These were the best-selling cars in January

January’s best-selling cars have been revealed with SUVs still in favour over saloons and estates.

The first month of 2025 has seen a drop of 2.5 per cent in the new car market, with electric vehicles now taking a 21.3 per cent market share, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Petrol-powered vehicles still are the most popular choice among buyers, with a recorded 70,075 registrations in January.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 best-selling cars for January.

The Kia Sportage took the crown for Britain’s best-selling car last month.

It’s available with a choice of petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains and comes packed full of standard equipment. It looks good, has great build quality and features lots of interior space – ideal for a young family.

On the road, it handles well, and whichever model you choose, it will be economical and cheap to run.

All Kia Sportages come with the firm’s seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty for that added peace of mind.

Built in Britain, the Nissan Qashqai has been one of the nation’s favourite cars for over a decade, and it’s easy to see why.

The Qashqai has recently had a midlife makeover to keep it looking fresh. It includes a new front-end design and brings an updated infotainment screen.

It’s available with a choice of petrol and hybrid powertrains, while all versions are cheap to run and come with lots of interior space.

The Corsa is one of Britain’s favourite superminis and comes in lots of different specifications and engine layouts.

Under the bonnet, there is a choice of petrol, hybrid and electric drivetrains, while all versions come with ultra-low running costs.

It may not be the most exciting car to look at or to drive, but the Corsa represents decent value for money, and a recent facelift has made it look a little bit sharper, too.

The Golf is over 50 years old, but this latest eighth-generation is one of the best iterations yet.

Last year, the car received an update which included revised styling and the return of physical steering wheel buttons – improving its ergonomics.

It’s good to drive, comes with lots of interior space, and is a safe and sensible choice.

There is the option of hatchback and estate variants, as well as the choice of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

The latest 3008 has bold and striking looks, with an eye-catching interior to match.

It’s available with a choice of hybrid and electric drivetrains to make it as efficient as possible.

To drive, the 3008 focuses more on comfort rather than engagement, but that shouldn’t be a dealbreaker.

All models come with plenty of standard equipment with a choice of two trim levels, to keep things simple.

The 3008’s smaller sibling, the 2008, features the same French flair for a lot less cash.

Available with a choice of petrol, hybrid and electric power, there should be a 2008 to suit everyone.

It comes in a great range of colour schemes as well as having daring looks and a smart and minimalist interior design.

Ford’s baby Puma is a great small crossover. It looks good, comes with lots of standard equipment and is great fun to drive.

For the driving enthusiasts, there is a hot ‘ST’ variant, which features a body kit, sports seats and more power.

Ownership should be stress-free with lots of Ford dealers to take care of the car, and running costs are low, thanks to its efficient engines.

The trailblazer of the small crossover is Nissan’s Juke. Now in its second generation, it recently has received some updates to keep it looking fresh.

The Juke features oddball styling, a smart interior design and lots of daring colour schemes to make each one stand out from the crowd.

A choice of petrol and hybrid powertrains are available, to help keep those running costs affordable.

MG is really starting to take off here in the UK. The latest HS was revealed last year, but it’s already made it into the top 10 list.

The Chinese firm has gone upmarket with its largest SUV with a plush feeling interior and smart exterior styling.

A choice of petrol and plug-in hybrid power is available – with the latter having a claimed 75 miles on electric power alone.

Later this year, MG will add a regular hybrid variant to the mix of powertrains, too.

The ZS is MG’s smallest SUV and rivals cars like the Renault Captur and Volkswagen T-Cross.

The latest model was revealed last year as a hybrid only – but the outgoing model can still be purchased as an EV.

The ZS is packed full of standard equipment and is practical, offering decent rear passenger space and a capacious boot capacity.