Britain’s best-selling cars of 2022

As we head into the second half of 2022, we now have a good idea of what the annual best-seller rankings might look like at the end of the year, with the Vauxhall Corsa continuing to lead in the sales race.

Despite growing cost of living concerns, the consumer new car market actually grew in August compared to the same month last year, according to the latest data published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

However, this result is a bit misleading – the August 2021 sales figures were particularly poor, and August usually sees car manufacturers either hold back deliveries until the September number plate change or register larger numbers of some cars to hit certain targets.

The August new car registration charts were a tightly contested affair, and while the annual rankings remain largely unchanged, the monthly best-sellers list did throw up some surprises. The Volkswagen Polo was the best-selling new car last month, and while many familiar best-sellers like the Ford Puma and Hyundai Tucson continued to sell in consistent numbers, the British-built Nissan Qashqai and Mini hatch both dropped out of the top ten in August.

Sales results for each car manufacturer (and even for each model range) have been heavily influenced by supply factors, as car companies battle component shortages – another hangover of the Covid situation from the last two years. Add the impending production stoppages that are now taking place as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the rest of 2022 is likely to remain difficult for car companies.

Read our monthly new car sales report: Mixed messages from August new car sales report

Top ten best sellers, August 2022

1	Volkswagen Polo	1,902
2	Ford Puma	1,875
3	Hyundai Tucson	1,739
4	Vauxhall Corsa	1,608
5	Volkswagen T-Roc	1,460
6	Ford Kuga	1,281
7	Peugeot 208	1,244
8	Vauxhall Crossland	1,235
9	Vauxhall Mokka	1,228
10	Citroën C3	1,140

Source: SMMT

Volkswagen Polo (2021 facelift) - front view — Volkswagen Polo (2021 facelift)

Britain’s best-selling cars of 2022 (as of August)

1. Vauxhall Corsa

Best-selling cars of 2022 – Vauxhall Corsa

The Vauxhall Corsa continues to hold the top spot in the UK best-sellers list. Although it looks on track to defend its 2021 sales crown, the supermini failed to take top spot in the best-sellers charts for the second month running, placing fourth in August.

Despite its continued sales success, the Corsa has received average reviews from the motoring media, with an Expert Rating of just 64% on our Expert Rating Index – with the electric Corsa-e a point higher.

2. Ford Puma

After sales slumped in July, the Ford Puma is back once again on the monthly best-sellers podium after August. As Ford has temporarily pulled the Fiesta and Focus from sale, the manufacturer is aiming to avoid a repeat of late 2021, when Puma sales were crippled by supply shortages.

The Puma has received plenty of praise from the UK motoring media, and currently holds an Expert Rating of 78% on our unique Expert Rating Index. That puts it top of the charts for supermini-based SUVs.

3. Nissan Qashqai

2021 Nissan Qashqai front view | Expert Rating

The current jewel in the crown of the British car manufacturing industry, the Nissan Qashqai was the UK’s best-selling new car in July. This a stark contrast to August, as the Qashqai was missing from last month’s top ten all together. That said, the SUV still holds on to third place in the annual sales rankings.

On sale since Autumn last year, the current-generation Nissan Qashqai holds an Expert Rating of 73%, which is reasonable for a medium SUV but nothing to really shout about.

4. Mini hatch

Another consistent seller that missed out in August, the twice-facelifted Mini hatch had been selling up a storm in prior months. Despite its absence in August, the hatch is still locked in a tight battle for 2022’s best selling British-built car with the Qashqai, reducing the Nissan’s year-to-date sales lead to under 100 cars. It remains fourth in the annual sales rankings.

The Mini has received positive reviews, with an Expert Rating of 77% on our Expert Rating Index. The electric model doesn’t do so well, with a score of just 67%.

5. Kia Sportage

Best-selling new cars of 2022 – Kia Sportage

Uusually a consistent performer, the brand-new Kia Sportage holds on to fifth in the annual sales chart. August’s abnormal best-seller’s rankings also sees Kia miss out, but the new Sportage looks to be comfortably continuing the sales success of the previous generation.

The new Kia Sportage hasn’t received that many reviews yet, and currently holds an Expert Rating of 73% on our industry-leading Expert Rating Index. This could shift as more reviews are published in coming months.

6. Hyundai Tucson

Best-selling cars of 2022 – Hyundai Tucson

The Hyundai Tucson has been selling in great numbers recently, taking third place in the sales charts for two consecutive months now. This hasn’t had much of an effect on the yearly rankings however, as the Tucson holds on to sixth in the annual sales list.

The new Tucson has received positive reviews from the motoring media, with a solid Expert Rating of 76% on our industry-leading Expert Rating Index.

7. Volkswagen Golf

While the Volkswagen Polo topped the monthly rankings in August, the larger Golf could not replicate its sales success, placing outside the top ten. However, the Golf has capitalised on a stagnant month of sales for the Kia Niro, leapfrogging the SUV to take seventh in the annual best-seller’s list.

On sale since 2020, the Golf currently holds an Expert Rating of 76%, with good scores from most UK media sources.

8. Ford Kuga

After several months of slowly sliding down the 2022 rankings, the Ford Kuga is once again recording respectable sales figures – also outselling the Kia Niro and moving up the annual sales rankings by one position. The smaller Puma SUV is proving to be the more popular Ford model as the year progresses.

Its Expert Rating of 74% places it firmly in the middle of a very competitive family SUV market.

9. Kia Niro

The original generation of the popular Kia Niro has ended production and sales of the all-new model have now begun. This is possibly the reason for the SUV’s August sales slump, as the Niro falls to ninth in the annual sales rankings.

The Kia Niro received fairly mixed reviews, with the hybrid version ending up with an Expert Rating of 64% on our Expert Rating Index. The electric model did much better, with an outstanding score of 85%.

10. Vauxhall Mokka

Best-selling cars of 2022 – Vauxhall Mokka

While the rest of the annual rankings is fairly settled, tenth place is ever-changing, as the Vauxhall Mokka ousts the Toyota Yaris from the annual top ten after August. The SUV placed ninth in the monthly best-seller’s chart, a few sales behind the larger Vauxhall Crossland

The Vauxhall Mokka has received largely positive media reviews, with an Expert Rating of 68%. On the whole, UK reviewers prefer the all-electric Mokka-e, which holds an Expert Rating of 71%.

The next update (September results) will be due in the first week of October 2022.

Additional reporting by Stuart Masson