April is traditionally a quiet month in the UK new car market, the dust settling after the number plate change in March. Even so, volumes remained healthy with well over 130,000 new cars registered. And the Ford Puma continues to hold a strong lead at the head of the bestselling cars list.
According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), new car registrations totalled 134,274 in April 2024, modest growth of one percent over the same period last year. That’s the 21st consecutive month of market growth, though volumes are still significantly down on pre-pandemic levels.
But the running theme of the last year or so continues as April’s growth was driven entirely by the fleet sector – essentially the big leasing and rental companies, plus others that take on large quantities of company cars. Registrations to such fleets grew by 18.5% last month, compared to April 2023, accounting for one-in-six of all registrations.
By contrast, the number of private retail buyers fell by 17.7%, again compared to the same period in 2023. In total, such buyers accounted for just over a third of the cars registered.
Across the year to date, nearly 680,000 cars have been registered in 2024 – an increase of 8.4% on 2023’s figures. Registrations to private buyers and smaller businesses have both declined significantly so it’s the big fleets picking up the slack, taking on 60% of all cars registered so far this year.
That buoyant fleet demand has seen the 2024 car sales forecast raised slightly to a total of 1.984 million. However, cooling demand for electric vehicles (EV) has seen their predicted market share reduced to 19.8% – nearly three percent short of the Government’s zero emissions vehicle sales mandate. Manufacturers face hefty fines for missing the target.
EV registrations grew by just over 10% in April and recorded the second-biggest market share after petrol cars, albeit a share of just 16.9%. Again, the growth was driven by fleets and businesses taking advantage of generous tax incentives. Less than 15% of EVs went to private buyers, a reduction in demand of over 20% on the same month in 2023.
Hybrids were the biggest growth area, particularly plug-in hybrids. Registrations grew by 22% in April and over 30% during the year-to-date. Total market share is still low at just under eight percent, but interest is clearly increasing.
What the industry says about UK car sales
SMMT chief executive, Mike Hawes, said: ‘The new car market continues to grow even in the quieter months, driven primarily by fleet demand. This is particularly true of the electric vehicle sector, where the absence of government incentives for private buyers is having a marked effect.
‘Although attractive deals on EVs are in place, manufacturers cannot fund the mass market transition single-handedly. Temporarily cutting VAT, treating EVs as fiscally mainstream not luxury vehicles, and taking steps to instil consumer confidence in the charge point network will drive the market growth on which Britain’s net zero ambition depends.’
Now we’ll look at the bestselling cars of April 2024 and the bestselling cars of the year so far. Many cars have changed positions since March, but the Ford Puma remains on top for the year-to-date.
Top 10 bestselling cars of April 2024
- Ford Puma – 4,339 sold
- Volkswagen Polo – 3,413 sold
- Audi A3 – 3,010 sold
- Nissan Qashqai – 2,495 sold
- Volkswagen Golf – 2,361 sold
- Kia Sportage – 2,192 sold
- Volkswagen T-Roc – 2,162 sold
- MG HS – 2,073 sold
- Volvo XC40 – 2,069 sold
- Volkswagen Tiguan – 2,004 sold
Top 10 bestselling cars of 2024 (year-to-date)
10. MINI (11,067 sold)
The cheerful and fun MINI continues to post strong sales figures, proving that the British public still has a taste for the perennially Union Jack-ified hatchback. Not bad for a car that’s 10 years old and due to be a replaced by a new generation in 2024.
The MINI’s still fantastic to drive no matter which engine you pick. And, with more personalisation options on offer than many of its contemporaries, it’s a popular choice among those who like to stand out.
Read our MINI review
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9. Volkswagen T-Roc (11,096 sold)
An all-new version of the Volkswagen T-Roc will appear later in 2024 but the existing one remains a very solid choice of compact SUV, despite its advancing years. Its funky styling is central to its appeal, but there’s substance to go with it.
Even though the T-Roc’s dimensions are on the compact side, it’s a genuinely family-friendly car. Interior space is on par with VW Golf but the T-Roc’s boot is much bigger than that of its hatchback cousin. It’s quite good to drive, too, but the lack of even a mild hybrid version does count against it, these days.
