The UK has seen growth once again in the new car market, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), for the third time this year and the second consecutive month. With 191,316 car registrations recorded for June, this is up by 41,246 units from last month. Overall registrations have risen by 6.7% making it the best June since 2019, but registrations are still behind pre-pandemic levels.
The Nissan Qashqai has knocked the Ford Puma off its three-month winning streak, outselling it by nearly 600 units. Last month’s runner-up, the Kia Sportage, dropped six places, though it still beat its May sales figure by 120, pointing to an overall healthier car buying climate.
Petrol still dominates the market with 46% of the market share and 88,029 vehicles registered. However, this is down by 1.5% from last month and down 4.2% from June last year.
Diesel saw a tiny bump up from 2024 sales by 20 units at 10,716. However, it has lost a further 0.4% market share from its 2024 6%.
EVs and plug-in hybrids also saw growth, but far more substantial than diesel. EVs were up by 39.1% from last year and now hold 24.8% of the market. However, year to date, it sits at 21.6%, which is still off the 28% target set by the Zero Emission Mandate (ZEV) for 2025. Plug-in hybrids meanwhile held 11.2% of the market share in June, up 1.9% from last year.
The SMMT notes that much of the growth seen in June has been driven by fleet sales, which have climbed by 8.5% with retail lagging behind at 5.9%. Just under 4 in 10 units are from individual private sales nationally.
What the industry says about UK car sales
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive said: ‘A second consecutive month of growth for the new car market is good news, as is the positive performance of EVs. That EV growth, however, is still being driven by substantial industry support with manufacturers using every channel and unsustainable discounting to drive activity, yet it remains below mandated levels. As we have seen in other countries, government incentives can supercharge the market transition, without which the climate change ambitions we all share will be under threat.’
Additionally, a recent survey carried out for SMMT’s Automotive Business Leaders Barometer asked automotive CEOs if the UK was on target to meet its 2030 target to end the sale of new cars powered solely by combustion engines. The survey revealed that 55% of the CEOs said they thought the UK was significantly behind in its progress.
The top 10 bestselling cars of June 2025
- Nissan Qashqai – 5,008 sold
- Ford Puma – 4,419 sold
- Tesla Model Y – 4,181 sold
- Vauxhall Corsa – 3,583 sold
- MG HS – 3,567 sold
- Tesla Model 3 – 3,538 sold
- Kia Sportage – 3,376 sold
- Volkswagen T-Roc – 3,295 sold
- Nissan Juke – 3,278 sold
- Peugeot 2008 – 3,212 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, it now features a pleasant interior, better road manners and strong 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
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
Family-first SUV scores well for style and safety
It's a comfortable place to sit, 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 Volvo 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
Solid, dependable family SUV
The essentials 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
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