Ford Puma review – a fun-to-drive small SUV
The best-selling cars in the UK 2024
We dive into the cars that have proven the most popular with UK buyers so far this year
As the days get shorter and the winter chill begins to creep in, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has released the UK new car sales figures for October. The numbers help us to see which models are most popular with UK buyers and give us an overview of the car market as a whole.
Sales were up in September compared to the year before, but things weren’t quite as rosy in October. This year saw a 6% decline in new car sales compared to October 2023, with sales of diesel and petrol cars taking the biggest hit. That said, total car sales for the year to date are up compared to last year by over 3%.
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That increase could largely be down to the boost in sales of electric and hybrid cars. So far this year, EVs have accounted for nearly a fifth of all new car sales, perhaps driven by recent price cuts and new budget-focused models. However, no EVs feature in the top 10 best-sellers – the Tesla Model Y has been overtaken this month by the Volvo XC40. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids have accounted for over a fifth of sales, although petrol cars still have the lion’s share – over half of all new cars sold this year so far were petrol.
Death appears to be knocking on diesel’s door by the look of things. Just over 100,000 new diesel cars have found buyers this year out of 1.6 million total sales, giving them a smaller market share than all other fuel types. With flagging demand for new diesels, it’s no surprise that fewer manufacturers offer this fuel type. Out of the 10 best-selllers on this list, just two can be ordered with a diesel engine – the Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3 hatchbacks.
That might come as a bit of a surprise. Diesel used to be the fuel of choice for big SUVs, but the seven SUVs on this list all use petrol or hybrid engines. Their rise in popularity has continued throughout October, with the Ford Puma and Kia Sportage still battling for top spot on this list. So far, it’s the Ford in the lead – nearly 3% of all new cars sold this year were Pumas, in fact.
While we like the Puma here at Carbuyer, our list of the best small SUVs will clue you in on its rivals. Don’t understand the SUV hype? Don’t worry – you can read our lists of the best small cars and superminis or the best estate cars on sale today. We’ve also covered the best electric cars if you’re ready to switch to plug-in power.
UK sales year-to-date: 42,465
The best-selling car of 2023 was the Ford Puma, and it had a strong start in the first months of 2024, snatching the top spot as the best seller early on. It’s based on the now-discontinued Fiesta, but that car’s cancellation last year made way for the higher-riding Puma, and it’s safe to say that strategy is working for Ford.
The Puma offers much of what we loved about the Fiesta, namely its sporty driving experience, albeit with popular small-SUV styling and more practicality. Configure the Puma with one of Ford’s feisty, yet frugal 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engines and you’ll have yourself one of the best-handling small SUVs around. We’d go for the sporty-looking ST-Line model as this gets a sharply-styled bodykit as well as built-in sat nav and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster which changes appearance depending on which drive mode you’re in.
The Puma was updated earlier this year with tweaked styling and some welcome interior improvements. All versions now get a big 12.8-inch infotainment display as standard, which should go some way to keep the Puma competitive into next year.
UK sales year-to-date: 42,115
The days of the family hatchback look to be well and truly behind us and mainstays such as the Ford Focus have been replaced in the best-sellers list with of-the-moment SUVs like the Kia Sportage. Offering much more space than the average hatchback, the Sportage’s 591-litre boot should be able to swallow even the largest of prams. The interior is loaded with tech, too, such as an easy-to-use infotainment system and USB-C sockets built into the front seats, thus preventing those in the rear from bickering over who gets to charge their device.
Unlike the Kia Niro, the Sportage isn’t available with a fully-electric powertrain, but it can still be had with either petrol, self-charging hybrid or plug-in hybrid power. While the plug-in hybrid will surely appeal to company car drivers thanks to its 43-mile range and low 8% Benefit-in-Kind tax rating, we’d recommend the smooth and reasonably powerful self-charging hybrid if you can afford it over the standard mild-hybrid petrol.
The Sportage is due for a light refresh next year, bringing some tweaked styling and newer infotainment tech. It’s already been revealed in its home market, so you can take a peek at the new model here.
UK sales year-to-date: 35,271
Built in Sunderland, the Nissan Qashqai was the best-selling car of 2022, and for 2023 it came in second place just ahead of its mid-size SUV rivals. It got off to a good start in the first quarter of 2024, too, coming in second place, but has since fallen to third. The latest Qashqai is an evolution of the original which made its debut back in 2007, offering a stylish exterior and spacious interior with enough room for most families. The Qashqai gets Nissan’s latest infotainment setup which is responsive and easy to use, while mid-spec Tekna cars even get fully-digital dials.
Performance from the two 1.3-litre petrol engines can be described as ‘adequate’ – it’s Nissan’s e-Hybrid powertrain that really steals the show. This utilises a 1.5-litre petrol engine to power an electric motor, providing the same smooth driving experience as an EV. This comes as a benefit to fuel economy, too; the Qashqai e-Hybrid is claimed to return an impressive 53.3mpg on the WLTP test for combined city and motorway driving.
The Qashqai is another car that’s just undergone a styling refresh this year, which brings a new front end inspired by traditional Japanese warrior armour that should help this popular SUV stand out a little more.
UK sales year-to-date: 30,548
The Nissan Juke has long been a popular car since the first-generation model hit the scene and kickstarted the trend for small SUVs. The most recent model is a big improvement over the one that came before it, and it’s now the fourth best-selling car of 2024, so it’s still a hit with buyers.
