September saw a return to growth for new car registrations in the UK. The figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show the UK’s new car market rose 1.0% year-on-year, with demand for electric vehicles hitting an all-time high. Trading places, the Kia Sportage knocked the Ford Puma into second place to be crowned the bestselling car of September 2024.
With the launch of new plates, September is traditionally one of the best months for new registrations, second only to March. The introduction of 74 plates continued this trend, with 275,239 cars registered for the month, way more than the 84,575 cars registered in the always-quiet August.
As in previous months, fleet purchases drove overall growth, increasing its market share by 3.7% year-on-year and representing 54.2% of the overall market. Interestingly, private purchases fell by 1.8% to account for 43.7% of registrations. The small business sector also decreased, down 8.4%.
Electric vehicle registrations are the stand-out figure, growing to a record 20.5% overall market share, growing from 16.6% a year ago. This growth was largely driven by the leasing industry, which accounted for 75.9% of the EV market share.
Despite this growth in EVs, the SMMT is still predicting that EVs will only account for 18.5% market share by the end of the year, way off the target of 22% each manufacturer has to record. What does this mean for consumers? With only a few months left of 2024 and huge mountains to climb, we’ll be keeping an eye out for outrageously cheap EV deals. The SMMT calculates that manufacturers are on course to spend at least £2 billion discounting EVs to reach targets. Expect renewed pressure on the government to introduce incentives for EV adoption in the next budget too.
Today, the SMMT and 12 manufacturers have called on Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to temporarily halve VAT on new EV purchases and scrap the VED ‘expensive car’ tax supplement, among other incentives, to reach ZEV sales mandates.
Private demand in EVs did increase slightly, driven by these excellent discounts on EVs, but overall demand is down year-to-date. To put this into perspective, interest in diesel cars grew faster for private buyers in September. However, it needs to be stressed that diesel represents a smaller share of the market than EVs by some margin, so any extra demand will skew the data.
What the industry says about UK car sales
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive said: ‘“September’s record EV performance is good news, but look under the bonnet and there are serious concerns as the market is not growing quickly enough to meet mandated targets. Despite manufacturers spending billions on both product and market support – support that the industry cannot sustain indefinitely – market weakness is putting environmental ambitions at risk and jeopardising future investment.
‘While we appreciate the pressures on the public purse, the Chancellor must use the forthcoming Budget to introduce bold measures on consumer support and infrastructure to get the transition back on track, and with it the economic growth and environmental benefits we all crave.’
Responding to these figures, James Hosking, Managing Director of AA Cars, said: ‘The new car market rebounded in September after stalling in the previous month, fuelling hopes that the slowdown was just a bump in the road.
‘Sales of electric vehicles and hybrids are on the rise, increasing by 24% year-on-year, as more drivers opt for greener choices. Our research shows that the prices of used EVs and hybrids on the AA Cars website dropped from £21,302 in Q3 2023 to £17,967 in Q3 2024 — a decrease of nearly 16%.’
The top 10 bestselling cars of August 2024
- Kia Sportage – 7,482 sold
- Ford – 7,681 sold
- Nissan Juke – 6,025 sold
- Hyundai Tuscon – 5,799 sold (tied)
- Tesla Model Y – 5,799 sold (tied)
- Nissan Qashqai – 5,239 sold
- Volkswagen Polo – 4,657 sold
- Volkswaen Tiguan – 4,327 sold
- Ford Kuga – 4,066 sold
- Volkswagen Golf – 3,974 sold
Top 10 bestselling cars of 2024 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. We’re happy to see it perform so well.
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
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
It gets all the fundamentals bang on
We’re particularly fond of the Tucson’s interior. It’s been nailed together incredibly well and has a great infotainment system that’s easy to use on the move. It’s also more than spacious enough for four passengers and it has a simply enormous 620-litre boot.
To find out more, read our full Hyundai Tucson review
Pros
- Comfortable, roomy interior
- User-friendly infotainment
- Range of hybrid option
Cons
- No diesel for long-distance drivers
- Not that fun to drive
It's like a Golf, only posher
The A3 is based on the same underpinnings as the Golf – and it's a fine car that looks great, drives neatly, comes packed with tech and offers a huge range of engines and trim levels. It’s surprisingly good value, too. Only less than generous passenger space and some cheap interior materials let it down.
To find out more, read our full Audi A3 review
Pros
- Highly efficient engine range
- Excellent technology
- Good to drive
Cons
- Average interior space
- Some iffy interior materials
A sensible and dependable city car
We'd jazz things up with more exciting colours and specs, but no matter your pick, you'll be getting a bombproof car that sits comfortably in its class as the sensible yet dull option. Think of it as a practical, if slightly shapeless, jumper.
To find out more, read our full Volkswagen Polo review
Pros
- Impressive interior technology
- Efficient engine range
- Spacious for a supermini
Cons
- Dull driving experience
- Engines aren't exactly sparkling
An accomplsihed EV with an enviable public charging network
It also features rapid acceleration, especially in dual motor configurations, and a generous driving range of up to 319 miles per charge from its battery packs. It's not the most comfortable car in its class, and build quality can be inconsistent, but excellent finance options and popularity as a company car do help matters.
To find out more, read our full Tesla Model Y review
Pros
- Good real-world range
- Plenty of space inside
- Tesla Supercharger network is great
Cons
- Inconsistent build quality
- Uncomfortable suspension
A value-driven PHEV SUV
It is very spacious and practical, though, and it comes with plenty of standard equipment. Plus, the revised model that MG launched in 2023 even looks quite good. But it’s not especially refined and there are question marks over its reliability.
However, MG has just unveiled the second-generation HS – and it seems to have fixed all the previous car’s foibles. The figures listed here from the SMMT are for the outgoing car, but maybe the new one will appear here soon once its sales get into full swing.
To find out more, read our full MG HS review
Pros
- Spacious and practical cabin
- PHEV model available
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Uncomfortable driving position
- Dated infotainment system
