UK February 2025: Mini Cooper best-seller

The Mini Cooper is the best-selling car in the UK In February.

The UK new car market edges down -1% year-on-year in February to 84,054 units, this still being the 2nd highest February volume in the past 20 years. The year-to-date volume is down off -1.9% to 223,399. Private sales are back up 4.6% to 29,947 and 35.6% share vs. 33.7% a year ago, reversing a recent trend that saw private sales lose ground. Fleet sales drop -4% to 52,541 and 62.5% share vs. 64.5% in February 2024. Business sales are up 3.3% to 1,566. Year-to-date, private sales are up 1.5% to 80,081 and 35.8% share vs. 34.6% last year, while fleet sales fall -3.9% to 139,390 and 62.4% share vs. 63.7% and business sales are up 2.5% to 3,928.

Looking at sales by propulsion, BEVs surge 41.7% to 21,244 and 25.3% share vs. 17.7% a year ago, PHEVs gain 19.3% to 7,273 and 8.7% share vs. 7.2% and HEVs are up 7.9% to 11,431 and 13.6% share vs. 12.5%. In contrast petrol sales are off -17.3% to 39,.865 and 47.4% share vs. 56.8% and diesel is down -15.1% to 4,241 and 5% share vs. 5.9%. So far this year, BEVs grow 41.6% to 50,878 and 22.8% share vs. 15.8% over the same period in 2024, PHEVs are up 10.1% to 19,871 and 8.9% share vs. 7.9% and HEVs edge up 4.8% to 29,844 and 13.4% share vs. 12.5%. Meanwhile petrol is down -16.1% to 109,940 and 49.2% share vs. 57.5% and diesel off -10.3% to 12,866 and 5.8% share vs. 6.3%.

As for the brands ranking, Volkswagen (+3.9%) remains by far the most popular one with 9.6% share vs. 5.6% for BMW (-20.1%) in deep trouble. Ford (-24.2%) also struggles but is back up four spots on January to #3. Peugeot (+28.1%) posts another stellar score at 5.1% share and #4 vs. #13 over the Full Year 2024. Kia (-3.2%) is down three ranks to #5, distancing a solid Hyundai (+10.5%). Mini (+68.1%) is the best performer in the Top 20 and leaps 10 spots on last month to #7 overall with 4.7% share. Tesla (+20.7%) is up 14 ranks to #11, with Cupra (+35.8%), Volvo (+26.5%), Land Rover (+23.8%) and Renault (+23.1%) also standing out below. BYD surges 334.3% to #22 with 1.4% share while Chinese newcomer Jaecoo is up 7 ranks to #26 with just under 1% share.

Model-wise, the Mini Cooper (+13.5%) posts a surprise win, its third ever after November 2021 and November 2024. However February’s small overall volumes mean it only ranks #8 year-to-date. The Mini is followed by the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y while the VW Golf (-23.4%) repeats at #4. The VW Tiguan jumps to #5, its highest ranking since last October when it was also #5. The Nissan Juke (+12.8%) is solid at #6 ahead of the Nissan Qashqai (-5.5%). #1 last month, the Kia Sportage (-22.2%) drops to #8 but stays in the YTD lead. The leader of the past two years, the Ford Puma (-42.2%) implodes to #10 and now ranks #9 YTD. Although out of the February Top 10, the Peugeot 3008 ranks #6 YTD and the Peugeot 2008 #7.

Previous month: UK January 2025: Peugeot up to #4, places 3008 at #5 and 2008 at #6

One year ago: UK February 2024: Strongest February volume in 20 years, VW Golf up to #2

Full February 2025 Top 50 All brands and Top 10 models below.