New car registration numbers published last week show that the market was down 5% in May 2019 compared to the same month last year.
May was a good month for Bentley, Jeep, Lexus, Lotus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, MG and Volvo, 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, Honda, Infiniti, McLaren, Mini, Nissan, Porsche, Renault, Smart, SsangYong, Subaru and Volkswagen, who all saw double-digit declines compared to the same month last year.
Check out our report on the registration numbers: Car sales continue to slide in May
Despite the overall results being disappointing, there are still plenty of popular cars flying out of new car showrooms. Here are the ten best-selling cars for May 2019.
Ten best-selling cars – May 2019
1. Ford Fiesta
Seasons change, governments rise and fall, Game of Thrones has finally finished 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 84% 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 another good month for the Ford Focus, maintaining second place in the best-sellers list for a second consecutive month. It also meant that the Focus has overhauled the Volkswagen Golf for second place in the year-to-date registration tables as well.
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 third most popular new car after the first five months of 2019, although it has now slipped slightly behind the Ford Focus.
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. Vauxhall Corsa
The Vauxhall Corsa appears to be yo-yoing its way through 2019. Fourth place this month followed ninth in April and second in March. Year-to-date it still holds fourth place, although only by a few hundred units over the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
The Vauxhall Corsa holds an Expert Rating of 63%, which is one of the lowest scores among 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 the ever-dominant Ford Fiesta.
- Vauxhall Corsa (2014 – present) – ratings and reviews
- More Vauxhall news, reviews, features and offers
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. Another solid month in May has seen it edge further ahead of the Nissan Qashqai, although there’s less than 100 sales between them.
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. Nissan Qashqai
The Qashqai remains the most popular British-built new car in Britain, although it wasn’t that far ahead of its little brother – the Nissan Juke – in May. 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.
7. Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The recently-facelifted Mercedes-Benz C-Class popped back into the Top Ten for the first time since January, and judging by the amount of TV advertising being devoted to it, we may well see it here again in June.
The C-Class holds an Expert rating of 79% on our New Car Ratings aggregator, which is in the top half of scores for a Top Ten car. It’s also the most expensive model range in the Top Ten, for what it’s worth.
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2014 – present) – ratings and reviews
- More Mercedes-Benz news, reviews, features and offers
8. Nissan Juke
Making its first appearance in the Top Ten this year is the Nissan Juke. The ageing baby Nissan crossover is built in Sunderland, so this month’s results are good news for the Nissan workforce up north.
The Juke is the oldest car in the Top Ten, being first launched way back in 2010. It currently holds an Expert Rating of 59% in our New Car Ratings aggregator, which is the lowest score in the Top Ten.
9. Volkswagen Polo
The Volkswagen Polo fell to ninth in May, although it still holds seventh position in year-to-date registrations.
The 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
10. Volkswagen Tiguan
Bringing up the bottom of the Top Ten in May 2019 is the Volkswagen Tiguan mid-size crossover. Despite featuring in three of the five monthly reports this year, 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.
