67
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £359.33
Like the closely related Kia Sportage, the Tucson has a high-tech engine range featuring various hybrids to help you keep fuel costs down. It has a big boot, lots of passenger space and a smart interior. You also get plenty of standard equipment on all versions.
8. Ford Kuga
Number of registrations 20,262
What Car? rating 4/5
Cheapest version 1.5 EcoBoost 150 Titanium Edition
List price £33,070
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £187.42
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £374.83
Company car drivers considering the Kuga would be wise to take a look at the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, because it should bring down your BIK tax considerably compared with the non-PHEVs. It also impressed our road testers as being one of the better-handling PHEV SUVs. The boot is smaller than many rivals' though.
9. Volkswagen Golf
Number of registrations 18,572
What Car? rating 4/5
Cheapest version 1.0 TSI Life
List price £26,680
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £128.92
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £257.83
The only family car on this list has been a strong seller for eight generations for a reason. The Golf is comfortable, good to drive and available with a wide range of engines (including the 242bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol in the iconic VW Golf GTI hot hatch). There are cheaper rivals that can do the same for less though.
10. Nissan Juke
Number of registrations 17,999
What Car? rating 4/5
Cheapest version 1.0 DiG-T 114 Visia
List price £20,675
Monthly BIK tax at 20% £106.83
Monthly BIK tax at 40% £213.67
When it was first launched, the Juke was an early sign of SUVs' impending domination of the car market, and it has been a big seller ever since. The second-generation model gained a hybrid option and a bigger boot, and we like the smart interior, but it's worth considering other small SUVs before you commit.
The top 10 most popular fleet car models in the UK
1. Nissan Qashqai (29,158 registrations)
2. Vauxhall Corsa and Corsa Electric (24,529)
3. Kia Sportage (24,039)
4. Tesla Model Y (23,973)
5. MG HS (23,231)
6. Vauxhall Mokka and Mokka Electric (22,827)
7. Hyundai Tucson (20,977)
8. Ford Kuga (20,262)
9. Volkswagen Golf (18,572)
10. Nissan Juke (17,999)
(Figures for new company car registrations in 2023. Source: SMMT)
Read more: The best company cars in the UK
Read more: The cheapest company cars in the UK
Read more fleet and company car advice
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here
