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The Ford Fiesta led the UK’s sales chart in 2009, 2019 and every year in between.
Its timeless appeal is relatively rare in an ever-changing market. Cars like the Focus and the Volkswagen Golf also retained their popularity, but some of 2009’s best-sellers limped through 2019 while nameplates we formerly considered niche gradually merged into the mainstream during the 2010s.
What does this evolution mean in the grand scheme of things? We’re comparing 2009’s best-sellers with 2019’s and analysing the data to predict who will rule the sales chart in 2029.
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2009’s best sellers
New car sales in the UK totalled 1,994,999 units in 2009, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It wasn’t a stellar year for the industry, as the country was mired in recession following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008. Registrations were at their lowest point since 1995 and fell by 6.4% compared to 2008, but the scrappage scheme boosted sales during the second half of the year.
Looking at 2009’s ten best-sellers provides a telling look at how the market evolved during the following decade. Here they are in descending order from number ten to number one.
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10: Ford Mondeo (34,418 sold)
Once a ubiquitous sight on British roads, the Ford Mondeo ended 2009 in tenth spot, about 1600 units behind its Vauxhall-badged rival, and it dropped off the chart the following year. 2010’s tenth best-seller was the Nissan Qashqai. The new fourth-generation model released in 2014 after profit-sapping production delays was a solid effort from Ford but it couldn’t lure motorists out of SUVs.
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9: Vauxhall Insignia (36,040 sold)
After earning a ninth-place finish in 2009, its first full year on the market, the Vauxhall Insignia followed the Ford Mondeo off the top-ten chart in 2010. But while the Mondeo never returned, the Insignia made a surprisingly strong comeback by taking the sixth spot in 2011, ahead of the Volkswagen Polo, the BMW 3 Series, the Nissan Qashqai, and the Mini Hatchback. It hasn’t been in the top ten since.
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8: BMW 3 Series (39,029 sold)
In recent years, there’s always been at least one German premium car on the top-ten list; the BMW 3 Series was 2009’s winner. While the fifth-generation model (called E90 internally) split the public’s opinion with its Chris Bangle-styled lines, it won over motorists by offering an upmarket interior, rewarding handling and a comprehensive catalogue of petrol and diesel engines.
It remained the UK’s most-loved premium car until 2014, when it got kicked off the chart by the Audi A3. It hasn’t been back since and, with the notable exception of the Mini, neither has BMW.
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7: Mini Hatch (39,866 sold)
While it’s never been as volume-oriented as its truly tiny predecessor, the BMW-designed Mini Hatch became the eighteenth best-selling car in the UK in 2003 with 40,510 sales. It didn’t reach the top ten until 2009, when it earned seventh place. That’s the best result it obtained until 2019.
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6: Peugeot 207 (48,037 sold)
It wasn’t unusual to see Peugeot’s name on the list of the UK’s ten best-selling cars in the 2000s. The 206 sold well throughout its career and the 207 picked up where its predecessor left off. It never matched the Ford Fiesta’s popularity but it was more popular than the Volkswagen Polo and the Renault Clio.
And yet, its success was short-lived. It finished seventh (one spot behind the Polo) in 2010 and its replacement, the first-generation 208, broke into the top ten only once when it secured the 10th spot in 2013. That was the last time a French car appeared on the list.
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5: Volkswagen Golf (57,187 sold)
Historically, the UK hasn’t been one of the Volkswagen Golf’s strongest markets in Europe. This changed in 1999, when the hatchback entered the top ten for the first time in 23 years, and it has been in it almost every year since. Its rise to prominence caused more than a few sleepless nights for Vauxhall and Ford product planners.
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4: Vauxhall Astra (67,729 sold)
The Astra’s blend of German engineering and British flair lured thousands of motorists into Vauxhall showrooms during the 2000s. Sales fell by 22,912 units from 2008 to 2009 but that’s because the third-generation model (pictured) was nearing the end of its life cycle; its successor arrived at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show.
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3: Vauxhall Corsa (84,478 sold)
Although it stood proud as one of the most popular cars in the UK, the Vauxhall Corsa D didn’t manage to end Ford’s reign over the sales chart. It ended 2009 in third place, one spot and 15,096 units down from 2008. Its direct successor, the Corsa E, always finished in the top five but never beat the Fiesta.
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2: Ford Focus (93,517 sold)
The Ford Focus became the best-selling car in the UK in 1999, its first full year on the market, and it didn’t move down from the top spot until 2009, when production of the sixth-generation Fiesta ramped up. Ford’s acclaimed answer to the Volkswagen Golf spent most of the 2010s near the top of the sales chart but it hasn’t managed to secure the number one spot since getting overtaken by its smaller sibling.
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1: Ford Fiesta (117,296 sold)
Right-sized and value-packed, the Fiesta is one of Ford’s biggest success stories in the UK. It raced ahead of the bigger Focus and the Vauxhall Corsa, its arch rival, in 2009 and it hasn’t lost the top spot since. The nameplate’s hugely positive reputation makes it the go-to choice for drivers who need “just a car.”
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2019’s best sellers
2,311,140 new cars were registered in the UK in 2019, which represents a healthy increase over 2009 but a significant drop from 2016’s peak of 2,692,786 units. Models like the Fiesta and the Golf have stood the test of time but big saloons such as the Insignia and the Mondeo are no longer on the list of the 10 best sellers. And, while there wasn’t a single SUV in 2009’s top ten, there are three in 2019.
Here’s the 2019 sales chart in descending order, starting with number ten.
