The 10 best-selling cars in Britain in 2018 2018

The Ford Fiesta was the best-selling car in the UK in 2018
Ford Fiesta - 95,892 registrations
Volkswagen Golf - 64,829 registrations
Vauxhall Corsa – 52,915 registrations
Nissan Qashqai – 50,546 registrations
Ford Focus – 50,492 registrations
Volkswagen Polo - 45,149 registrations
Mini - 44,904 registrations
Mercedes-Benz A-Class - 43,527 registrations
Ford Kuga - 40,398 registrations
Kia Sportage - 35,567 registrations

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3 mins read

7 January 2019

The Ford Fiesta was comfortably the best-selling car in Britain in 2018, with 95,892 examples of the supermini being snapped up during the year.

In total, 2,367,147 new cars were registered in the UK in 2018, a decline of nearly 7% on 2017 levels. Data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that the Fiesta was the most-registered new car in Britain, outselling the second-placed Volkswagen Golf by more than 30,000 units.

Click here to read about the latest new car sales figures for the UK market

Britain's best-selling cars of 2018

1. Ford Fiesta – 95,892 registrations

The Fiesta has been a British favourite for decades and this shows no signs of changing. The car's sales figures are well ahead of those of its closest rivals, even though it’s not the cheapest choice in the segment. The latest version of the Blue Oval's supermini scored an impressive 4.5-star review from Autocar's road testers. We particularly like its ride, handling, interior quality and smooth engine range.

2. Volkswagen Golf - 64,829 registrations

The Golf is another long-established nameplate that remains popular with buyers, and the seventh-generation machine was the second-best-selling car in the UK last year. That's despite the fact that the eighth-generation Golf will be unveiled later this year.

3. Vauxhall Corsa – 52,915 registrations

The Corsa, Vauxhall's perennial rival to the Fiesta, continues to be a popular choice for motorists. The current model arrived in 2014, is competitively priced, drives and rides well, and is designed and specced to please the car's large fan base. The next version - due to be revealed later this year - should further spruce up sales, especially as the first Corsa to benefit from Vauxhall's new PSA Group owners.

4. Nissan Qashqai – 50,546 registrations

The car that created the crossover boon continues to lead sales in the category, despite an influx of new and highly regarded rivals. The second-generation model, released in 2014, keeps dynamic, economic and interior standards high, garnering a 4.5-star review from our road test team. No wonder it’s holding firm in the sales league table.

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5. Ford Focus – 50,492 registrations

The Focus has delivered an outstanding drive since it replaced the Escort in 1998, offering impressive road manners at a reasonable price. The fourth generation of the Volkswagen Golf-rivalling family hatch arrived last year, and impressed our road testers with its driving dynamics, strong and economical engine range and quality for the price.

6. Volkswagen Polo - 45,149 registrations

The latest-generation Volkswagen Polo has honed the car into something close to a slightly smaller Volkswagen Golf, and it offers a similar level of all-round Volkswagen polish. That's helped the supermini to rise up the sales charts during 2018.

7. Mini – 44,904 registrations

Britain's appetite for the Mini is far stronger than the European average, perhaps because each model is still built in this country. The car was recently facelifted (it gained new Union Jack-motif rear lights) and it'll gain an all-electric variant this year. But the best-selling version remains the one that stays truest to the original: the three-door hatchback.

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8. Mercedes-Benz A-Class - 43,527 registrations

Mercedes' smallest model is another car that climbed up the sales charts throughout 2018, helped by the arrival of a well-regarded new generation during the year. The fourth generation of the A-Class is further proof that Mercedes can offer a premium product for the small car class.

8. Ford Kuga – 40,398 registrations

The Kuga quietly remains Britain's second-best-selling SUV behind the Nissan Qashqai, a strong result given the rising competition in the class. The Kuga is decent-handling, refined and rides well.

10. Kia Sportage - 35,567 registrations

The appearance on this list of Kia's best-seller is a testament to both the Korean firm's growth in the UK and the popularity of SUVs overall.

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James Attwood

Title: Associate editor

James is Autocar’s associate editor, and has more than 20 years of experience of working in automotive and motorsport journalism. He has been in his current role since September 2024, and helps lead Autocar's features and new sections, while regularly interviewing some of the biggest names in the industry. Oh, and he once helped make Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets.