Top Ten Cars in the UK for January 2023. #1 Will Surprise You

Automologist MAC tells us what he thinks of each of them. 

The cost of cars around the world has shot up over the past few years due to a number of supply chain problems, conveniently blamed on the Covid pandemic (aka Wuhan flu). Our guest writer in the Philippines, Harold, claims that the cost of new cars has shot up by an eye-watering 50% over in the Philippines (where, apparently, it is more fun). Globally, with interest prices rising, the cost of financing has also increased.

But people are still buying cars, in ever greater numbers, and in ever greater sizes, apparently. The current trend for new car sales is very much in the SUV and crossover segment. According to an article I read from the US of A, 80% of new car sales there were SUVs or pickup trucks—you know, gas-guzzlers. So, an ever-increasing number is made up of Hybrids or full EVs, right? Not on your life. Good old fossil fuel is still the juice of choice.

The figures for the top ten cars sold in the month of January have just been published in the UK. Frankly, the#1 spot surprised the life out of me, but the trend that we see in the US of A seems to be a European predilection as well.

#10 The Ford Fiesta. Originally launched back in 1976 and having racked up over 1 million sales by 1980, the venerable small hatch from the big blue is fast coming to the end of its life, with production due to halt as of June this year. The public loved this car for its ease of ownership and all-round versatility. You can still buy one if you live in Europe and my advice would be go get it.

#9 Hyundai Tucson. This is the fourth generation Tucson since its launch in 2004, but probably not the prettiest of them all. The looks may not be for all but the interior space and ease of drive, with the addition of lots of ‘tech toys’ for the big boys that drive them, has convinced the masses that this is the one for them.

#8 The MG ZS. I am not a fan of this car. The petrol version has a really lacklustre engine and the design of the outside is, well…boring. Inside, there are lots of buzzers and bells as is to be expected. The EV version is one of the few cars on the list that achieved an appreciable number of sales, but at roughly 600 from the total 2,260 registrations for the month, it isn’t a very big pile of beans.

#7 Ford Puma. Probably designed to replace the Fiesta, the Puma is almost the definition of what the Fiesta would be in crossover guise. I haven’t driven one yet but all the reports suggest that the Puma is every bit the suitable replacement for the Fiesta, with all the handling capability of the super-mini but as a crossover, Hallelujah! But wait, there is more. They have already introduced a hairy-chested ST version before they try to tempt us with an EV.

#6 KIA Sportage. Our friends from South Korea have been steadily improving the looks of their vehicles over the past decade or so and now have a number of pretty sexy-looking beasties in the stable. The Sportage may not be the sleekest but if you are in the market, you should go for a test drive.

#5 Vauxhall Corsa. The superminis are being squeezed out of the market as everyone moves over to SUVs and crossovers, yet like the Fiesta, the Corsa is hanging in there. The Corsa, though, is very much in need of an update, especially in the cabin, but then it is really a Peugeot now, so don’t expect anything amazing anytime soon.

#4 KIA Nitro. Sporting the new Kia design culture, this model has really moved the brand up the style ranks. Kia has crammed the vehicle full of tech toys and also managed to make the car that more practical as an all-purpose family wagon.

#3 Nissan Qashqai. This has been a UK fave-rave for a while now and of course, is yet another of the crossovers in the top ten there. Originally designed in the UK and launched in 2007, the Qashqai can lay claim to being one of the founder’s crossover genre. Now in its third reincarnation with a level of practicability that beats most of the other contenders.

#2 Volkswagen T-Roc. Not sure about the name but it does seem to have captured the public’s imagination and now outsells the Golf, a long-time bestseller in the UK. The T-Roc is a lot like the Golf in many ways, only taller but unfortunately still has that awful VW infotainment system that I found so hard to live with when I drove one recently, which may be the reason that there is only one VW on the top ten list.

#1 MG HS. With a total of 3,481 vehicles registered in January, the pretender from SAIC in China is currently the fastest-selling car in the UK. The car itself is just not right—it is bland with a capital B, but it is cheap. At just GBP23.5K for the petrol version, it is seen as value for money. There is also a PHEV available that will take you about 31 kilometres on a single charge, but costing an eye-watering GBP31K, so I am thinking that you will not see many of those parked in the recharging bays.

Did the lack of EVs surprise you as well?