UK June 2017: VW Golf becomes best-seller for the 2nd time ever

The VW Golf is up 30% to snap its 2nd ever UK pole position. 

* See the Top 10 best-selling models and Top 42 brands by clicking on the title *

It’s a third consecutive month of decline for the UK new car market which continues to readjust after the recent changes to Vehicle Excise Duty triggered a pull-forward effect in March. Sales slow down their fall in June at -4.8% to 243.454 units, bringing the year-to-date tally down 1.3% to 1.401.811 units. All channels decline this month: private sales are down 7.8%, fleet sales down 2.4% and business sales down 8.3%. Alternatively fuelled vehicles on the other hand are up 29% to 10.721 registrations, holding a record 4.4% of the market for the second month running.

The Ford Focus is up 21% to #3. Picture whatcar.co.uk 

Brand-wise, leader Ford falls faster than the market at -10% to 11.1% share while Volkswagen surges 18% to hold the 2nd place for the second consecutive month, outselling Vauxhall in freefall at -18%. BMW (+2%), Mercedes (+1%) and Audi (+4%) follow, with BMW overtaking Audi for 5th place year-to-date. In the Top 20, only Seat (+15%) manages a double-digit year-on-year gain along with Volkswagen. Further down, Porsche (+30%) and Dacia (+45%) shine while among struggling manufacturers, Renault (-20%), Fiat (-21%), Citroen (-22%), Infiniti (-33%), Subaru (-38%), DS (-51%) and Jeep (-75%) fare the worst.

The Vauxhall Astra is up 24% in June in the UK. 

The models ranking is the theatre of an extremely rare event: a new #1. For the first time since December 2014 (Vauxhall Corsa), the Ford Fiesta isn’t the best-seller in the UK. For only the second time in its 43-year career after February 2011, this honour goes to the VW Golf as it transitions with the facelifted model available this summer. The Golf soars 30% on June 2016 to 8.808 units, almost 200 more than the Fiesta down a harsh 24%. This first win earns the Golf a third spot in the year-to-date ranking, overtaking the Nissan Qashqai. The Ford Focus (+21%) and Vauxhall Astra (+24%) also impress inside the Top 4 whereas the Vauxhall Corsa (-35%) and Nissan Qashqai (-13%) are in difficulty. The BMW 3 Series (#8) snaps its first Top 10 UK ranking since last February.

Previous month: UK May 2017: Volkswagen #2 brand in market down 8.5%

One year ago: UK June 2016: Brexit triggers 2nd year-on-year drop in 4 years

Full June 2017 Top 10 models and Top 42 brands ranking tables below.