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10: Kia Sportage (34,502 sold)
As the only South Korean model in the top ten, the Sportage illustrates how Kia evolved from a company peddling cheap and cheerful cars to one that makes vehicles motorists aspire to own. The Sportage continues to sell well because it’s spacious, well-built and relatively affordable. Kia’s segment-leading seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty gives buyers extra peace of mind, too. It’s a great all-around value.
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9: Volkswagen Polo (37,453 sold)
Volkswagen’s Polo continues to linger near the bottom of the UK’s top-ten best-sellers list. It trails the bigger, more expensive Golf by about 20,000 units and it’s also behind the Vauxhall Corsa and the Ford Fiesta, two of its most direct rivals. It has made significant progress, though. Comparing 2009 to 2019, the Polo replaced the Peugeot 207 as the UK’s third-favourite supermini.
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8: Mini Hatch (41,188 sold)
Mini’s retro-inspired tribute to one of England’s most emblematic cars lost one spot and about 3700 sales between 2018 and 2019 but it was more popular than in 2009. Bigger dimensions and the addition of a four-door model (pictured) in 2014 considerably broadened the current-generation car’s appeal.
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7: Ford Kuga (41,671 sold)
Ford’s Kuga is another model that opportunely surfed the SUV wave between 2009 and 2019. Its appeal is no longer limited to country-dwelling motorists who regular drive on dirt roads; for many, it’s a regular family car. Sales were down slightly in 2019 compared to 2018 but it nonetheless rose from ninth to seventh place.
It even outsold the Nissan Qashqai, one of its most direct rivals, in December which isn’t surprising considering Ford has started taking orders for the new model (pictured).
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6: Nissan Qashqai (52,532 sold)
Made in England, the second-generation Nissan Qashqai competes in one of the most popular segments of the new car market. It’s not the newest model in its category, it made its debut in 2013, but it remains the leader. Sales actually grew by about 2,000 units from 2018 to 2019.
Increasingly fierce competition hasn’t reduced the Qashqai’s appeal – at least not yet. The next-generation model Nissan will unveil by the end of 2020 should continue the nameplate’s winning streak.
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5: Mercedes-Benz A-Class (53,724 sold)
In 2009, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class was a tall people-mover aimed at families. Turning it into a sporty hatchback for young, aspirational buyers paid off, helped by competitive finance deals. It’s one of the best-selling cars in the UK, ahead of the Audi A3 and the BMW 1 Series, and it accounts for nearly a third of the German company’s local sales.
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4: Vauxhall Corsa (54,239 sold)
The city-friendly Corsa is the only Vauxhall left in the top ten; the Astra and the Insignia dropped off the list. It wasn’t nearly as popular in 2019 as it was in 2009 but the sixth-generation model (pictured) due out in 2020 could turn the nameplate’s fortunes around with its sharp looks. Design sells better than ever and the new Corsa is arguably the most stylish model Vauxhall has released in many years.
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3: Ford Focus (56,619 sold)
At first glance, it looks like the Ford Focus has merely lost a spot in the rankings but that’s not the full story. 2019 sales declined by 36,898 units from their 2009 level, a rather alarming drop in a market that was 16% larger overall. Motorists are gradually shifting towards high-riding models and Ford was slow to fill the gap between the EcoSport and the Kuga. We expect the new and warmly-received Puma will earn a spot on this list in the 2020s.
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2: Volkswagen Golf (58,994 sold)
Volkswagen Golf sales remained relatively flat yet the nameplate moved up from fifth to second place as its rivals declined in popularity. Ford’s Focus fell from second to third place and the Vauxhall Astra left the list altogether, a sign the current-generation model hasn’t been well received.
The Golf’s second-place result is even more impressive when you consider 2019 was the seventh-generation model’s last full year on the market. The gap between the Golf and its main rivals could expand as its successor, the new eighth-generation model (pictured), arrives on British roads in the spring.
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1: Ford Fiesta (77,833 sold)
Stylish, efficient and affordable, the Ford Fiesta ruled the sales chart in 2019 just as it did in 2009. What’s even more spectacular is that it finished first every year in between. It leads the British market by a comfortable margin though annual sales dropped by 18,059 units in 2019 compared to 2018. Whether that’s a sign Ford’s best-seller is the SUV’s next victim is open to debate.
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What will 2029’s best-seller look like?
Recently the UK government announced it will ban the sale of petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles by 2035. This drastic decision could completely reshape the market but keep in mind a lot can happen in 15 years. The next administration could delay or completely reverse the decision. And, while SUVs are undeniably gaining ground, they’re largely conquering territory dominated by large saloons and estates, like the Mondeo.
While it’s difficult to predict the future, it’s not too far-fetched to assume the UK’s best-selling car in 2029 will still be a Fiesta- or Focus-sized hatchback. It’s evidently a format that works well for a vast majority of motorists, sheer luck hasn’t kept Ford at the top of the chart for 20 years, and low-riding models remain more efficient than SUVs so carmakers have more incentives to sell them than ever before. PICTURE: 2020 Hyundai i20 sketch
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What won’t we see in 2029?
2029’s best-seller likely won’t be electric. It will take quite some time before the cost and range of a battery-powered drivetrain matches those of a petrol-fuelled engine. We’d put money on seeing hybrids make their way to the top of the sales chart during the 2020s, though, likely at the expense of diesel.
The popularity of SUVs will continue to increase. None of the automakers we spoke to predict the saloon will make a triumphant return, even if companies like Volvo are quietly betting on it, and the segment’s rapid, on-going expansion will give buyers more choices. There were three high-riding models on 2019’s top-ten list; we wouldn’t be surprised to see four or five plant their flag on 2029’s list. PICTURE: 2020 Kia Sorento sketch
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