And now, in August 2024, the UK’s best-selling cars have been revealed, showing which vehicles are winning over drivers. Wondering which is the most favorite car these days? Read on!

Ford Puma Steals the Spotlight
In August, the Ford Puma beat the bestseller in the UK. Altogether, 2,471 new Ford Pumas were registered last month alone, and that clearly says this car is one big hit. This model has been leading so far this year, with 32,263 units sold from January. Evidently, UK drivers are in love with the stylish design and smooth drive that come with this Ford Puma.

Kia Sportage: A Very Close Second
Coming in second for August was the Kia Sportage. With 1,962 new Kia Sportages hitting the roads last month, it is obvious that this SUV is every bit as popular. The Sportage has offered plenty of interior space and a very comfortable ride, and that may explain why so many individuals appear to choose it.
Tesla Steals the Show
Coming in third was the Tesla Model 3 with 1,542 units sold. With Tesla’s reputation for electric cars and great tech, it is little doubt that this particular model does well within the UK market. Its smooth electric drive and modern features continue to draw many buyers.

Volkswagen’s Popular Picks
Also in the best-sellers in August were the Volkswagen Polo, with 1,524 units sold, and the Volkswagen Model Y, with 1,469 new registrations. Indeed, both models are very reliable and well known for their driving performance, which could explain its popularity.

Other Top Sellers
The rest of the top ten best-sellers for August were:

Volkswagen Golf: 1,437 units sold
VW T-Roc: 1,297 units sold
Volvo XC40: 1,202 units sold
1,198 units of Hyundai Tucson
1,170 units of Nissan Qashqai
These cars have also grabbed quite attention and are likely to be popular owing to their performance in addition to features.
Overall Sales Dipped
In all, new car sales in the UK were down 1.3% in August against the same month last year. The decline was in line with August usually being a quieter month before the new September number plates. Last month, 84,575 new cars were registered, which is 1,082 less than in August last year.
Electric Cars on the Rise
But shining through the gloomy sales figures has been the increase in electric vehicle registrations. Pure battery electric cars surged by 10.8% in sales from their score a year ago. That is due to some enticing discounts and new models which are attracting more buyers. They find favor, even as car purchases hit a slump.

Traditional Cars Still Popular
Even with the popularity of electric cars, a significant proportion of sales are still achieved by their noisier brothers running on petrol and diesel. In August, the sale of petrol cars dropped 10.1%, while those of diesel cars were down 7.3%. Still, these types of car made up the lion’s share – more than half – of the market, 56.8% of new cars sold were either purely petrol or diesel.

Fleet Purchases Drive the Market
Fleet purchases accounted for a big portion of new car sales last month. An estimated 51,329 cars-roughly six out of every ten registered-were bought by businesses or organizations. It represents a modest 1.2 percent drop from the same month a year earlier.
Full Steam Ahead
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief executive Mike Hawes said: “Whilst the rise in electric vehicle uptake is to be welcomed, August is traditionally a quiet month as many buyers hold out for the new plate.” He said: “The new plate change in September with greater bargains on offer should give a truer picture of where the market is.”.

As Jamie Hamilton at Deloitte explains, September may give a more realistic reflection of the car market with new registration plates and very appealing buyers’ incentives. The shift to electric vehicles is a big emphasis, and further incentives can create that movement in change.

Changing Plans by Volvo
Speaking on related lines, Volvo Cars made some key adjustments to its plans. The carmaker, owned by China’s Geely, revised targets recently. In the case of Volvo, it had put a target of selling only electric cars by 2030, while now it intends to sell 90% electric or plug-in hybrid cars by then. This change in strategy comes at a time when the company is facing certain challenges, including tariffs and falling demand for electric vehicles.

It also announced a cut in its profit and sales targets. Henceforth, all cars produced by Volvo would use the same technology system, while the company would be concentrating on achieving economy through new manufacturing techniques. However, in spite of these radical changes, Volvo is not distanced from its pledge of moving ahead with electric cars, though it realizes that this may take a little longer than what was scheduled.

The August bottom line is somewhat mixed: Ford Puma top seller, electric cars start to climb, and overall sales are slipping. Now, into September, look for more changes and some more incentives in the car market.