Britain’s Most Popular Used Cars Report: What 5,000 Finance Records Reveal
We analysed 5,000 CarLoans365 vehicle records to reveal Britain’s most popular used-car makes and models, from Ford to the Nissan Qashqai.
Welcome to our guide on Britain’s most popular used cars. Here at Carloans365, we see thousands of customers buying used cars a year, which means we naturally see which are the most popular.
We reviewed our data recorded between 12 December 2024 and 30 April 2025 to find the makes and models that appeared most often. The results point to a market where familiar hatchbacks still matter, SUVs and crossovers are firmly established, and premium German brands command a sizeable share of demand.sizeable share of demand.
These figures reflect vehicles recorded in CarLoans365 customer finance data, not every used-car sale or vehicle on the road in Britain.
In this guide
- The 10 most popular used-car makes
- The 10 most popular model generations
- What the rankings tell us about customer preferences
- Why affordability is about more than the purchase price
- How we analysed the data
Quick answer: what is Britain’s most popular used car?
The Nissan Qashqai J11 was the most popular individual model generation in our data, accounting for 4.17% of the 5,000 records analysed.
Ford was the leading manufacturer overall, with a 12.50% share.
These figures reflect vehicles recorded in CarLoans365 customer finance data, not every used-car sale or vehicle on the road in Britain.
The 10 most popular used car brands in the UK
Ford took first place by a clear margin, appearing in one in eight records. Vauxhall followed at 11.06%, while Nissan completed the top three with 8.84%.
| Rank | Make | Share of records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford | 12.50% |
| 2 | Vauxhall | 11.06% |
| 3 | Nissan | 8.84% |
| 4 | BMW | 7.87% |
| 5 | Mercedes | 7.83% |
| 6 | Audi | 6.63% |
| 7 | Peugeot | 5.71% |
| 8 | Volkswagen | 5.55% |
| 9 | Land Rover | 5.11% |
| 10 | Kia | 3.27% |
Together, these 10 makes accounted for 74.37% of all records analysed.
Ford leads the field
Ford’s strength comes from the range of popular cars in its line-up. The Focus C346 was the second-most common individual model generation in the study, while the Fiesta B299 placed fifth. The Kuga C520, EcoSport B515 and other Ford models added to the manufacturer’s overall lead.
That mix gives Ford a presence across traditional hatchbacks, family cars, crossovers and SUVs, covering a wide range of budgets and practical needs.
Vauxhall remains a used-car staple
Vauxhall secured second place with 11.06% of records. Its share was spread across several familiar models, including the Mokka, Astra and Corsa.
All three are widely available on the used market, with plenty of choice across different ages, prices and specifications.
Premium German brands take a sizeable share
BMW, Mercedes and Audi occupied fourth, fifth and sixth place respectively. Combined, the three brands represented 22.33% of the records analysed.
Premium cars clearly appeal to a significant share of used buyers. The BMW 1 Series and 3 Series, Mercedes A-Class and C-Class, and Audi A1 and A3 all featured prominently in the model data.
The 10 most popular used car models in the UK
The model ranking below keeps different generations separate. This matters because vehicles sharing a model name can differ substantially in age, design, equipment and typical used price.
| Rank | Model generation | Share of records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nissan Qashqai (J11) | 4.17% |
| 2 | Ford Focus (C346) | 2.83% |
| 3 | Nissan Juke (F15) | 2.76% |
| 4 | Range Rover Evoque (LV) | 2.44% |
| 5 | Ford Fiesta (B299) | 2.20% |
| 6 | Volkswagen Golf (Mk7) | 2.00% |
| 7 | Ford Kuga (C520) | 1.90% |
| 8 | Mercedes A-Class (W176) | 1.90% |
| 9 | BMW 1 Series (F2x) | 1.72% |
| 10 | BMW 3 Series (F3x) | 1.68% |
These 10 model generations made up 23.60% of the full dataset, showing that customer choice extends across a very long tail of vehicles.
1. Nissan Qashqai (J11)
The Nissan Qashqai J11 accounted for 4.17% of records, putting it 1.34 percentage points ahead of the second-placed Ford Focus C346.
