The UK saw growth in new car registrations for only the second time this year, according to data revealed by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). With 150,070 new car registrations recorded for May, that shows a small growth of 1.6%. It may be the strongest May performance since 2021, but it’s 18.3% lower than the pre-Covid levels of 2019. In the race to be the bestselling car of 2025, the Ford Puma took the crown once again, edging ahead of the Kia Sportage.
Petrol remains the dominant fuel type with 71,291 registrations for a market share of 47.5%. This is a decline of 12.5% compared to May 2024 where petrol held 55.2% of the market. Diesel continues to decline too, down 15.5% year-on-year with only 7,792 registrations.
There were notable upswings for plug-in hybrids and hybrids, up a whopping 50.8% and 6.8% respectively. Electric car registrations also saw a continued uptick, growing 25.8% year-on-year and now holding 21.8% of the market with 32,738 cars registered.
It’s less rosy news for the overall uptake of EVs, which now hold a market share year-to-date of just 20.9%, a fair way off the 28% target required by the Zero Emission Mandate (ZEV) for 2025. This is despite the SMMT noting that the significant discounts offered by manufacturers to entice uptake of EVs were unsustainable.
What the industry says about UK car sales
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive said: ‘A return to growth for new car registrations in May is welcome but manufacturer discounting on new products continues to underpin the market, notably for electric vehicles. This cannot be sustained indefinitely as it undermines the ability of companies to invest in new product development – investments which are integral to the decarbonisation of all road transport. Next week’s Spending Review is the opportunity for government to double down on its commitments to Net Zero by driving demand through fiscal measures that boost the market and shore up our competitiveness.’
The top 10 bestselling cars of May 2025
- Ford Puma – 3,695 sold
- Kia Sportage – 3,256 sold
- Nissan Qashqai – 3,088 sold
- Nissan Juke – 2,876 sold
- Vauxhall Corsa – 2,693 sold
- MG ZS – 2,624 sold
- Volkswagen Polo – 2,295 sold
- Hyundai Kona – 2,189 sold
- Peugeot 2008 – 2,096 sold
- MINI Cooper – 2,079 sold
Top 10 bestselling cars of 2025 year-to-date
It's the nation's favourite for a reason
It’s also the best-driving SUV in its class, running rings around the likes of the Renault Captur and Nissan Juke. It captures a lot of the same handling magic found in the old Fiesta, with which it shares its underpinnings – and, now that the Fiesta’s dead, this is the only way to experience that magic. This year's facelift hasn't been as promising as we'd hoped, but the fundamentals are still there.
To find out more, read our full Ford Puma review
Pros
- It’s the best-driving family SUV
- Fun and frugal petrol engines
- Huge boot thanks to Ford’s Megabox
Cons
- Rear legroom is a little tight
- Dashboard is rather bland
There’s a Sportage to suit almost everyone
But we reckon the Sportage is worth spending the cash on. It has a practical interior, plenty of standard equipment, a great infotainment package and it comes with Kia’s brilliant seven-year warranty. The only thing that lets it down is it’s driving experience. Its steering is a little too light for our liking and its handling isn’t anywhere near as fun as the Ford Kuga’s. We can’t fault it otherwise, though.
To find out more, read our full Kia Sportage review
Pros
- Intuitive infotainment screen
- Great standard equipment
- Spacious and practical cabin
Cons
- Overly light steering system
- Pricey – especially the PHEV model
The car that kicked off the SUV craze
Buyers have a choice of two petrol engines. There’s a 1.3-litre mild-hybrid available with two power outputs, and a 1.5-litre full hybrid. We recommend opting for the latter – with more power and greater efficiency it’s better to live with day-to-day. The facelifted model is here, too, so watch out for deals on the outgoing car.
To find out more, read our full Nissan Qashqai review
Pros
- High-quality interior
- Lots of tech that works well
- Incredibly refined E-Power hybrid
Cons
- No PHEV or performance version
- No load-through hatch on rear bench
Popular supermini still makes for a solid pick
Vauxhall has worked wonders getting price parity between the petrol and electric version. Both are good value for money too, with strong leasing and financing deals in its corner. It's a sensible pick and will serve as a very competent car for most duties, but there are better cars out there.
To find out more, read our full Vauxhall Corsa review
Pros
- Impressive fuel economy
- Spacious in the front
- Lots of standard equipment
Cons
- Interior feels a little low-rent
- Lack of cabin storage space
It isn't our favourite, but UK drivers love it
The Juke trails its larger sibling, the Qashqai, in the sales charts, but the numbers are surprisingly close. Perhaps that’s indicative of UK buyers downsizing their cars.
To find out more, read our full Nissan Juke review
Pros
- User-friendly interior
- Clear infotainment system
- Distinctive styling
Cons
- Fidgety ride
- Engines need more pep
The original family hatch just got better
Volkswagen has given the updated Golf a brand-new infotainment system, which is far nicer to look at and much easier to use. Build quality has improved, too – and the PHEV models now have twice as much electric range thanks to some new battery technology. It doesn’t drive any differently to the previous model, but that’s not such a bad thing because it always was comfortable on the motorway and engaging in the corners.
To find out more, read our full Volkswagen Golf review
Pros
- New infotainment is one of the best on sale
- Loads of engines, including new PHEV systems
- Build quality is noticeably better than before
Cons
- Not as engaging to drive as the Focus
- Revised Skoda Octavia offers better value
Cheap small SUV ticks a lot of boxes
For a start, it's a large car for the cash, which means there's plenty of cabin and boot space on offer. The interior is a big step up from the old one too, even if it lacks. the polish of its rivals. The hybrid system, while frugal and powerful, isn't the most refined we've ever tested, and the the low speed ride isn't the best either. But it's hard to ignore the price in the face of rivals.
To find out more read our full MG ZS review
Pros
- Undercuts rivals on price
- Frugal to run
- Spacious interior
Cons
- No steering wheel reach adjustment
- Firm suspension
Solid, dependable family SUV
The essentials of a good Volkswagen are all there, too; the interior is comfortable and well put together. It's also lovely and spacious inside with a boot size perfect for family duties. However, we do question the over-reliance on touchscreens.
To find out more read our full Volkswagen Tiguan review
Pros
- Offers buyers lots of choice
- Efficient, engaging engines
- Plenty of space inside
Cons
- Over-reliance on touchscreen
- Ride comfort can be firm
Family-first SUV scores well for style and safety
It's a comfortable place to sit, the ride is nice and cushioned and it's calming to drive. The mild hybrid systems aren't the most efficient (you can go fully electric with the Volvo EX40) and, although it's starting to get on a bit, it's still a solid car.
To find out more, read our full Volvo XC40 review
Pros
- Good real-world range
- Plenty of space inside
- Tesla Supercharger network is great
Cons
- Inconsistent build quality
- Uncomfortable suspension
A value-driven SUV
Refinement is far better than before. The HS's golden ticket is no longer its low price, it now features a pleasant interior, better road manners and strong equipment levels, too. The fact it's still a bargain only helps its case.
To find out more, read our full MG HS review
Pros
- Spacious and practical cabin
- Impressive plug-in hybrid
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Petrol engine lacks refinement
- Annoying safety tech
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