Last year didn’t prove to be the most fruitful for the automotive industry, but 2023 has got off to a much better start.
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 131,994 new cars were registered in January – a 14.7 per cent increase from the previous year. But what were the models that proved to be particularly popular? Let’s take a look at the 10 best-selling cars in January.
1. MG HS – 3,481 registrations
MG had a superb start to 2023, with its HS SUV being ranked as the most popular car in January, with just shy of 3,500 examples being registered. The HS is MG’s largest model, and stands out with its fantastic value for money – the HS’ £23,495 starting price undercuts rivals by several thousand pounds.
The HS also has a practical interior that’s more premium than you might expect, while it has plenty of space on offer. Equipment levels are generous across the board – a 10.1-inch touchscreen and reversing camera are included as standard – while you also get MG’s seven-year warranty included.
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The T-Roc has been an integral part of Volkswagen’s range since it was first introduced in 2017, and it only keeps getting more popular as buyers increasingly swap out family hatchbacks like the Golf and into cars like the T-Roc.
This is a particularly stylish SUV, offering customers a good degree of personalisation, which isn’t all that common from Volkswagen. There’s a good deal of room on offer in the cabin too, while the T-Roc rides and handles particularly well. Little wonder it sells so well.
Enquire on a new Volkswagen T-Roc3. Nissan Qashqai – 3,121
While the Qashqai didn’t quite cling to its title of being the overall best-selling car as it did in 2022, this Nissan crossover still had a very good start to the year, with 3,121 examples being registered in January.
The Qashqai is the only UK-built car in the top 10, and stands out with its modern design and generous equipment levels, particularly when it comes to the level of driver assistance technology on offer. All versions also feature some kind of electrification these days, with a full e-Power hybrid model sitting at the top of the line-up.
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Kia is now one of the UK’s most popular car firms, and a particularly popular model in its range is the Niro. Recently entering its second generation, this latest model gets a far more exciting look inside than out, as well as greater interior space.
But the key draw to the Niro is its powertrains, with all versions featuring some kind of electrification. There’s a hybrid and plug-in hybrid, with the Niro EV sitting at the top of the line-up with its 285-mile range.
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The Vauxhall Corsa rounds out the top five, and is the only model in it that’s not an SUV. This supermini’s success, with 2,425 registered, shows there’s life in this segment yet.
The Corsa stands out with its stylish design, while the interior is well-built and generously equipped too. Vauxhall has recently introduced a zero per cent APR finance offer to make it even more affordable to get behind the wheel, while the option of the Corsa Electric and its 222-mile range is going down positively with customers.
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Just behind Kia’s Niro is the Sportage – the brand’s best-selling mid-size SUV that offers broad appeal to the family market thanks to its impressively practical interior. The seven-year warranty also remains a key selling point.
It’s only been a year since this new Sportage reached the market, so it still offers a fresh look inside and out, as well as a broad choice of powertrains – including petrol, diesel, hybrid and also a plug-in hybrid.
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Ford’s Puma is now the most popular model in its line-up, and sits above the Fiesta and Focus in this respect. The Puma is also one of the best models in the compact crossover class, standing out thanks to its fun driving experience. It gets even better if you choose the sporty ST version, too.
But the Puma also offers a good amount of space, particularly with its clever underfloor storage area called the ‘MegaBox’. Its efficient mild-hybrid petrol engines also deliver impressive fuel economy.
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MG has a second model in the top 10 in January with its smaller ZS crossover. Like the HS, this model stands out with its exceptional value for money, with prices starting from £17,795, yet it still comes generously equipped considering the price.
The ZS also offers plenty of cabin space for a small family, while another key draw is MG’s ZS EV, which offers plenty of technology and an electric range of up to 273 miles.
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Hyundai’s new Tucson is going down a storm with buyers, with 2,259 finding homes in January. While based on the same platform and underpinnings as the Sportage, the Hyundai offers an even bolder design thanks to its clever grille that’s able to light up, and a full light bar at the rear.
Yet it still offers a vast amount of interior space, and impressive levels of technology, especially as you climb the trim ladder. Alongside traditional petrol engines, there’s also the choice of hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.
Enquire on a new Hyundai Tucson10. Ford Fiesta – 2,042
Rounding out the top 10 for January is the Ford Fiesta. Though it might be discontinued in the middle of 2023 as Ford looks to focus more on electric models, there’s still a large number of buyers that are opting for this supermini while they can.
The Fiesta remains one of the most fun small cars on the market, particularly so in the case of the 197bhp ST model, one of the finest hot hatches on the market. Aided by efficient mild-hybrid engines and a broad choice of trim levels, the Fiesta remains one of the finest small cars on sale today.
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