The UK new car market continued its steady growth in May 2024, with a modest increase on the same month in 2023, with over 140,000 new cars registered. However, the long-running story of big fleets driving growth as private customer demand declines continues. At least Ford will be happy as the Puma maintains its tenure at the top of the bestselling cars chart.
According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), registrations increased by 1.7% in May of this year, compared with the same period last year. That’s a total of 147,678 cars. It’s the 22nd consecutive month of growth and the best May performance since 2021, however the total is still down by nearly a fifth on pre-pandemic levels.
Registrations to big leasing and rental fleets and other businesses drove growth, as they have for well over a year. Registrations to fleets were up 14.0% on volumes in May 2023, and business registrations rose 9.5%. Yet sales to private buyers were down 12.9% amid the on-going cost of living crisis. Across the year-to-date, fleets account for just under 60% of the new car market, while private buyers account for 38%.
Demand for electric cars is showing signs of recovery after dipping for a few months earlier in the year. Volumes increased year-on-year by 6.2% in May though, again, that was driven entirely by fleets as consumer sales fell once again. Overall EV market share has risen a little from its level both last month and across the year-to-date. But a share of 16.1% is still well behind the 22% needed to achieve the government’s zero emissions mandate.
Plug-in hybrids have consistently shown the biggest growth so far this year, registrations increasing by more than 30%. However, it’s still only the fourth most popular type of powertrain, trailing petrol, electric and self-charging hybrids. Diesel brings up the rear with just 6.7% of the market – what was once the choice of 50% of car buyers has been reduced to a very small niche.
What the industry says about UK car sales
SMMT chief executive, Mike Hawes, said: ‘As Britain prepares for next month’s general election, the new car market continues to hold steady as large fleets sustain growth, offsetting weakened private retail demand.
‘Consumers enjoy a plethora of new electric models and some very attractive offers, but manufacturers can’t sustain this scale of support on their own indefinitely. Their success so far should be a signpost for the next government that a faster and fairer transition requires carrots, not just sticks.’
The SMMT repeated its call for the government to reintroduce purchase incentives for private EV buyers and reduce VAT on home charging from 20% to 5%, matching the tax levied on public charging.
Now we’ll look at the bestselling cars of May 2024 and the bestselling cars of the year so far. Some attractive offers vaulted the Kia Sportage into first place for the month, but the Ford Puma holds firm at the top of the tables for the year so far.
Top 10 bestselling cars of May 2024
- Kia Sportage – 4,202 sold
- Ford Puma – 3,812 sold
- Audi A3 – 3,017 sold
- Volkswagen Golf – 2,922 sold
- Vauxhall Corsa – 2,671 sold
- Volkswagen Polo – 2,669 sold
- Nissan Qashqai – 2,637 sold
- MG ZS – 2,630 sold
- Hyundai Tucson – 2,613 sold
- Nissan Juke – 2,468 sold
Top 10 bestselling cars of 2024 (year-to-date)
10. Vauxhall Corsa (12,925 sold)
The Vauxhall Corsa has been a mainstay of UK bestselling cars lists since the 1990s. The current model has upheld that tradition since it was launched in 2019. Indeed, it was the UK’s bestselling car in 2021 and it had topped the charts for the opening months of 2023.
The Corsa’s success is entirely expected, as it’s one of the best small cars on sale. It’s available with efficient petrol engines or as an EV with decent range, and it offers a pleasant driving experience.
Read our Vauxhall Corsa review
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9. Volkswagen T-Roc (13,323 sold)
An all-new version of the Volkswagen T-Roc will appear later in 2024 but the existing one remains a very solid choice of compact SUV, despite its advancing years. Its funky styling is central to its appeal, but there’s substance to go with it.
Even though the T-Roc’s dimensions are on the compact side, it’s a genuinely family-friendly car. Interior space is on par with VW Golf but the T-Roc’s boot is much bigger than that of its hatchback cousin. It’s quite good to drive, too, but the lack of even a mild hybrid version does count against it, these days.
Read our full Volkswagen T-Roc review
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8. MG HS (14,161 sold)
The MG HS makes an occasional appearance in the top 10 bestsellers list, usually when its maker is offering a lease deal that makes it even better value. Indeed, it’s the ultra-low price for an SUV of its size that’s key to the appeal of the HS.
It’s also very spacious and practical, and comes loaded with standard features. The facelifted version launched in 2023 looks quite good, too. But it’s not especially refined and there are question marks over its reliability.
Read our MG HS review
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7. BMW 1 Series (14,190 sold)
The premium BMW 1 Series is the best mid-size hatchback on the market. The BMW 1 Series is a great car that’s fantastic to drive, packed with user-friendly tech and even pretty good value. There are plenty of petrol and diesel engines to choose from, as well.
On the downside, it’s not the most practical of car this type, with limited back seat and boot space. The lack of a hybrid version limits its appeal to certain buyers, as well.
Read our BMW 1 Series review
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6. Nissan Juke (15,538 sold)
The Nissan Juke is the Japanese carmaker’s British-built compact SUV. It’s a very hotly contested class and, in all honesty, we’ve never rated the Juke too highly. The latest model is, at least, a big improvement over the original but it’s already starting to feel its age. Still, it seems the Juke’s eye-catching design and low costs continue to attract buyers.
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.
Read our Nissan Juke review
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5. Volkswagen Golf (15,573 sold)
The perennial Volkswagen Golf remains one of the best mid-size hatchbacks on the market, despite its irksome interior layout that relies too heavily on touchscreens for our liking. But those concerns should be addressed in the upcoming facelifted model.
Otherwise, the Golf remains a practical, comfortable car that offers a huge and diverse range of models to choose from. It’s good to drive, as well, and all the engines provide a decent balance of performance and efficiency.
Read our Volkswagen Golf review
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4. Audi A3 (16,520 sold)
Audi’s hugely popular hatchback/saloon range has been a regular in the top 10 for many years, now. Indeed, it’s often the UK’s bestselling mid-size car that’s not an SUV, which shows the power of a premium-brand image and an attractive finance deal.
The A3’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.
Read our Audi A3 review
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3. Nissan Qashqai (19,687 sold)
Nissan pioneered the SUV niche as we know it when it launched the original Qashqai back in 2006, and it seems the UK’s car buying public hasn’t yet grown tired of the car. The current version was launched in 2021 with a more spacious interior and simple physical cabin controls – instead of the touchscreen-based buttons so many cars now have.
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. A facelifted model incoming, so there may be some good deals on the current version available.
Read our Nissan Qashqai review
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2. Kia Sportage (20,026 sold)
The Kia Sportage is one of the best family SUVs on sale today. It’s available with a choice of petrol engines or mild-, self-charging and plug-in hybrid powertrains, so there should be something to suit almost every buyer. It is on the pricey side, though.
But we reckon the Sportage is worth spending the cash on. It has a practical interior, a great infotainment package and it comes with Kia’s brilliant seven-year warranty. It’s no surprise it’s one of the bestselling cars in the UK.
Read our Kia Sportage review
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1. Ford Puma (23,205 sold)
The Ford Puma was the best bestselling car of 2023 and looks set to repeat the feat in 2024. Because this former Parkers Best Small Family Car award winner is hugely fashionable right now, as small SUVs are generally, and it’s a particularly practical and economical example of the breed.
It’s also one of the best-driving SUVs of any size on sale, capturing the same handling magic found in its chassis sibling, the Fiesta. It’s a hard car to fault generally, being full of thoughtful details that make life on the road as easy as possible. And it’ll plaster a smile across your face whether you’re attacking a back road or pottering to the shops.
Read our Ford Puma review
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