The Qashqai helped popularise the family crossover format in Britain. Its combination of a higher driving position, family-friendly space and car-like dimensions makes it easy to understand why it remains a common used choice.
2. Ford Focus (C346)
The Ford Focus C346 placed second with a 2.83% share. A familiar all-rounder, the Focus offers the practicality of a family hatchback without moving into a larger SUV body style.
Its ranking also reinforces Ford’s overall result: the brand did not depend on a single popular car to reach the top of the manufacturer table.
3. Nissan Juke (F15)
The first-generation Nissan Juke took third place at 2.76%. Its compact footprint and crossover styling give it a different appeal from the larger Qashqai, helping Nissan perform strongly in two parts of the used SUV market.
4. Range Rover Evoque (LV)
The Range Rover Evoque LV ranked fourth with 2.44% of records. It was the highest-placed premium SUV and helped Land Rover reach ninth place in the make ranking.
Used examples can bring aspirational styling and a premium badge within reach of a wider range of buyers. As with any premium used vehicle, however, customers should consider servicing, insurance and repair costs alongside the advertised price.
5. Ford Fiesta (B299)
The Ford Fiesta B299 completed the top five with a 2.20% share. Its position shows that the conventional small hatchback still has an important role despite the growth of crossovers.
Fiestas are widely available in the used market, come in many specifications and are compact enough for everyday urban driving. Those qualities keep the model relevant to used buyers, even though Ford no longer sells it as a new car.
What do the rankings tell us?
SUVs and crossovers are firmly established
The Qashqai, Juke and Evoque gave SUVs and crossovers three places in the top four, with the Kuga also appearing in seventh place.
This does not mean every customer wants a large car. The Juke shows that compact crossovers can appeal to buyers who want SUV-inspired styling and a higher seating position without the footprint of a full-size SUV.
Traditional hatchbacks still compete strongly
The Focus, Fiesta and Golf all reached the top six. Their practicality, familiarity and broad availability continue to make them attractive used buys.
For buyers who do not need an SUV, a hatchback can offer a useful balance of passenger space, manageable dimensions and running costs.
Used buyers are mixing practical and premium choices
The top 10 is not limited to entry-level cars. The Range Rover Evoque placed fourth, the Mercedes A-Class eighth, and the BMW 1 Series and 3 Series ninth and tenth.
Depreciation can make premium models look attractive on the used market, but a lower purchase price does not necessarily mean lower ownership costs. Insurance group, fuel economy, servicing, tyres and potential repairs should all form part of the decision.
How to choose the right used car for your budget
Popularity can be a helpful starting point, but the most common car is not automatically the right car for every buyer.
Before choosing a vehicle, consider:
- Your total monthly budget: include finance, insurance, fuel, tax, servicing and maintenance.
- How you use the car: short urban journeys, motorway driving and regular family trips can favour different vehicle types.
- Passenger and luggage space: compare what you need now with what you may need during the period you expect to keep the car.
- Vehicle history and condition: check the service history, MOT record, mileage and condition of any individual car.
- Insurance before committing: premiums can vary sharply between models, versions and drivers.
- Finance terms: look at the total amount repayable as well as the monthly figure, interest rate and agreement length.
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Methodology: our UK used car statistics
CarLoans365 analysed 5,000 vehicle records dated from 12 December 2024 to 30 April 2025 to explore used car finance trends in the UK. Each make or model’s share was calculated as a percentage of all records in the supplied dataset.
Model generations were counted separately where the source data used different generation or platform codes. For example, the Nissan Qashqai J11, J12 and J10 were treated as separate entries rather than combined under one Qashqai nameplate.
The source data contains customer vehicle and finance-process records, including a small number of statuses other than “Account Paid”. The findings therefore describe the mix of vehicles in this CarLoans365 dataset. They should not be read as official UK registration, sales or vehicle-parc statistics, and they may not represent the preferences of all British used-car buyers.
Percentages are shown to two decimal places, so totals derived from displayed figures may be affected by rounding. Brand labels have been standardised for readability in the article; the analysis otherwise follows the supplied categories.
Additional resources
- Hire purchase car finance
- PCP car finance
- Used cars on finance
- Bad credit car finance
- Apply for car finance with bad credit
- Car finance calculator
Data correct for the period analysed. This article is for general information only and does not
