The compact Ford Puma SUV holds on to first place in the annual sales charts for the third month running, after topping the monthly registrations leaderboard once gain in July.
July saw new car sales grow by 28% year-on-year, according to the latest data published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). However, this was almost entirely thanks to rebounding fleet purchases (up 62%) while private new car sales were almost completely flat (up only 0.3%).
The Ford Puma doubled its sales lead over the Vauxhall Corsa last month – the gap between 1st and 2nd in the competitive annual best-sellers race now standing at 3,000 models. The Puma’s sales success in July will be another highlight for Ford, as over 4,000 models were sold, 1,000 more than the third-placed Nissan Qashqai which was last year’s best-seller.
Vauxhall had another good month, with both the Corsa supermini and Mokka small SUV in the June top ten. The Corsa holds on to second place in the annual charts after seven months of sales, while a fourth place finish in the July rankings sees the Mokka jump up one position in the standings to ninth, leapfrogging the now discontinued Ford Fiesta which still holds on to the final position in the top ten.
The only electric model to feature in the top ten and currently the world’s best-selling car – the Tesla Model Y – holds on to fourth in the annual race, while the Nissan Juke drops behind the Kia Sportage which came second in the July registrations leaderboard.
Read our monthly sales report: Industry hoopla masks flat private new car sales
Top ten best-sellers chart, July 2023
| 1 | Ford Puma | 4,124 |
| 2 | Kia Sportage | 3,060 |
| 3 | Nissan Qashqai | 3,032 |
| 4 | Vauxhall Mokka | 3,002 |
| 5 | Hyundai Tucson | 2,608 |
| 6 | Vauxhall Corsa | 2,543 |
| 7 | Ford Kuga | 2,530 |
| 8 | Audi A3 | 2,467 |
| 9 | Toyota Aygo X | 2,353 |
| 10 | Tesla Model Y | 2,284 |
Britain’s best-selling cars of 2023
1. Ford Puma
The Ford Puma has been consistently popular this year. It continues to outsell cars of all shapes and sizes and tops the annual registrations leaderboard. It has taken the mantle of Ford’s most popular model, with around 9,000 more sales than the now-discontinued Fiesta hatchback.
The Puma has received plenty of praise from the UK motoring media, and currently holds an Expert Rating of 76% on our unique Expert Rating Index. That puts it top of the charts for supermini-based SUVs.
2. Vauxhall Corsa
Sales of the Vauxhall Corsa supermini tailed off towards the end of 2022, but it has started 2023 in a strong fashion, now sitting in second in the annual table after July. It has lost ground to the Ford Puma, but reamins locked in a tight sales battle with the Nissan Qashqai in third.
Despite its consistent sales success, the Corsa has received average reviews from the motoring media, with an Expert Rating of 61% for fossil-fuel versions and 62% for the Corsa Electric model.
3. Nissan Qashqai
Last year’s best-selling car, the Nissan Qashqai continues to chase the Corsa and Puma, holding on to third after falling to that position in May. The mid-sized SUV is the current jewel in the crown of the British car manufacturing industry – designed in London, developed in the Midlands and built in Sunderland.
On sale since Autumn 2021, the Qashqai holds an Expert Rating of 69%, which is reasonable for a medium SUV but nothing to really shout about.
4. Tesla Model Y
After topped the sales charts in the June monthly rankings, the Tesla Model Y dropped to tenth place in June. The electric model’s sales numbers are enough to hold on to fourth in the annual rankings, but the Hyundai Tucson is now not that far behind.
The SUV is by far the most popular electric car in the UK (and the world).
The Model Y currently holds an Expert Rating of 77%, which is a commendable score, but doesn’t place it at the top of its class.
5. Hyundai Tucson
The current Hyundai Tucson has been a sales success since it was launched in 2021. Moving up the sales charts from sixth to fifth, the Hyundai is still in a tight sales battle with its close relative, the Kia Sportage. The Kia was more popular in March, April and July, while the Hyundai had the upper hand in May and June.
The Tucson has received positive reviews from the motoring media, with a solid Expert Rating of 75% on our industry-leading Expert Rating Index.
6. Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage lost ground to the Hyundai Tucson in May and June, but and impressive second place finish in July means the SUV now finds itself in sixth in the annual rankings, after overtaking the Nissan Juke.
The new Kia Sportage currently holds an Expert Rating of 72% on our award-winning Expert Rating Index, which is a substantial improvement on the previous model.
7. Nissan Juke
On sale since 2019, the UK-built Nissan Juke has established itself as a popular choice of British motorists since the turn of the year, as a cheaper and more compact alternative to its larger Qashqai sibling. Directly competiting with the Qashqai sales figures in months prior, the Juke dropped another place to seventh in the annual chart, as it was unable to fend off the Kia Sportage.
The Juke currently holds an Expert Rating of 62%, and finds itself positioned squarely in the middle of a crowded compact SUV class.
8. Mini hatch
On sale since 2014, the Mini hatch has been one of the most consistent best-sellers in British motoring history. It dropped out of the monthly top ten in July though, and while it holds on to eighth in the annual race, the Vauxhall Mokka is now only behind by a fine margin
The Mini hatch currently holds an Expert Rating of 71%. The all-electric version – the Mini Electric – is not as popular with reviewers, and holds an Expert Rating of 63%.
9. Vauxhall Mokka
After knocking the Volkswagen T-Roc from last spot in the best-sellers’ list last month, the Vauxhall Mokka has moved up the annual rankings once again. It had been continually outsold by its Corsa sibling, but beat the hatchback by around 450 registrations in July.
The Mokka has received average reviews from the motoring media, with an Expert Rating of 66% for petrol-powered versions and 69% for the Mokka Electric.
10. Ford Fiesta
For a model that has been out of production for two months now, the Ford Fiesta is not going out without a fight, despite dropping one place to tenth after July. Ford is no doubt working its way through the last of its Fiesta stock, and this could very well be the last time we see the hatchback in the top ten.
The Fiesta currently holds an Expert Rating of 77%, with good scores from most UK media sources.
The August sales results will be out in the first week of September – watch this space!
