SMMT’s new car registration data from 2025 shows the market leaning towards both SUVs and electric vehicles - especially with the government’s now-delayed target of banning the sale of all petrol vehicles by 2035.
As of 17 December, there have been 1,874,271 new car registrations in the UK in 2025, broken down into the following:
But which cars proved the most popular? Was it family favourites, premium editions or did greener vehicles make their mark in the end-of-year lists.
We examined the best-selling cars of the year guides on Honest John, RAC, The Car Expert, Top Gear and Auto Express to find out…
The Ford Puma was also the most popular car in 2024. A compact SUV the RAC describes as ‘easy to drive, comfortable and practical with a large boot’, it’s a hybrid car that is both affordable and efficient.
First released in 2021, this fifth-generation Sportage was praised by Top Gear for its safety, practicality and strong levels of tech.
A familiar sight on the road for almost two decades, this mid-size SUV is described by Auto Express as offering ‘enough to appeal to lots of buyers’.
Honest John states the sale of this ever-popular compact model has been aided and abetted by offers on its battery-powered Yes specification medals as we move towards a more electric road network.
A compact SUV that The Car Expert describes as ‘a cheaper and more compact alternative to the bigger Qashqai’.
A mid-sized family car that sells in consistent numbers and holds a New Car Expert Rating of A.
The RAC describes this VW as ‘a stylish and practical compact SUV, offering a blend of performance, comfort, and advanced technology’.
Top Gear’s review says this is ‘a car whose looks, powertrain and perception of quality have all improved’ compared to previous models.
Honest John says ‘Sharing its underpinnings and the full suite of mild, self-charging and plug-in hybrid-assisted engines with the Kia Sportage, the Hyundai Tucson is pitched a little further upmarket in terms of price, equipment and interior finish.’
Competitively priced, Auto Express says this premium small SUV has a ‘stellar reputation for safety and a range of punchy (if not class-leadingly frugal) engines’.
Electric vehicles now account for over 20% of cars sold in the UK, with 2025’s 426,209 sales an increase of 26% on 2024! Although details for the UK’s top-selling electric vehicles of 2025 were not available at the time of writing, heycar suggests the Tesla Model Y is the most popular.
Industry experts are also predicting that the Skoda Elroq and MG4 could be value EVs that the market turns to in the coming years.
Have these lists inspired you to invest in some new wheels in 2026? Don’t forget temporary car insurance throughout the whole process:
As manufacturers start to make more electric cars, we’ll also say goodbye to some common cars. Check out Which cars will go extinct? blog post to find out that cars that are set to disappear in 2026 and beyond.
