New car registration numbers published today show that the market was down 4% on the same month last year, largely due to a fall of 10% in private new car sales.
It was a good month for Bentley, BMW, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, McLaren and MG, who all saw growth of at least 10% compared to the same month last year. Meanwhile, things were not so rosy for Abarth, Alfa Romeo, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Ford, Infiniti, Jeep, Lotus, Mini, Mitsubishi, Renault, Smart, SsangYong and Subaru, who all saw double-digit declines compared to the same month last year.
Check out our report on the registration numbers: New car sales fall in April
Despite the overall results being gloomy, there are still plenty of popular cars flying out of new car showrooms. Here are the ten best-selling cars for April 2019.
Ten best-selling cars – April 2019
1. Ford Fiesta
Seasons change, governments rise and fall, Game of Thrones draws interminably towards its finale and still the Ford Fiesta reigns supreme at the top of the UK new car sales charts.
The Fiesta currently holds an Expert Rating of 85% in The Car Expert’s all-new New Car Ratings database, which compares reviews from across the UK motoring media. This is higher than any other car in the supermini class, so it seems that motoring journalists and the buying public are in agreement on the Fiesta’s qualities.
2. Ford Focus
It was a good month for the Ford Focus, climbing back up to second in the best-sellers list for the first time since January. Four months into 2019, the Focus sits third overall and is closing back in on the Volkswagen Golf.
The Focus currently holds an Expert Rating of 82% in our New Car Ratings database, and was also listed by safety gurus Thatcham Research as one of the ten safest cars for 2019.
3. Volkswagen Golf
The current generation of Golf may be reaching the end of its life, having been launched back in 2012, but it remains popular among UK buyers. The Golf is the country’s second most popular new car after the first four months of 2019, although the gap back to the Ford Focus is small and closing.
The Volkswagen Golf holds an Expert rating of 85% in The Car Expert’s New Car Ratings database, so it’s popular with journos as well as buyers.
- Volkswagen Golf (2012 – present) – reviews and ratings
- More Volkswagen news, reviews, features and offers
4. Nissan Qashqai
The Qashqai is, by some distance, the most popular British-built new car in Britain. A decade ago, the original Qashqai almost had the compact SUV/crossover market all to itself. Today, it’s the hottest segment in the new car market. Despite this, the current Qashqai continues to see of every new challenger – despite being one of the oldest models in the sector, having being launched in 2014.
The Nissan Qashqai currently holds an Expert Rating of 74% in our New Car Ratings database, which is midfield for the compact crossover segment and in the bottom half of scores for a Top Ten-selling car.
5. Mercedes-Benz A-Class
If you need proof that Mercedes-Benz is now a volume brand, the A-Class hatchback is it. The new model has been firmly entrenched in the best-sellers list since it was launched last summer, and its popularity will presumably increase when the saloon version arrives later this year.
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class has an Expert rating of 78% in The Car Expert’s super-cool New Car Rating system. The overall score is dragged down somewhat by lower ratings from a couple of performance car titles (Evo and Top Gear), otherwise it would be a solid 80% or more.
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2018 – present) – ratings and reviews
- More Mercedes-Benz news, reviews, features and offers
6. Ford Kuga
The current Kuga is not long for this world, with an all-new model announced last month. Still, it remains popular – back up to sixth this month and eighth in year-to-date registrations.
The Ford Kuga holds an Expert rating of 67% on our New Car Ratings aggregator, which is one of the lowest results for a Top Ten car. The current model was given a substantial update in 2017, but it lags behind the class leaders. We eagerly await the new model, although Ford hasn’t yet announced when it will go on sale.
7. Volkswagen Polo
The Polo finished seventh in April, and also holds that position in year-to-date registrations.
The Volkswagen Polo holds an Expert Rating of 79% in The Car Expert’s New Car Ratings calculator, which is good but a fair way behind the class-leading Ford Fiesta.
- Volkswagen Polo (2017 – present) – ratings and reviews
- More Volkswagen news, reviews, features and offers
8. Volkswagen Tiguan
This month’s Top Ten features three cars from both Ford and Volkswagen, with the last of those being the Tiguan. Sitting eighth in April, it hasn’t quite cracked the Top Ten in year-to-date sales.
The Volkswagen Tiguan has an Expert Rating of 79% in our New Car Ratings database, which is quite good although a few points behind the Peugeot 3008.
- Volkswagen Tiguan (2016 – present) – ratings and reviews
- More Volkswagen news, reviews, features and offers
9. Vauxhall Corsa
After the giddy heights of second place in the best-selling cars list last month, it was back down to ninth in April for the Corsa. Year-to-date it still holds fourth place, thanks to its stellar performance in the big registration month of March.
The Vauxhall Corsa holds an Expert Rating of 63%, which is the lowest score of all the Top Ten cars in The Car Expert’s New Car Rating database. The current model is due for replacement this year, and Vauxhall dealers will be eager for the new Corsa to take the fight to arch-rival Ford.
- Vauxhall Corsa (2014 – present) – ratings and reviews
- More Vauxhall news, reviews, features and offers
10. Hyundai Tucson
Popping up onto the bottom rung of the Top Ten ladder in April was the Hyundai Tucson, although it was only a handful of units from displacing the Vauxhall Corsa from ninth spot.
The Hyundai Tucson holds an Expert Rating of 67% in our New Car Ratings aggregator, which is buried in the midfield of the compact crossover sector and well behind the class leaders. However, it’s becoming steadily more popular with British new car buyers, so we may just see the Tucson establish itself in the best-sellers list over coming months.
