The latest car registration figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) confirm that supply chain issues are continuing to affect the UK’s top 10 best-selling cars list as we enter the second half of 2022.
While electric cars continue to take up an increasingly large share of the market, each of 2022’s top 10 most popular models so far has at least one combustion engined version in its range.
It is worth noting, though, that the pure-electric Tesla Model Y did find itself in tenth place before being recently overtaken by the Toyota Yaris. As electric cars become more commonplace and affordable, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see them dominating this list in the years to come.
Diesel cars are seemingly falling further out of favour, too, accounting for just 5.7 per cent of 2022’s new car registrations to date.
In terms of overall sales, the Vauxhall Corsa is still leading the way for 2022, and is clearly filling the gap left behind by its biggest rival, the Ford Fiesta. The Fiesta was a top-seller over several years prior to 2021, when sales plummeted. More recently availability issues have kept Ford’s supermini out of the running.
However, the Blue Oval isn’t entirely absent from the list as the Ford Puma SUV finds itself in second place for overall sales in 2022 so far, followed by the Nissan Qashqai. During July, the Nissan Qashqai has enjoyed the most sales for the month, followed by the MINI and the Hyundai Tucson – meaning the Corsa and Puma could see a drop in their rankings later this year if this trend continues.
The UK’s best-selling cars for 2022
Vauxhall Corsa – 24,333
There’s still a long way to go before the Vauxhall Corsa is crowned as Britain’s best-selling car for 2022. However, the supermini leads this year’s list with key rivals such as the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo not even making it into the top 10.
Ford Puma – 20,006
The Ford Fiesta has been a fixture at the top of the UK’s best-selling cars list for what seems like a lifetime, but it hasn’t finished in the top 10 since 2020. Instead, it has been up to the Puma to spearhead the Blue Oval’s sales push. Britain’s eighth best-selling car of 2021 is doing even better in 2022, and continues to be Ford’s big achiever.
Nissan Qashqai – 19,097
The arrival of the latest Qashqai has given this chart stalwart a push up the rankings, and we expect the arrival of the innovative Qashqai e-Power hybrid is going some way towards accelerating these already-impressive numbers.
MINI – 18,951
The MINI had an astonishingly successful 2021, taking third spot on the overall list. The addition of the all-electric model has helped bump up sales figures, and we think it’s a premium, well-built and charming supermini – so it definitely deserves to retain a spot in the top five.
Kia Sportage – 18,206
The Kia Sportage finished ninth overall in 2021 – taking the title of Britain’s third most popular SUV. This year started brightly but a poor February saw it lose first place. The latest Sportage is on sale now and the figures certainly suggest that it’s a hit with customers.
Hyundai Tucson – 17,173
We continue to be so impressed by the Hyundai Tucson that we have awarded it the coveted ‘Mid-size SUV of the Year’ title at our New Car Awards for two years in a row. The Tucson’s newfound upmarket approach makes it a tempting purchase for a whole new clientele in 2022, which poses a real threat to rivals such as the Volkswagen Tiguan and Ford Kuga.
Kia Niro – 15,527
The Kia Niro continues to be a hugely-successful model for the Korean brand. The new Niro has now arrived with a range of drivetrains including a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and a fully electric variant. If the new car is anywhere near as popular as the first-generation Niro, these sales figures should remain very strong.
Volkswagen Golf – 15,543
The Golf is now in its eighth-generation, and the latest model has evolved with a number of tweaks to its exterior styling and an overhauled interior crammed with new technology. As you’d expect, the latest Golf is a well rounded, premium hatchback, so it’s no wonder it’s one of this year’s best-selling cars so far.
Ford Kuga – 15,055
The Puma’s bigger brother comes in as the second best-selling Ford of the year, and for good reason. We think that this third-generation Kuga is the best yet. It’s a great car to drive and it’s offered with a range of efficient petrol and hybrid engines. The Kuga ticks all the boxes for a competitively priced, practical family car.
Toyota Yaris – 13,027
Toyota’s affordable hybrid supermini has seen off the Tesla model Y to rank in tenth place on this list. The Yaris is now in its fourth generation, and the latest cars continue to follow the model’s winning formula of stylish design, impressive fuel economy and a generous amount of standard equipment.
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