Best-selling cars 2024: the year's 10 most popular models

2024 is now just a memory, and the UK’s best-selling car of the year has officially been revealed by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). If you were paying attention in 2023, you’ll know that the Ford Puma was that year’s best-seller, and it seems that this small SUV is really striking a chord with buyers, because it was also the best-selling car in 2024.

Before Ford fires up the fanfare to celebrate its two-year winning streak, though, the brand’s top brass will be all too wary of the fact that only one-in-10 private buyers in the UK opted for an electric car (BEV). This means car makers are continuing to face an uphill battle in order to meet the strict 22 per cent target that’s set by the Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate.

Thanks to fleet registrations, though, BEVs still accounted for 19.6 per cent of the total market share in 2024. Petrol remained the most popular fuel option, though, with these cars taking up a substantial 52.2 per cent.

While the Ford Puma is once again the king of the sales hill, the Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai were 2024’s second and third most popular cars respectively. The Tesla Model Y, meanwhile, was the nation’s most popular electric car. This goes to show that the UK’s ongoing love affair with SUVs is showing no signs of slowing down, although the family hatchback and supermini classes are still represented in the final run-down of 2024’s best-sellers. 

The UK’s best-selling cars in 2024

1. Ford Puma
2. Kia Sportage
3. Nissan Qashqai
4. Nissan Juke
5. Tesla Model Y
6. Volkswagen Golf
7. Hyundai Tucson
8. MG HS
9. Volvo XC40
10. Volkswagen Polo

1. Ford Puma - 48,340 

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It’s a double whammy for the Ford Puma, because this small SUV now wears the crown as best-selling car for both 2023 and 2024. A recent facelift has helped to keep the Puma feeling fresh against a seemingly never-ending string of fresh competitors, while the new Gen-E model has finally brought this model into the sights of electric car buyers. All we can do now is sit back and wait to see if the Puma can manage a hat-trick in 2025.

2. Kia Sportage - 47,163

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The fifth-generation Kia Sportage has been a regular sight on this list since it launched in 2021, and it seems that it’s only increasing in popularity after it just fell short of topping the Ford Puma in 2024. With its distinctive styling, bang up-to-date technology and overall high-quality feel, the latest Sportage is worlds apart from its predecessors. In fact, we think the Kia is one of the best mid-size SUVs to buy right now.

3. Nissan Qashqai - 42,418

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The Nissan Qashqai was 2022’s best-selling new car, and it’s clear that it’s still a firm favourite today, with the boldly facelifted third-generation model now on our roads. An all-electric variant is said to be in the works, and this model could bring in even more customers if the price is right.

4. Nissan Juke - 34,454

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Much like the larger Nissan Qashqai, the Nissan Juke enjoys a pretty constant stream of sales. This funky little SUV is undoubtedly one of the more distinctive models in this area of the market, and a mid-life facelift has given the Juke a new lease of life. It still struggled to top the Ford Puma when it came down to outright appeal, though.

5. Tesla Model Y - 32,862

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The Tesla Model Y may only be in fifth place on this list, but it was still the UK’s best-selling electric car in 2024, which is a very respectable achievement in itself. While private buyers are still a bit slow in their overall uptake of EVs, fleets and business users accounted for a huge percentage of new electric car sales in 2024. It’s easy to see the Model Y’s appeal for both private and business buyers, too, given that it combines a massive battery range, top-notch safety and a spacious interior.

6. Volkswagen Golf - 32,370 

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The Mk8 Volkswagen Golf suffered its fair share of criticism, with VW customers being deterred by oversights such as an infuriating lack of physical controls and backlighting on some controls. However, the brand managed to right many of its wrongs with the updated Mk8.5 model, and these corrections appear to have improved the Golf’s reputation at long last.

7. Hyundai Tucson - 32,174

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The Hyundai Tucson is a four-time mid-size SUV of the Year award winner at the Auto Express New Car Awards, and it appears to have impressed plenty of buyers in 2024, too. The Tucson offers styling and tech that wouldn’t be out of place on high-end models, along with plenty of practicality, and a mid-life refresh has helped to keep it up to speed with swathes of younger rivals, too.

8. MG HS - 30,207

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After a brief stint as the UK’s best-selling car at the start of the year, the MG HS is still doing its part to bring the iconic octagonal badge back into the mainstream. The second generation of this budget-conscious family SUV has now arrived with more tech and a brand-new look, but it still offers that crucial competitive starting price.

9. Volvo XC40 - 30,202

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It might be one of Volvo's older offerings, but the XC40 still managed to take its fair share of the fiercely fought small SUV market in 2024. While it isn’t the most exciting car to drive, the Volvo XC40 is an upmarket-feeling, comfortable car to soak up plenty of miles in. It isn’t bad to look at, either.

10. Volkswagen Polo - 28,981

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Within a sea of SUVs and larger hatchbacks, the Volkswagen Polo led the way for the supermini in 2024. The company’s smallest model is nimble enough for city streets, but it still offers a level of refinement that gives it a somewhat premium feel. There’s a decent amount of space inside, too, so it’s capable of doubling up as a compact family car. For those who desire a bit more performance zest, there’s also the option of the Polo GTI.

Sales vs registrations: inside the numbers

There’s an important distinction to be made where the UK’s monthly and annual car sales numbers are concerned. Namely, that they don’t actually count the number of cars sold in the sense that many people might imagine. The numbers provided by the SMMT are for car ‘registrations’ rather than being sales figures.

When customers buy a new car it is registered before it can be driven on the road but cars are also registered by manufacturers and dealers before they have a customer to go to. This practice of processing pre-registered cars is done for various reasons but often the goal is to move stock through the supply chain, avoiding bottlenecks or to hit targets. It means that a significant proportion of the cars in the ‘sales’ figures could be pre-registered, and estimates of how many range from between 10 and 20 per cent.

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