Bestselling cars of 2022: new car sales up for third consecutive month

New car sales increased by 26.4% last month compared to October 2021, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Hybrids recorded a particularly big jump in sales, but the market is still far below what it was pre-pandemic.

The latest figures from the SMMT show car sales increased for the third consecutive month in October, with total sales of 134,344 compared to 106,265 in October 2021.

Despite the increase, 2022 looks set to be the weakest for new car sales since 1982, with the market continuing to struggle with supply chain issues, resulting in long lead times for orders and inflexible pricing.

Read on to find out which areas of the market are experiencing the best growth, what the bestselling new cars of 2022 are and links to our full, lab-tested reviews.

Whatever type of car you're looking for, our in-depth reviews will help you find the perfect model. See the best cars for 2022

EV sales surge in 2022

The latest figures show that electric cars (EVs) are gaining increased traction with buyers, with sales growing 23.4% compared to October last year. However, it’s full hybrids that experienced the biggest growth, up a staggering 81.7% over the same period (though this is against a particularly weak October 2021). Sales of plug-in hybrids also grew, but by a more modest 6.2%. Watch our video to learn more about the different types of hybrid car.

Looking at sales figures across this year so far, EV and hybrid cars (plug-in and full hybrids) make up nearly a third of all car sales (32.6%), compared to just over a quarter (25.7%) over the same period last year.

EV sales in particular have shot up, increasing 38.4% year on year.

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Despite increasing compared to last month, plug-in hybrid sales are still well down year on year, with a fall of 13.2%. As we’ve seen in our tests, the fuel-economy benefit of plug-in hybrids is dependent on your ability to keep the car charged.

Diesel suffered the biggest year-on-year slump with a drop of 41.1%. Sales of petrol cars also fell compared to 2021, but with a smaller drop of 13%. 

Commenting on the most recent industry figures, Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: ‘A strong October is hugely welcome, albeit in comparison with a weak 2021, but it is still not enough to offset the damage done by the pandemic and subsequent supply shortages. Next year’s outlook shows recovery is possible and EV growth looks set to continue but, to achieve our shared net zero goals, that growth must accelerate and consumers given every reason to invest.'

Most popular new cars of 2022 (so far)

Here are the five best-selling cars of this year so far according to the latest SMMT data, along with links to our full reviews.

1. Nissan Qashqai (2021-)

A firm family favourite, the Qashqai has remained popular ever since it was introduced back in 2007. This model has excellent safety kit, an upmarket interior and is available as a mild or full hybrid.

Get the definitive verdict in our Nissan Qashqai (2021-) review.

2. Vauxhall Corsa (2020-)

It’s not hard to see why the Corsa sells so well. It handles well, is cheap to run and is also available as a full-electric model (the Corsa-e). 

Read our expert reviews of the Vauxhall Corsa (2020-) and Vauxhall Corsa-e (2020-).

3. Ford Puma (2020-)

The Puma has lots of clever features (including its ‘megabox’ boot) and excellent presence on the road thanks to sharp styling cues. But are there better alternatives?

Read our Ford Puma (2020-) review to see how it compares to the competition.

4. Kia Sportage (2022-)

The fifth generation Sportage is proving to be a big hit, thanks to its focus on practicality, safety equipment and style. 

Our review of the latest Sportage is coming soon. See how its predecessor fared in our Kia Sportage (2016-2021) review.

5. Mini (2014-)

Despite its age, the smallest model in the Mini range remains hugely popular, and the recently launched Mini Electric (pictured) benefits from technology from parent company BMW.

Read our Mini Hatch (2014-) and Mini Electric (2020-) reviews.

The top 10 bestselling cars in full

*Source: SMMT
^†Links to Which? review of previous generation

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