Yep, 2025 is almost at the end. Time is a never-ending, relentless march to death, and the only guarantee in life is its passage, etc, etc.
On a slightly more relevant note to a website called Car Throttle, it means we can take a look at which cars the buying public has been sweeping up en masse so far this year. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has published the list of best-selling cars up to the end of October, and the results aren’t all that surprising. From 10th to 1st, these are…
10. Volvo XC40 (25,106 registered)
Volvo XC40
Sure, the Volvo XC40 is getting quite old now, having been introduced to the UK market in 2017 and subsequently facelifted in 2023. Yet, buyers still seem attracted to it, holding itself in the top 10 so far this year.
It helps it’s a good thing to drive, and looks pretty handsome too. It’s unclear if these figures include the renamed EX40 EV, though.
9. MG HS (25,474 registered)
MG HS
While Chinese car manufacturers are arriving en masse in the UK, few have managed to crack into the UK’s best-sellers so far (Though, notably, the Jaecoo 7 registered in October’s top 10)
So far in 2025, then, the MG HS finds itself as the only Chinese car in this year’s best-sellers. Expect that to be a very different story in 2026.
8. Volkswagen Tiguan (25,532 registered)
Volkswagen Tiguan – front, dynamic
Given the Volkswagen Tiguan had a pretty extensive update in 2024, it’s no real shock to see the school run favourite return as a best-seller in 2025 despite falling out of the overall list last year.
As our Mike Bartholomew said when he drove it, the updated version is “business as usual”
7. Hyundai Tucson (25,889 registered)
Hyundai Tucson
Hyundai has been on fire lately. Not literally, we should just add. The Ioniq 5 N blew us away last year and, on the other end of the EV spectrum, the Inster has been one of our favourites to arrive in 2025.
Meanwhile, the Tucson continues to be a favourite among the buying public. Although not exactly a thrilling car, it nails its brief as a practical crossover.
6. Volkswagen Golf (27,784 registered)
Mk8.5 VW Golf GTI Clubsport, front 3/4
It’s good to see that the Volkswagen Golf still resonates with the buying public in a world where most people are buying crossovers. We don’t expect many of those sales to be of the R and GTI, but the relatively fresh introduction of the 8.5 has surely helped things.
5. Nissan Juke (29,612 registered)
Nissan Juke
No, we don’t understand it either. Next.
4. Vauxhall Corsa (31,675 registered)
Although superminis are dying out in favour of crossovers, the Vauxhall Corsa clearly still resonates with buyers. Probably in part due to some pretty mega finance deals being offered.
With the platform-sharing Peugeot e-208 GTI on the horizon too, there’s hope of a fast one coming under the GSe moniker at some stage soon.
3. Nissan Qashqai (35,250 registered)
Nissan Qashqai
Although Nissan has had some pretty public struggles lately, it’s still got quite a strong presence in the UK.
Most popular of the lot is the Qashqai, which we proclaimed as the best car for non-car people when we drove the updated version last year. Clearly, many of those non-car people are in agreement.
2. Kia Sportage (42,164 registered)
2025 Kia Sportage, front
There’s not a whole lot to get excited about when it comes to the Kia Sportage, but that’s not a bad thing in this case. As a car to do car things in, it’s hard to beat – and the recently-updated version is just as good as ever. You can still even get it with a manual gearbox.
1. Ford Puma (45,949 registered)
Ford Puma, front
2023 and 2024’s best-selling car is, surprise surprise, the best-selling car so far in 2025. The Ford Puma is fundamentally a decent car, even if we preferred the now-defunct Fiesta. Don’t be surprised to see it comfortably top the list by the end of the year, too.
Just don’t be fooled into thinking putting an ST badge on it makes it compelling to the enthusiast – in fact, that ‘hot’ version is the one Puma we’d probably steer clear of.
#BestSelling #Cars