Our top 10 best-selling vehicles in 2022

The past year has been a strange one for car buyers. Stocks of new cars dried up during the pandemic due to supply chain issues, which rapidly inflated the cost of used cars – and those lucky enough to have new cars promptly sold them to cash in on the boom.

The car industry still hasn’t recovered from the parts shortages, meaning new car buyers are forced to stomach long wait times. So, if you want to get behind the wheel of some fresh metal sooner rather than later, it’ll probably be quicker to scour the second hand car market for a nearly new vehicle.

Thankfully, there’s no shortage of vehicles. The SMMT recently reported that the new car market boomed by 78.7 percent year-on-year in March 2022. The used market enjoyed a similar uptick, growing by 11.5 percent by the end of 2021 as owners clamoured to make a quick buck on their motors.

Scroll down for our list of the best selling news cars in the UK during March 2022. You can find nearly new examples of every car here online, although you should expect to pay a little more over an equivalent brand new model for the convenience of getting it the same day. Like any used car, it’s always worth checking its history using the DVLA’s online tool.

10. Ford Fiesta (3,890 sold)

The Ford Fiesta is a great little supermini. It’s easy to thread through busy city streets, excellent fun to fling down a B-road and reasonably comfortable on the motorway. Ford has just facelifted the car as well, meaning the last examples of the pre-facelift model can be had for a steal. Have a browse around and pick up a bargain.

9. Toyota C-HR (3,910 sold)

The Toyota C-HR takes the (rather humdrum) Prius’s hybrid technology and packages it into a sharper crossover body. It’s stylish and efficient – so its sales success isn’t a surprise. There’s a handful of nearly new examples on the market as well, with prices starting from around £21,000, representing an £8,000 saving over one lifted from the showroom floor.

8. Ford Kuga (4,223 sold)

Ford had another stroke of brilliance with the Kuga. It’s a family SUV that’s loaded with technology, cheap to keep on the road and almost as fun to drive as the Focus. A recent recall for the PHEV model also drove buyers to flog their cars – so there’s a few on the used market. Just make sure your purchase has had the remedial work done before you buy.

7. Kia Sportage (4,563 sold)

The previous-generation Kia Sportage sold like hotcakes for its reliability and its practicality – and this new model follows the same trend. The trouble is, it hasn’t been on sale quite long enough for a good stock of used cars to build up. If you find one, though, you can buy with confidence as the car will still be covered by Kia’s excellent seven-year warranty.

6. Ford Puma (4,755 sold)

Look past the controversial nameplate (as it’s fixed to the rear of a compact crossover rather than a sporty coupe) you’ll find that the Ford Puma is a cracking little car. It’s very nearly as fun to drive as the Fiesta on which it’s based, but it’s a lot more practical. If you’re a speed junkie, you can also have one with a 200hp 1.5-litre petrol engine in ST trim.

5. Hyundai Tucson (4,876 sold)

The Hyundai Tucson is basically the same car as the Kia Sportage underneath, but it’s been on sale for a little longer which means there’s a float of used stock available. It’s a good buy, too – Hyundai did an excellent job of the Tucson’s interior and technology. The driving experience leaves much to be desired, but it’s dependable family transport.

4. Nissan Qashqai (5,401 sold)

Nissan pioneered the SUV niche with the original versions of the Juke and the Qashqai. The latest Qashqai seems to be stuck in the same rut, shifting well over 5,000 units in March alone – mostly due to its pedigree and new-found interior space. Sales figures like that mean there’s a surplus of stock, so you should be able to find the spec you want easily.

3. Vauxhall Corsa (5,515 sold)

The Corsa has been on Britain’s best-selling list ever since the first-generation model was launched back in the 1980s. This new model gives buyers the choice of petrol, diesel and electric powertrains – but we’d recommend avoiding the electric model if you’re buying used. You can get a good petrol one for around £10,000, but the EV will cost you double that.

2. Tesla Model 3 (6,457 sold)

Tesla is capitalising on the EV push. If you live anywhere near a city, you’ll see Model 3s everywhere – and they seem to change hands regularly. We found 29 cars with less than 10,000 miles on the clock, with prices starting from around £42,000. That’s reasonable considering the amount of performance and technology on offer.

1. Tesla Model Y (6,464 sold)

Tesla topped the UK’s sales charts with the Model Y, as buyers can’t seem to get enough of crossovers lately. It shares the same underpinnings as the Model 3, but it comes with lifted suspension and a slightly taller body. It’s also a lot newer than the Model 3, which means there aren’t many second hand examples on sale. Keep your eyes peeled for a deal.