The bestsellers - so far.
These, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, are the UK's bestselling new cars of the past 25 years. Surprising? Perhaps not, given that Ford's Focus and Fiesta both well-established names by the turn of the century — occupy the top spots.
But how about the Nissan Qashqai, an entirely new kind of car, working its way in? And it's the only SUV here, which is another surprise. So, too, is the Peugeot 206, which sold for only a single generation. We certainly didn't see that one coming.
Ford Fiesta
Total UK sales: 2,129,648
That the death of the Fiesta made national news headlines demonstrates just how much love Ford's long-serving supermini had received in the UK. But even that perhaps understates its total domination of the market, having held the top spot on the SMMT's annual sales charts between 2009 and 2020. The decision to kill the Fiesta in the face of waning profits could well go down as one of the industry's greatest blunders or bravest decisions of all time.
Ford Focus
Total UK sales: 2,066,304
It's difficult to overstate just how much of a risk the Focus was for Ford of Europe. Sure, the Escort had become naff, but it still sold in huge numbers; to rip up that legacy and start afresh must have taken some convincing. It's just as well, then, that Ford's risk was rewarded with one of the best-selling cars of all time. We'll miss it when it goes.
Vauxhall Corsa
Total UK sales: 1,838,912
Thoroughly unexceptional but a national favourite nonetheless. We would challenge you to find someone who hasn't driven a Corsa at some point. With the Ford Fiesta now gone and the Focus on its way out, we wouldn't be surprised to see this one up top in the years to come.
Vauxhall Astra
Total UK sales: 1,459,214
Being manufactured at Ellesmere Port kept prices for this decent family hatchback attractively low, and that in turn generated huge demand. But sales have yet to recover from the double whammy of Astra production moving to Germany and the model moving upmarket.
Volkswagen Golf
Total UK sales: 1,450,860
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The numbers are skewed by Peugeot's policy of incrementing numbers, until they started to run out of numbers and decided to stick to 08 for more expensive markets and 01 for less expensive. Clearly the 207 and 208 were simply later models of the 206. The Fiesta, Corsa and Polo kept the same model name but Peugeot incremented the number on what was the same model.
A Skoda Octavia is a far superior car and much better looking in any generation.
Good to see two Renaults in this. I was not expecting that.
There was nothing wrong with the mk4 Megane it was a classy and stylish car just too many sheep want a Golf.
The fact the Peugeot 206 is up there to must mean it was a bigger seller in this Century than its replacements the 207 and 208.
Ford Europe, please bring back the Fiesta, ffs!! No other supermini comes close, they're all garbage now. Ford Europe really shot itself in the foot by discontinuing the Fiesta and the Focus. I'd love to replace my 2018 Fiesta with a new one at some point and I sure don't won't won't be doing it with a Puma, which is nothing more than a bloated, Romanian built, overpriced Fiesta. Ford Europe has really nothing to offer anyone in the market for ICE car.