The best-selling cars of 2016 revealed in full

It’s official. 2016 was the busiest year on record for new car registrations, with 2.69 million units hitting British roads. Now we’re into 2017, we’ve had a look at which models were the most popular, so without further ado…

5. Nissan Qashqai – 62,682 units

Qashqai leasing deals: business / personal

Built in Sunderland, Nissan’s mid-size SUV launched an audacious assault on the top five at the start of the year with bustling demand propelling it from tenth in December 2015 to second by February, before settling to fifth later in the year.

The Qashqai’s lofty placing shouldn’t be a surprise though. Brits’ growing affection for SUVs is well documented as our love for superminis is now transferring to jacked-up crossover SUVs. It has reached a point that you can’t turn a corner without seeing an SUV of some sort, and the Qashqai is the nameplate you’ll see more than others, mainly because it’s brilliant.

4. Volkswagen Golf – 69,492 units

Golf leasing deals: business / personal

The Dieselgate dust has settled, and we’re finally seeing how the whole scandal has rattled VW’s popularity. If the Golf is anything to go by, the answer is ‘not very much’.

Following a 4.1% boost in registrations for Volkswagen, the Golf remains one of the nation’s most sought-after cars. Proof if you ever needed it that there will always be demand for a car that combines quality, economy and understated style.

3. Ford Focus – 70,545 units

Focus leasing deals: business / personal

Finishing the year just a little ahead of its German rival, the Focus captures everything British families want from their hatchback, but one that does it ever-so slightly better than the Golf, if that’s how you want to interpret the larger number of sales.

2. Vauxhall Corsa – 77,110 units

Corsa leasing deals: business / personal

Britain’s fondness for superminis seems far from over. One in three cars sold is a supermini, and thanks to attractive personal leases that are priced from around £100 per month, it’s no wonder that Vauxhall’s Corsa has remained in the top five throughout 2016.

 

1. Ford Fiesta – 120,525 units

Fiesta leasing deals: business / personal

The unshakably popular Fiesta continues to dominate UK sales with consummate ease, and with a new version on the way this summer, we’d be surprised if it was dethroned.  Even the current ageing Fiesta shows no sign of running out of steam just yet; there’s over 40,000 units standing between it and its Vauxhall rival.

In focus: find out more about the UK’s new car market month-by-month:
January * February * March * April * May * June * July * August * September * October * November

The top ten in full…