Best-selling cars 2022: the UK’s top 10 most popular models

2021 was an unpredictable year for the car industry and the latest car registration figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) confirm the shocks will only keep coming in the UK’s top 10 best-selling cars list during 2022. 

With pandemic struggles and global semiconductor shortages far from over and the ongoing crisis in Ukraine disturbing production lines, this year will be difficult to predict but the early signs are positive. 417,560 cars had been sold up to the end of March in 2022, although this was down 1.9 per cent in comparison to this time in 2021. The rise in popularity for electric cars is still on show with EV sales rising 78.7 per cent year-on year and accounting for 16.1 per cent of total new car sales.

Diesel continues to be on a downward trend, dropping by 55.2 per cent in comparison to 2021 so far and taking just a 5.6 per cent share of total sales. 

In terms of individual model sales, the last year’s best-selling car, the Vauxhall Corsa, is still leading the way for 2022 so far with the Kia Sportage following in second place and the Ford Puma taking third spot.

There’s still a long way to go before we crown Britain’s best-selling car for 2022. The Vauxhall Corsa topped the chart by over 6,000 units last year and it’s made an excellent start to the year with key rival like the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo not making it into the top 10. 

The Kia Sportage finished ninth overall in 2021 – taking the title of Britain’s third most popular SUV. This year started brightly but a poor February saw it lose first place. A new 2022 model is on sale now and it could take top honours for the year as we think it’s the best one yet. 

The Ford Fiesta has been a fixture at the top of the UK’s best selling cars list for what seems like a lifetime but it didn’t finish in the top 10 for 2021. Instead, it was up to the Puma to spearhead the Blue Oval’s sales push. Britain’s eighth best-selling car of 2021 is doing even better in 2022 and with the Fiesta still missing out on the top 10 despite receiving a new facelift, the Puma looks set to be Ford’s big achiever once again. 

We were so impressed by the Hyundai Tucson when it launched last year that we gave it the coveted ‘Mid-size SUV of the Year’ title at our New Car Awards. The Tucson’s more premium approach may even bring in a new clientele in 2022, our Tucson long-term test car certainly ticked all the right boxes as a family SUV.

The MINI had an astonishingly successful 2021, taking third spot on the overall list. The addition of an all-electric model helped bump up sales figures, and we think it’s a premium, well-built and charming supermini – so it definitely deserves to retain its spot here.

The Tesla Model Y only arrived this year, which makes it all the more remarkable it’s now climbed to sixth, and just nudged past the Model 3. It’s hardly a surprise its SUV body style combined with the same powertrain as its lower sibling would prove irresistible, and there’s been plenty of pent up demand as Tesla fans waited for the car to for the car to come to these shores. 

While it’s been overtaken by the more practical Model Y, the fact the all-electric Model 3 is still outselling the Ford Fiesta just shows how the 2022 car market is full of surprises. It was an Auto Express 2020 Car of The Year award winner, blending a great range, impressive tech and rapid performance.

The arrival of the all-new Qashqai has given this chart stalwart a push up the rankings, and we expect the introduction of the innovative Qashqai e-Power hybrid will only accelerate its sales later in 2022.

The latest Vauxhall Mokka is a significant step up from the old model. Sitting on the CMP platform shared with the Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208, the Mokka is available with a diesel, petrol or even a fully-electric powertrain so there’s something for all tastes. 

The Kia Niro may be getting on a bit but it’s still proving to be a successful model for the Korean brand. A new Niro will be coming out later this year with a similar range featuring a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, and the fully electric e-Niro variant, so Kia is doing a great job of shifting the current model. 

Looking to lease a new car in 2022? Check out our list of the best car leasing deals available right now…