22 was the worst year for the new car market in three decades.
New car registrations slumped to their lowest point since 1992 as supply chain issues and financial pressures affected car makers around the world in what industry bosses called a “very difficult year”.
Just 1.61 million new cars were registered in 2022 - 2% fewer than in 2021 - and some of the country’s former best-selling stalwarts slumped down the sales charts. Other models, however, soared up the list of the SMMT’s best-sellers, including the Tesla Model Y, which reflected the continued rise of electric cars.
Here are the UK’s 10 best selling cars of 2022:
5. Mini
Last year’s third-place model, the Mini hatchback, has been knocked down a place by the Puma this year but still found a home with 32,387 drivers. It might have grown and morphed since the first ‘new’ Minis appeared more than 20 years ago but the appeal of this sharp-handling retro-styled hatchback hasn’t dimmed. | Mini
6. Kia Sportage
The first generation of Kia Sportage sold just 11,000 units in the UK over an eight-year lifespan. The fact that Kia shipped 29,655 of the latest model in 2022 alone shows how far and how quickly the Korea brand has developed. Its family SUV has gone from a weird cheap option to one of the best in the class thanks to its blend of quality, value and specification. | Kia
7. Hyundai Tucson
The Tucson is the Sportage’s platform-sharing cousin and offers many of the same attractive features, with a strong mix of hybrid drivetrains, generous equipment levels and eye-catching styling. There's also plenty of space for families, which is where most of the 27,839 models have found their homes. | Hyundai
8. Volkswagen Golf
The Kia and Hyundai SUVs pushed the Golf down a couple of places compared with 2021 but VW’s perennial family hatchback is still holding on in the top 10, with 26,558 registrations in 2022. VW has one eye on the future with the ID.3 but the Golf’s appeal as a solid family runaround is undiminished. | Volkswagen