April saw 120,321 new car registrations, a drop of 10.4% year on year. More worryingly, this data, revealed by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), shows that car registrations are 25.3% behind April 2019, sparking concerns about weak consumer confidence. Elsewhere, the Kia Sportage and Ford Puma continue to spar for the bestseller crown, with the Kia taking the gold for April.
Petrol remains the largest fuel type, with 48.8% market share for March 2025, although this has fallen slightly year-on-year as more buyers embrace electrification. Electric vehicles saw further upswings, growing 8.1% to 24,558 new EV registrations. Despite this growth, the SMMT predicts that only 23.5% of all cars will be zero-emission by the end of this year, short of the 28% required by the Zero Emission Mandate (ZEV).
Plug-in hybrids also saw market share grow by 34.1%. Hybrid and diesels declined, shrinking by 2.9% and 26.2% year-on-year. Fleet, private and business sales all fell, by 11.9%, 7,9% and 10.9% respectively. Fleet sales still hold the largest market share.
The SMMT boils this disappointing month of car registrations down to the late timing of Easter, changes to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) taking effect, and the spread of the Expensive Car Supplement to EVs for the first time.
What the industry says about UK car sales
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive said: ‘April’s performance is disappointing but expected after March’s surge. Another month of growth for electric vehicle registrations is good news, however, even if demand remains well below ambition. Recent government adjustments to flexibilities and compliance within the ZEV Mandate are welcome and an important first step in relieving some of the pressure on the market and manufacturers.
However, EV uptake is still being heavily and unsustainably subsidised by the industry which is why a compelling package of measures from government is essential if consumers are going to make the switch.’
The top 10 bestselling cars of March 2025
- Kia Sportage – 3,514 sold
- Ford Puma – 3,311 sold
- Vauxhall Corsa – 2,376 sold
- Nissan Qashqai – 2,197 sold
- Audi A3 – 2,112 sold
- Volvo XC40 – 2,008 sold
- Nissan Juke – 1,959 sold
- Peugeot 2008 – 1,822 sold
- Hyundai Tucson – 1,781 sold
- MINI Cooper – 1,624 sold
Top 10 bestselling cars of 2025 year-to-date
It's the nation's favourite for a reason
It’s also the best-driving SUV in its class, running rings around the likes of the Renault Captur and Nissan Juke. It captures a lot of the same handling magic found in the old Fiesta, with which it shares its underpinnings – and, now that the Fiesta’s dead, this is the only way to experience that magic. This year's facelift hasn't been as promising as we'd hoped, but the fundamentals are still there.
To find out more, read our full Ford Puma review
Pros
- It’s the best-driving family SUV
- Fun and frugal petrol engines
- Huge boot thanks to Ford’s Megabox
Cons
- Rear legroom is a little tight
- Dashboard is rather bland
There’s a Sportage to suit almost everyone
But we reckon the Sportage is worth spending the cash on. It has a practical interior, plenty of standard equipment, a great infotainment package and it comes with Kia’s brilliant seven-year warranty. The only thing that lets it down is it’s driving experience. Its steering is a little too light for our liking and its handling isn’t anywhere near as fun as the Ford Kuga’s. We can’t fault it otherwise, though.
To find out more, read our full Kia Sportage review
Pros
- Intuitive infotainment screen
- Great standard equipment
- Spacious and practical cabin
Cons
- Overly light steering system
- Pricey – especially the PHEV model
The car that kicked off the SUV craze
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. The facelifted model is here, too, so watch out for deals on the outgoing car.
To find out more, read our full Nissan Qashqai review
Pros
- High-quality interior
- Lots of tech that works well
- Incredibly refined E-Power hybrid
Cons
- No PHEV or performance version
- No load-through hatch on rear bench
Popular supermini still makes for a solid pick
Vauxhall has worked wonders getting price parity between the petrol and electric version. Both are good value for money too, with strong leasing and financing deals in its corner. It's a sensible pick and will serve as a very competent car for most duties, but there are better cars out there.
To find out more, read our full Vauxhall Corsa review
Pros
- Impressive fuel economy
- Spacious in the front
- Lots of standard equipment
Cons
- Interior feels a little low-rent
- Lack of cabin storage space
It isn't our favourite, but UK drivers love it
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.
To find out more, read our full Nissan Juke review
Pros
- User-friendly interior
- Clear infotainment system
- Distinctive styling
Cons
- Fidgety ride
- Engines need more pep
The original family hatch just got better
Volkswagen has given the updated Golf a brand-new infotainment system, which is far nicer to look at and much easier to use. Build quality has improved, too – and the PHEV models now have twice as much electric range thanks to some new battery technology. It doesn’t drive any differently to the previous model, but that’s not such a bad thing because it always was comfortable on the motorway and engaging in the corners.
To find out more, read our full Volkswagen Golf review
Pros
- New infotainment is one of the best on sale
- Loads of engines, including new PHEV systems
- Build quality is noticeably better than before
Cons
- Not as engaging to drive as the Focus
- Revised Skoda Octavia offers better value
A value-driven SUV
Refinement is far better than before. The HS's golden ticket is no longer its low price and generous technology; it now features a pleasant interior, better road manners and nice equipment levels, too. The fact it's still a bargain only helps its case.
To find out more, read our full MG HS review
Pros
- Spacious and practical cabin
- Impressive plug-in hybrid
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Petrol engine lacks refinement
- Annoying safety tech
Solid, dependable family SUV
The hallmarks of a good Volkswagen are all there, too; the interior is comfortable and well put together. It's also lovely and spacious inside, with a boot size perfect for family duties. However, we do question the over-reliance on touchscreens.
To find out more read our full Volkswagen Tiguan review
Pros
- Offers buyers lots of choice
- Efficient, engaging engines
- Plenty of space inside
Cons
- Over-reliance on touchscreen
- Ride comfort can be firm
Family-first SUV scores well for style and safety
It's a comfortable place to be too, the ride is nice and cushioned and it's calming to drive. The mild hybrid systems aren't the most efficient (you can go fully electric with the EX40) and, although it's starting to get on a bit, it's still a solid car.
To find out more, read our full Volvo XC40 review
Pros
- Good real-world range
- Plenty of space inside
- Tesla Supercharger network is great
Cons
- Inconsistent build quality
- Uncomfortable suspension
It gets all the fundamentals bang on
We’re particularly fond of the Tucson’s interior. It’s been nailed together incredibly well and has a great infotainment system that’s easy to use on the move. It’s also more than spacious enough for four passengers and it has a simply enormous 620-litre boot.
To find out more, read our full Hyundai Tucson review
Pros
- Comfortable, roomy interior
- User-friendly infotainment
- Range of hybrid option
Cons
- No diesel for long-distance drivers
- Not that fun to drive
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