These were the best-selling cars in December

December’s best-selling cars have been revealed with the market still favouring SUVs instead of hatchbacks and saloon cars.

The last month of 2024 saw a spike in EV sales and caused a record market share for battery-electric vehicles at 19.6 per cent according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Petrol-powered vehicles are still proving to be the go-to choice of powertrains at a recorded 59,455 registrations in December.

We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 best-sellers for December.

Tesla’s Model Y SUV has been loitering in the top 10 best-sellers list for quite some time now, but December 2024 saw this popular electric SUV climb to the very top.

The Model Y offers a decent amount of electric driving range and is also well equipped and practical. It may not have the best levels of build quality, but with a wide and reliable network of the firm’s supercharging, makes living with this SUV a lot easier. The looks may be a bit divisive, but if you like the way it drives and looks, the Model Y is a great choice for families.

The second best-selling car of the month also comes from Tesla, but this time it’s the firm’s smallest car, the Model 3.

The Model 3 is one of the most successful models to be launched by the brand, having first arrived on our roads nearly six years ago. For 2024, Tesla decided to give the car a midlife makeover with a more modern front end and a simplified interior design, which meant even fewer physical buttons.

The car is also very practical, very well equipped, and offers a decent electric driving range with good performance.

Nissan’s very popular Qashqai is built in Britain and retains the title of one of the most popular cars on our roads.

For 2024, Nissan updated its beloved SUV and gave it an exterior and interior refresh to keep it in-line with the competition. This includes a new nose, redesigned rear tail lights and a larger infotainment screen.

There is also a choice of petrol, mild-hybrid and hybrid powertrain to suit a wide range of different buyers, and the Qashqai comes with a decent amount of interior space and boot capacity, too.

The best-selling car in November falls down into fourth place, but that still means that the new Mini is proving popular for British new car buyers.

The latest car is fun, funky and fresh and with a choice of petrol and electric powertrains, there certainly is a Mini to suit everyone. The new Mini Cooper is great fun to drive with very precise steering and darty handling, plus the interior is like no other car with the firm committed to a sustainable future with the plastics used throughout the interior made from recyclable materials such as the 2D knitted dashboard design.

It may not be the most practical car in its class with cramped rear seats and a titchy boot capacity, but the Mini’s cheeky charm means that customers aren’t going to be put off by this car’s shortfalls.

Ford’s best-selling model during December was the Puma and it’s a car which is a regular sight in this monthly top 10.

The Puma is another car that received a recent facelift to keep it looking fresh with a slightly redesigned front end and updated interior. For 2025, you’ll also be able to get the Puma with an electric powertrain – which should make this compact crossover even more popular.

The standard car comes in a variety of different specifications and all models are efficient and cheap to run. Plus, the driving characteristics are great, meaning that it corners very well and is good fun to drive.

The ZS SUV from MG has proven to be very popular and it’s not surprising because it offers great value for money and you can even get an electric model that is badged the ‘ZS EV’.

It may not be the most desirable car on this list – and the MG badge on the ZS may not carry the same prestige or heritage as a model from the company of yesteryear – but at least the car comes with lots of upsides to make this a worthwhile choice, including being very practical and coming with plenty of standard equipment.

Vauxhall’s Corsa is the most popular supermini here in the UK and although it shares the same platform and chassis as its French counterpart, the Peugeot 208, it actually undercuts that car on price.

You can also get the Corsa with a choice of petrol, hybrid or electric powertrains and the EV version is one of the cheapest battery-powered vehicles on sale in the UK at the moment. The Corsa isn’t the most exciting car to drive in this category and the Peugeot 208 may look better and have a nicer interior, but competitive pricing and attractive finance packages still make the Corsa an attractive proposition.

It may have been around for seven years now, but Volvo’s XC40 still offers low running costs, efficient powertrains and a classless image.

Its interior space and quality are second to none with everything feeling plush to the touch and the design of both the exterior and interior has aged very well. Space in the back is excellent with lots of head and legroom and the boot capacity isn’t too bad, either.

As it’s a Volvo, it’s also a very safe choice and comfortable front seats and smooth ride mean this little SUV is great for long journeys.

The Q4 e-tron is one of the first electric Audi’s to make it into the top 10 list.

Audi has really started to crank up its range of EVs and the Q4 e-tron was one of a new range to come with battery power when it was launched in 2021. For 2024, a comprehensive facelift meant that its exterior design was improved and there is now more standard equipment than there was before.

The trailblazer of the compact crossover is Nissan’s Juke and even after 14 years from its original debut, the Juke is still proving a very popular choice here in the UK.

The car has just received a facelift too with the option of a very bright and bold yellow paint scheme, as well as improved equipment levels, too. The Juke isn’t the most practical car in this segment but its frugal engines and funky looks mean that UK buyers are really fond of this weird and wacky SUV.