In full-year 2022, the top-selling car models in Britain were Nissan Qashqai, Vauxhall Corsa, and Tesla Model Y.
2022 (January to December): The Nissan Qashqai became the first Nissan ever to top the list of the ten best-selling car models in Britain. It replaced the Vauxhall Corsa that slipped back to second. The Tesla Model Y was the third most popular car model in Britain in 2022 and the best-selling electric car. Six of the ten top-selling car models in the UK in 2022 were SUVs.
Latest British Car Sales Data: 2023: Market Overview, Brands, Models, Electric; 2022-2008.
Top Ten Best-Selling Car Models in Britain in 2022 (Full Year)
The ten best-selling car models in the UK in full calendar year 2022 according to the SMMT were as follows:
| Brand & Model | Cars Sold 2022 | Cars Sold 2021 | Cars Sold 2020 | Cars Sold 2019 | |
| 1 | Nissan Qashqai | 42,704 | 29,922 | 33,972 | 52,532 |
| 2 | Vauxhall Corsa | 35,910 | 40,914 | 46,439 | 54,239 |
| 3 | Tesla Model Y | 35,551 | NA | NA | NA |
| 4 | Ford Puma | 35,088 | 28,697 | 26,294 | NA |
| 5 | Mini | 32,387 | 31,792 | 31,233 | 41,188 |
| 6 | Kia Sportage | 29,655 | 27,611 | NA | 34,502 |
| 7 | Hyundai Tucson | 27,839 | NA | NA | NA |
| 8 | Volkswagen Golf | 26,558 | 30,240 | 43,109 | 58,994 |
| 9 | Ford Kuga | 26,549 | NA | NA | 41,671 |
| 10 | Ford Fiesta | 25,070 | 27,000 | 49,174 | 77,833 |
| Source: SMMT |
Britain’s Favorite Car Models in 2022
It was quite a shake-up for the top ten best-selling car models in Britain in 2022 with none of the top-ten cars in the same sale ranking position as in 2021.
The Nissan Qashqai, a regular in the British top-ten charts, was the best-selling car model in the UK in 2022. It was also the best-selling SUV in a list dominated by small SUV models. It was also the first time that a Nissan was the favorite car of the British in a calendar year. Nissan was quick to point out that the top-selling Qashqai was the first British-made car to top the list in the UK since 1998 — almost 3.8 million Qashqai built in Sunderland since 2007.
The top-selling car in Britain in 2021, the Vauxhall Corsa, slipped back to second.
The Tesla Model Y is a new entrant on the list at third. It was also the top-selling battery-electric vehicle in the UK in 2022. Last year’s number two, the Tesla Model 3 dropped from the list but was still the second-most popular electric car in Britain in 2022.
The Ford Puma moved up four positions to fourth while the Mini slipped two positions despite increasing sales in 2022. The Kia Sportage improved by three positions while the Hyundai Tucson was a new entry on the list.
The VW Golf slipped two positions while the Ford Kuga and Ford Fiesta are also outside the top ten a year ago. The Ford Fiesta, for years the best-selling car in Britain, failed to make the list in 2021 and the nameplate will be retired in 2023.
Latest British Car Sales Data: 2023: Market Overview, Brands, Models, Electric; 2022-2008.
