Best-selling cars in the UK of 2022
It's official: the Nissan Qashqai is the UK's best-selling car of 2022
The Nissan Qashqai deposes the Vauxhall Corsa to finish as the UK's best-selling car
The Nissan Qashqai has finished 2022 as the UK's best-selling car after a year where the automotive industry was blighted by parts shortages and semiconductor production issues.
One of four SUVs in the final top ten, the Qashqai, which is built in the UK at Nissan's Sunderland factory, secured top spot after a strong finsh to the year, pulling far ahead of the the reigning Vauxhall Corsa.
The Corsa, meanwhile, dropped down to second place. The Tesla Model Y finished in third, becoming the UK's best-selling electric vehicle in the process. The Ford Puma and Mini round out the top five.
Read on to see which cars finished in the UK's top ten for 2022, and how many units they sold.
*The UK's best-selling cars of 2022*
*1 Nissan Qashqai, 42,704 units sold this year *
Here it is: the best-selling car in 2022 is the Nissan Qashqai, topping the UK sales charts after a strong end to the year. The British-built crossover, which recently entered its third generation, appeals to buyers on our shores because of its excellent practicality, and its appeal is no doubt bolstered by the addition of electrified powertrains for this generation.
Nissan even produced a gold-wrapped Qashqai at its factory in Sunderland to celebrate the occasion.
‘‘This is a landmark moment for a landmark car and it’s great to see how the latest generation Qashqai has struck a chord with car buyers here in the UK," said Andrew Humberstone, managing director of Nissan UK.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to see this car’s increasing success over the last 16 years, and it’s a fitting tribute to the skills and talents of Nissan’s excellent design, engineering, production and sales teams all around the UK.”
*2 Vauxhall Corsa, 35,910 cars sold in 2022*
Another successful year for the Vauxhall Corsa means it finishes the year as the UK's second best-selling car, having topped the list the two previous, consecutive years. Its success is in part due to its PSA-developed underpinnings and mix of petrol, diesel and electric powertrains. It has tightly held on to first place so far this year, and its success looks likely to continue.
*3 Tesla Model Y, 35,551 cars sold in 2022*
The arrival of a boat-load of Tesla Model Ys (around 10,000 of them, in fact) in December means the electric crossover ends the year as the country's top-selling electric car, and third overall. Its influence on the UK car market is clear to see - finishing in the top three despite going on sale in February 2022 in a long-range specification. A rear-wheel-drive model is now available as the entry point to the range, and no doubt it will greatly add to the growing number of Model Ys on our roads in 2023.
*4 Ford Puma, 35,088 cars sold in 2022*
Another positive year for the Ford Puma means it ends the year in a respectable fourth place. Its driving dynamics and attractive pricing are the main draws for owners, and the range has more recently swollen with the addition of a plush Vignale trim and a warm-blooded ST version.
*5 Mini 3dr/5dr, 32,387 cars sold in 2022*
Despite its age, the fourth-placed Mini hatchback remains extremely popular. It finished 2021 in third place, ahead of superminis such as the Volkswagen Polo and Toyota Yaris. This year, it finished in fifth, owing to a versatile line-up of petrol, electric, convertible and John Cooper Works performance variants. The Mini can always be relied on for drivability and alluring looks. A new Mini is set to arrive this year...
*6 Kia Sportage, 29,655 cars sold in 2022*
The new Sportage drops down to sixth place at the end of the year. The fifth-generation SUV is once again proving a smash hit for the firm, thanks to its eye-catching design, on-trend powertrains and strong value for money.
*7 Hyundai Tucson, 27,839 cars sold in 2022*
The fourth SUV in the top 10, the Hyundai Tucson regularly appeared in the top 10 last year, and finishes in seventh for 2022. It continues to stake its claim to be one of the best-selling SUVs in the country and was renewed in 2021 with a fresh front end with a unique, eye-catching lighting set-up.
*8 Volkswagen Golf, 26,558 cars sold in 2022*
Now well into its eighth generation, the Volkswagen Golf retains a place among the top-selling cars in the UK. Its latest line-up features pure-ICE, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, with performance models ranging from the Golf GTE to the four-wheel drive Golf R. Volkswagen sold 26,558 of them in the UK this year.
*9 Ford Kuga, 26,549 cars sold in 2022*
We’re used to the Fiesta being Ford’s second entry into the top 10, but this year that role has been taken by the larger Kuga crossover. The model is the American firm’s entry into a crowded segment that also includes the Qashqai, Volkswagen Tiguan and Peugeot 3008. It was updated in 2020 with a softened design, a more spacious interior and economical plug-in powertrains.
*10 Ford Fiesta, 25,070 cars sold this year*
This is, unfortunately, the last time we'll ever see the Ford Fiesta in the UK's top ten best sellers list. That's because the hallowed supermini will be axed next year, bringing an end to 47 years of production. It's set to be replaced by an electric crossover, which will go head-to-head with the high-selling Puma and Kuga. Its popularity is down to its versatility and all-round excellent driving dynamics, with the performance ST variant still holding up as one of the best hot hatches on the market. We're sorry to see it go.