One of the biggest improvements for the latest Nissan Juke over its predecessor is the driving experience – it’s sharper and more responsive than ever before, with the same underpinnings as the Renault Clio – one of our favourite small cars. Nissan offers the Juke for a competitive price, which only helps its popularity, and it’s fairly well-equipped. All models get LED headlights, cruise control, DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity, but it’s worth paying a little extra and springing for mid-range Acenta to get the eight-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The facelifted model gets even more tech as standard compared to before, along with a sporty N-Sport trim level and bold colour options to help it stand out.
UK sales year-to-date: 29,427
The Volkswagen Golf has been a household name for over half a century now, and the latest model offers a polished drive and improved engines over the model that came before it, making it a compelling choice. Sales are expected to be buoyed by a recent facelift, which hit the market in July 2024.
The latest Golf feels more agile and nimble to drive than the old model, but also strikes a good balance of comfort. Frustrating infotainment and some quality cuts aside, the latest Golf’s interior is more modern and unique than it was before. There’s a long list of trim levels, though most people will be best catered-for with the entry-level Life model that gets 16-inch alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen and even driver assistance features like front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and road sign recognition. Petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid models are all available, as are sporty GTI and R models for the hot-hatch enthusiasts, so most bases are covered.
UK sales year-to-date: 28,115
After a few months of strong sales, the Hyundai Tucson has landed in sixth spot for the
best-selling cars of the year. The facelifted Hyundai Tucson reached UK dealerships a few months back, which seems to have resulted in a boost in sales.
There’s lots to like about the Hyundai Tucson. For starters, it’s great to drive and strikes a good balance of comfort, too. There’s little body lean to speak of through the corners, and even at low speeds it feels nimble and easy to manoeuvre. It comes with a choice of petrol and hybrid engines which offer great fuel economy, which is also a big part of its appeal. Despite Hyundai’s origins as a budget brand, the Tucson also boasts an attractive interior with lots of equipment, so it’s no wonder it’s proving popular.
UK sales year-to-date: 26,830
The Audi A3 crept into the best-sellers list in 10th place by the end of November 2023, and continues with strong sales well into 2024. The A3 has long set the template for premium hatchbacks, still managing to compete in a market increasingly dominated by small SUVs. For a while it battled it out with its close rival the BMW 1 Series, but that car has since fallen off the top 10 list.
The latest iteration of the Audi A3 is a little more daring than its predecessors in terms of its design. There are three versions to pick from: Sport, S Line and Black Edition – the latter two offer an even sportier look that stands out in the crowd. There’s also a saloon version of the A3 that’s a much smaller seller, but evokes a slightly more grown-up, executive feel. The A3 comes with plenty of gadgetry on the inside, with a hi-tech, upmarket interior with an advanced digital dash and infotainment system angled towards the driver, giving it a cockpit-like setup. A wide variety of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid ‘TFSIe’ powertrains means Audi A3 buyers are well catered for.
UK sales year-to-date: 25,817
While it’s a well-established household name, the Volkswagen Polo supermini had been notably absent from the top 10 best-selling cars list most of the way through 2024. As of October 2024, however, it’s now in the eighth spot and is the sole supermini on this list, proving their popularity hasn’t completely waned.
Buyers like the Polo because it’s long offered a slightly more upmarket and sturdy feel than rivals like the Vauxhall Corsa and Renault Clio. It hasn’t been updated since 2021, but that facelift gave the current Polo styling that aligned it slightly closer to the Golf hatchback, and it still feels fairly fresh today. The Polo is spacious for a supermini and the driving experience is good, while its interior feels more upmarket and technology-led than the old car’s did.
UK sales year-to-date: 25,414
The MG HS didn’t appear in the best-selling cars list for 2023 overall, but it’s currently the ninth best-selling car of 2024. MG is a brand known for its great value for money, and clearly this is resonating with buyers in the market for an affordable family SUV. An all-new second-generation MG HS has just hit the market with an equally affordable price tag, so its run of strong sales is expected to continue.
Admittedly, the MG HS doesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to the mid-size SUV formula, and although its petrol engines are fairly thirsty and simple, there is a plug-in hybrid version that does a better job in this respect. However, the MG HS’s appeal really lies in its impressively generous amount of standard kit for the price. All cars get a 10.1-inch infotainment screen with sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry, folding door mirrors, a rear-view camera and parking sensors, while Trophy models add niceties such as leather heated front seats, dual-zone climate control and an upgraded stereo for a little extra.
UK sales year-to-date: 24,621
The Volvo XC40 may be seven years old now, but its popularity hasn’t dwindled with UK buyers. The small SUV has landed a spot on the best-sellers list for 2024, overtaking the electric Tesla Model Y. It’s a pricier alternative to the Ford Puma and Nissan Qashqai on this list, but it sits towards the premium end of the market, competing with the likes of the MINI Countryman and Audi Q3.
The XC40 stands out from the myriad of other small SUVs with its slick Scandinavian styling, efficient mild hybrid petrol engines, and classy interior. It’s comfy, too, and comes with all the standard equipment you could need, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, dual-zone climate control and reversing sensors. The electric XC40 Recharge has recently been rebranded as the EX40, but remains a capable – if expensive – zero-emissions alternative.
Want to know what our favourite new cars are? Check out the winners of our 2024 Carbuyer Best Car Awards
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