Read our full Volkswagen T-Roc review
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8. MG HS (12,101 sold)
The MG HS makes an occasional appearance in the top 10 bestsellers list, usually when its maker is offering a lease deal that makes it even better value. Indeed, it’s the ultra-low price for an SUV of its size that’s key to the appeal of the HS.
It’s also very spacious and practical, and comes loaded with standard features. The facelifted version launched in 2023 looks quite good, too. But it’s not especially refined and there are question marks over its reliability.
Read our MG HS review
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7. BMW 1 Series (12,210 sold)
The premium BMW 1 Series is the best mid-size hatchback on the market. The BMW 1 Series is a great car that’s fantastic to drive, packed with user-friendly tech and even pretty good value. There are plenty of petrol and diesel engines to choose from, as well.
On the downside, it’s not the most practical of car this type, with limited back seat and boot space. The lack of a hybrid version limits its appeal to certain buyers, as well.
Read our BMW 1 Series review
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6. Volkswagen Golf (12,651 sold)
The perennial Volkswagen Golf remains one of the best mid-size hatchbacks on the market, despite its irksome interior layout that relies too heavily on touchscreens for our liking. But those concerns should be addressed in the upcoming facelifted model.
Otherwise, the Golf remains a practical, comfortable car that offers a huge and diverse range of models to choose from. It’s good to drive, as well, and all the engines provide a decent balance of performance and efficiency.
Read our Volkswagen Golf review
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5. Nissan Juke (13,070 sold)
The Nissan Juke is the Japanese carmaker’s British-built compact SUV. It’s a very hotly contested class and, in all honesty, we’ve never rated the Juke too highly. The latest model is, at least, a big improvement over the original but it’s already starting to feel its age. Still, it seems the Juke’s eye-catching design and low costs continue to attract buyers.
The Juke trails its larger sibling, the Qashqai, in the sales charts, but the numbers are surprisingly close. Perhaps that’s indicative of UK buyers downsizing their cars.
Read our Nissan Juke review
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4. Audi A3 (13,503 sold)
Audi’s hugely popular hatchback/saloon range has been a regular in the top 10 for many years, now. Indeed, it’s often the UK’s bestselling mid-size car that’s not an SUV, which shows the power of a premium-brand image and an attractive finance deal.
The A3’s a fine car that looks great, drives neatly, comes packed with tech and offers a huge range of engines and trim levels. It’s surprisingly good value, too. Only less than generous passenger space and some cheap interior materials let it down.
Read our Audi A3 review
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3. Kia Sportage (15,824 sold)
The Kia Sportage is one of the best family SUVs on sale today. It’s available with a choice of petrol engines or mild-, self-charging and plug-in hybrid powertrains, so there should be something to suit almost every buyer. It is on the pricey side, though.
But we reckon the Sportage is worth spending the cash on. It has a practical interior, a great infotainment package and it comes with Kia’s brilliant seven-year warranty. It’s no surprise it’s one of the bestselling cars in the UK.
Read our Kia Sportage review
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2. Nissan Qashqai (17,050 sold)
Nissan pioneered the SUV niche as we know it when it launched the original Qashqai back in 2006, and it seems the UK’s car buying public hasn’t yet grown tired of the car. The current version was launched in 2021 with a more spacious interior and simple physical cabin controls – instead of the touchscreen-based buttons so many cars now have.
Buyers have a choice of two petrol engines. There’s a 1.3-litre mild-hybrid available with two power outputs, and a 1.5-litre full hybrid. We recommend opting for the latter – with more power and greater efficiency it’s better to live with day-to-day.
Read our Nissan Qashqai review
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1. Ford Puma (19,393 sold)
The Ford Puma was the best bestselling car of 2023 and looks set to repeat the feat in 2024. Because this former Parkers Best Small Family Car award winner is hugely fashionable right now, as small SUVs are generally, and it’s a particularly practical and economical example of the breed.
It’s also one of the best-driving SUVs of any size on sale, capturing the same handling magic found in its chassis sibling, the Fiesta. It’s a hard car to fault generally, being full of thoughtful details that make life on the road as easy as possible. And it’ll plaster a smile across your face whether you’re attacking a back road or pottering to the shops.
Read our Ford Puma review
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