The Ford Fiesta was toppled from its traditional top spot as Britain’s best-selling new car by the Volkswagen Golf during February, according to the latest official figures.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported that 3,457 Golfs were registered compared to 3,123 Fiestas.
In all, 79,594 new cars registered in the UK during February – down 2.9% year-on-year.
February is traditionally one of the quietest months of the year for new car registrations, coming as it does just ahead of the March number plate change.
With the all-new eight-generation Volkswagen Golf hitting showrooms this year, it’s clearly a good time to grab a bargain-priced example of the outgoing model.
The other big surprise in the February best-sellers list was the appearance of the BMW 5 Series in 10th spot. It’s rare for executive cars to sell in such big numbers.
UK’s Top 10 best-selling new cars
| Make and model | February registrations |
| Volkswagen Golf | 3,457 |
| Ford Fiesta | 3,123 |
| Ford Focus | 2,764 |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 1,871 |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 1,648 |
| Vauxhall Grandland X | 1,540 |
| Volkswagen Polo | 1,451 |
| MINI | 1,339 |
| Nissan Qashqai | 1,293 |
| BMW 5 Series | 1,286 |
Total car registrations for February 2020. Data: The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT).
