The top 10 most popular cars in the UK

With 147,517 new cars reaching the road, it was the best performance for July since 2020.

This consecutive growth suggests more people are buying and selling cars in the UK. 

Electrified vehicle demand outpaced the overall market, accounting for four in 10 (42%) new cars registered in the month.

Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) uptake increased by 31.4% to achieve a 14.5% market share, while plug-in hybrids (PHEV) grew 12.4% to take 8.9% of registrations. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) volumes, meanwhile, were up 18.8%, resulting in an overall market share of 18.5%.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: "Two years of new car market growth against a backdrop of a turbulent economy is testament to the sector’s resilience and the attractiveness of the deals on offer.

"Weakening private retail demand, however, particularly for EVs and despite generous manufacturer discounts, is the over-riding concern. More people than ever are buying and driving EVs but we still need the pace of change to quicken, else the UK’s climate change ambitions are threatened and manufacturers’ ability to hit regulated EV targets are at risk.

"Achieving market transition at the pace demanded requires greater support for consumers and, with the all-important new numberplate month of September beckoning, action on incentives and infrastructure is needed now."

The RAC has issued a response to the SMMT’s new car market figures for July. While EV uptake is outpacing the overall market, we feel more needs to be done to meet the mandated transition trajectory.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “It’s good news the new car market continues to grow. While sales of battery-electric EVs need to speed up from the current 18.5% share of all new cars sold to hit the mandate target of 22% this year, it’s important to recognise the overall trajectory EVs are on. Back in the first seven months of 2019, only 14,000 battery-electric vehicles were sold compared to 194,431 so far this year. 

“However, more needs to be done to ramp up private demand which is why we’d like to see the Government reintroduce a new version of the plug-in car grant targeted at the cheaper end of the new car market. Manufacturers will inevitably play their part as they will have to discount to hit the 22% sales target, which will lead to more people being tempted to make the move to electric. And if the new Government honours its manifesto commitment to bring forward the 2030 date for the sale of new combustion cars from 2035, then the rate of transition will speed up even more.”

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Top 10 best-selling cars in the UK 2024

Ford's popular small SUV, the Puma, is easy to drive, comfortable and practical with a large boot. The Puma is also cheap to run thanks to petrol hybrid technology that keeps fuel costs down. Little wonder, perhaps, it's so popular with car buyers in Britian.

Read our full Ford Puma review.

Easy to drive, stylish and backed by a seven-year-warranty, the Kia Sportage is a serious player in the family SUV market. All versions are spacious and comfortable, while Kia’s impressive range of petrol hybrid powertrains make the Sportage rewarding to drive and affordable to run.

Read our full Kia Sportage review.

Popular with family car buyers, the Nissan Qashqai is one of the UK's favourite SUVs. Now in its third generation, the Qashqai is better than ever before. The interior is spacious, and the high levels of refinement make the Qashqai perfect for high mileage drivers who want a class leading family car at a price they can afford.

Read our full Nissan Qashqai review.

The Volkswagen Golf is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and remains one of Britain's most popular cars for people of all ages.

Read our full Volkswagen Golf review.

The original small supermini-derived SUV, the Nissan Juke is a worthy rival to the Ford Puma thanks to its eye-catching style and driver-friendly cabin. Most buyers choose their Juke with Nissan’s excellent 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine, while the 1.6-litre hybrid is popular with drivers who want their Juke with a dose of performance.

Read our full Nissan Juke review.

The Audi A3 firmly established the premium compact class in 1996. Now, more than a quarter of a century later, the latest generation of this highly successful model is increasing in popularity again.

Read our full Audi A3 review.

The new MG HS builds on oits hugely popular large SUV with an extensive redesign featuring a sharper, more aggressive appearance. 

Read our full MG HS review.

The arrival of the all-new BMW 1 Series heralds the dawn of a new era for this successful model that has consistently combined handling excellence, practicality, technology and quality.

Read our full BMW 1 Series review.