UK May 2025: Stable market (+1.6%), Hyundai Kona hits record ranking

Third incursion inside the UK Top 10 for the Hyundai Kona.

150,070 new cars hit UK roads in May, a small 1.6% year-on-year improvement. The year-to-date total is now up 2.8% to 850,903. Petrol is down -12.5% to 71,291, diesel off -15.5% to 7,792, but HEVs are up 6.8% to 20,351, BEVs up 25.8% to 32,738 and 21.8% share and PHEVs surge 50.8% to 17,898 and 11.9% share. It’s fleets that push the market up at +3.7% to 90,102 and 60% share vs. 58.8% a year ago whereas private sales drop -2.3% to 56,131 and 37.4% share vs. 38.9% last year. Business sales gain 14.4% but remain marginal at 3,837 and 2.6%.

Volkswagen (+0.4%) is stable and remains in firm control of the brands charts with 9% share. This is compared to just 6.2% for the 2nd-placed BMW (-9.9%). Kia (-3.8%) is down one spot on April to #3 while Ford (+12.9%) posts a very solid performance at #4. Audi (-24.2%) is in trouble and rounds out the Top 5 ahead of Skoda (+11.4%) and Hyundai (+2.1%) both outpacing the market. Vauxhall (+16.4%) and Nissan (+4.3%) do the same in the remainder of the Top 10. Below, note the excellent scores of BYD (+407.6%) ranking #18 with 2% share, Renault (+37.3%), Peugeot (+36.6%) and Cupra (+32.7%). Jaecoo (#24) and Omoda (#26) confirm their initial success.

Traditionally very volatile, the UK models ranking is familiar this month, with the Ford Puma (-3.1%), Kia Sportage (-22.5%) and Nissan Qashqai (+17.1%) replicating the YTD and FY2024 order. The Nissan Juke (+16.5%) is up three ranks on last month to #4, its best ranking since last September (#3). The Vauxhall Corsa (+0.8%) resists at #5 ahead of the MG ZS (-0.2%) back inside the Top 10 at #6. Below the VW Polo (-14%), the Hyundai Kona breaks its UK ranking record at #8, for its third ever incursion inside the Top 10 after reaching #9 in February 2022 and #10 in July 2021. As for the Peugeot 2008 at #9, it manages a third Top 10 finish of the year.

Previous month: UK April 2025: Peugeot, BYD stand out in market down -10.4%

One year ago: UK May 2024: 22nd straight month of growth, Kia Sportage in the lead

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