According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the list of the best-selling new cars in the UK over the past 25 years was recently published. Ford's two classic models, the Fiesta and Focus, occupy the top two spots due to their long-term market dominance.However, some surprising names also appeared on the list, such as the Nissan Qashqai (sixth), the only SUV model on the list, and the Peugeot 206 (tenth), which was only produced for one generation but sold well. Here are the top five models:
Ford Fiesta topped the list with total sales of 2,129,648 units. This long-serving supermini enjoys high popularity in the British market and has won the SMMT annual sales champion for 12 consecutive years from 2009 to 2020.
Its decision to halt production even made national headlines and was viewed by the industry as one of the boldest or most regrettable strategic choices.
Ford Focus followed with sales of 2,066,304 units. The Focus was a major venture for Ford Europe, replacing the aging Escort and eventually becoming one of the best-selling models of all time. As the Focus is about to be withdrawn from the market, many car fans say they will miss this classic model.
Vauxhall Corsa ranked third with sales of 1,838,912 units. Although this car may seem ordinary, it is a national favorite and almost every British person has driven it. With the discontinuation of the Fiesta and the gradual withdrawal of the Focus, the Corsa is expected to top the sales list in the next few years.
Vauxhall Astra ranked fourth with sales of 1,459,214 units. Its previous production at Ellesmere Port made the family hatchback very competitively priced, but sales have yet to fully recover since production was moved to Germany and positioned higher.
Volkswagen Golf ranked fifth with sales of 1,450,860 units, continuing to demonstrate its strength as an evergreen tree in the European market.