2026 (First Half Year): The Ford Puma, Kia Sportage, Jaecoo 7, and Nissan Qashqai were the top-selling car models in Britain during the first six months of the year.
The Ford Puma confirmed its position as Britain’s favorite passenger car model during the first half of 2026. It was by three further SUVs: the Kia Sportage, Jaecoo 7, and Nissan Qashqai. Most of the ten most popular cars in the UK at the start of 2026 were SUV crossover models.
Latest British Car Sales Data: 2026 (Q1): Brands, Models; 2025: Market Overview, Brands, Models, Electric, Car Parc; 2024-2008.
Top 10 Best-Selling Car Models in Britain in 2026 (HY)
The top-selling car models in the United Kingdom during the first half of 2026, according to the SMMT were:
| R | Model | Sales 2026 (HY) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford Puma | 29,642 |
| 2 | Kia Sportage | 25,828 |
| 3 | Jaecoo 7 | 23,340 |
| 4 | Nissan Qashqai | 23,012 |
| 5 | Vauxhall Corsa | 18,470 |
| 6 | Volkswagen Golf | 17,552 |
| 7 | MG HS | 16,721 |
| 8 | MINI Cooper | 16,295 |
| 9 | Volvo XC40 | 16,031 |
| 10 | Tesla Model Y | 15,341 |
Britain’s Favorite Car Models in 2026 (First Half)
Britain’s favorite car model in the first half of 2026 was again the Ford Puma. The Puma has been Britain’s favorite car from 2023 to 2025.
The Kia Sportage was the second most popular car in the UK during the first six months of the year. It was the top-selling car in Britain in January 2026.
The surprise third-most popular car in Britain in 2026 (HY) was the Jaecoo 7. The Jaecoo is a relatively large SUV crossover, but from a Chinese brand that only entered the UK just over a year ago. The Jaecoo 7 was the top-selling car in March — traditionally the most important month of the year for new car registrations in Britain due to number plate changes. However, Jaecoo’s sales were weaker in the second quarter compared to the Puma and Sportage. Jaecoo is part of the large Geely automotive concern.
The fourth most popular car in Britain was the Nissan Qashqai. The top four best-selling cars in the UK were all SUV crossovers.
The Vauxhall Corsa was the fifth most popular car and the only subcompact car on the top ten list.
The Tesla Model Y benefited from the increase in electric car sales and recovered some of the sales position ranks it lost in the past year.