Top 10 best selling cars in Britain
This is the list of the best selling 10 cars in the United Kingdom (Great Britain), for all years between 1985 and 2006 .
2006
1. Ford Focus
3. Ford Fiesta
7. Renault Clio
8. BMW 3 Series
9. Ford Mondeo
10. Vauxhall Zafira
For the eighth year in a row, Ford's Focus was number one in the UK.
The Vauxhall Astra regained second place in the top 10, while the Ford Fiesta climbed to third place (regained leadership of the supermini sector after six years in the wilderness) and Vauxhall's regenerated Corsa dipped slightly to fourth place overall and lost its four-year leadership of the supermini sector.
The Renault Megane enjoyed another solid year, finishing fifth overall, and the new Clio reached seventh place.
The Volkswagen Golf retained sixth place.
The BMW 3 Series reached a new high of eighth place, while the Ford Mondeo dipped slightly to ninth.
For the first time ever, an MPV made the top 10 in the shape of Vauxhall's acclaimed new Zafira.
2005
1. Ford Focus
2. Vauxhall Astra
3. Vauxhall Corsa
4. Renault Megane
5. Ford Fiesta
6. Volkswagen Golf
7. Peugeot 206
8. Ford Mondeo
9. Renault Clio
10. BMW 3 Series
Ford's Focus entered a new generation and retained the original car's top spot - for the seventh year running.
Vauxhall had a stronger year, with its stylish new Astra climbing to second place and the Corsa regained its supermini sector lead in third place overall.
With customers now accustomed to its quirky looks, the Renault Megane went from strength to strength as it occupied fourth place - the highest position of any Renault ever sold in the UK.
The Volkswagen Golf rose to sixth place - its highest-ever British standing - and the Peugeot 206 dipped to seventh.
The Ford Mondeo enjoyed another slight improvement, this time coming eighth overall and continuing its lead of the large family car sector.
Renault's Clio, replaced in the autumn, came ninth, while last in the top 10 was the updated BMW 3 Series.
2004
1. Ford Focus
2. Vauxhall Corsa
3. Ford Fiesta
4. Peugeot 206
5. Renault Megane
6. Vauxhall Astra
7. Renault Clio
8. Volkswagen Golf
9. Ford Mondeo
10. Peugeot 307
The Ford Focus retained top spot and the Vauxhall Corsa remained second most popular car overall and most popular supermini. The Ford Fiesta rose to third place overall (its highest standing in four years) and the Peugeot 206 rose to fourth.
The big success of the year was the two-year-old Renault Megane, which came fifth overall and second in the small family car sector. It came one place above the traditionally more favoured Vauxhall Astra. Renault's other entrant in the top 10 was the ageing Clio supermini, which was one year away from replacement.
The latest Volkswagen Golf continued to sell well, occupying eighth place overall.
The Ford Mondeo enjoyed a slightly better year, coming ninth and most importantly outselling the BMW 3 Series. Indeed, the 3 Series was nowhere to be seen in this year's top 10, its place being taken by the Peugeot 307.
This year, five of Britain's 10 best selling cars were small family cars - the first time this had happened since 1998.
A record four French cars (two Peugeots and two Renaults) found their way into the top 10 this year.
2003
1. Ford Focus
2. Vauxhall Corsa
3. Vauxhall Astra
4. Ford Fiesta
5. Renault Clio
6. Peugeot 206
7. Renault Megane
8. Volkswagen Golf
9. BMW 3 Series
10. Ford Mondeo
For the fifth year in succession, the Ford Focus was Britain's most popular new car.
The Vauxhall Corsa retained its lead of the supermini market, while the larger Astra remained in third place overall.
Ford's Fiesta improved slightly to attain fourth place overall, outselling the sixth-placed Peugeot 206. The Renault Clio reached a new high of fifth place, while the oddly-shaped new Megane was a surprisingly popular seller in seventh place.
The due-to-be-replaced Volkswagen Golf attained a creditable eighth place, while BMW reached the top 10 for the first time ever, with its 3 Series coming ninth and outselling the tenth placed Ford Mondeo.
2002
1. Ford Focus
2. Vauxhall Corsa
3. Vauxhall Astra
4. Peugeot 206
5. Ford Fiesta
6. Renault Clio
7. Volkswagen Golf
8. Ford Mondeo
9. Renault Megane
10. Ford Ka
Ford's Focus was in pole position for the fourth year in a row, but its all-new Fiesta came fifth and overall and third in the supermini market.
Vauxhall's Corsa achieved a new high of second place, while the Astra dipped slightly to third.
The Peugeot 206 had another excellent year, coming fourth overall.
The Renault Clio reached a new high of sixth place, as did the seventh-placed Volkswagen Golf.
The Ford Mondeo maintained leadership of the large family car sector, but fell to eighth overall and for the second year running was the only car in its sector to make the top 10.
A new entrant in the top 10 was Ford's Ka, giving Ford its first four-strong appearance in the top 10 since 1990.
2002 saw UK car sales break last year's record.
2001
1. Ford Focus
2. Vauxhall Astra
3. Peugeot 206
4. Ford Fiesta
5. Vauxhall Corsa
6. Ford Mondeo
7. Renault Clio
8. Renault Megane
9. Volkswagen Golf
10. Citroen Xsara
The Vauxhall Vectra dropped out of the top 10 for this year, leaving Vauxhall without a large family car in the top 10 for the first time since 1975. Despite this, its Astra and updated Corsa all made the top five, with the Astra maintaining second place and the Corsa reaching a record fifth place.
Ford's Focus remained in pole position, but the Fiesta lost leadership of the supermini sector after nearly 20 years, being overtaken by the Peugeot 206.
Renault's Clio underwent a facelift and reached seventh place this year, with the Megane climbing slightly to eighth and Volkswagen's Golf coming ninth.
New to the top 10 was the Citroen Xsara, with most sales actually accounted for by the Xsara Picasso MPV, giving Citroen its first top 10 appearance in the UK.
This year set new records for car sales in the UK, breaking the previous record set in 1989.
2000
1. Ford Focus
2. Vauxhall Astra
3. Ford Fiesta
4. Vauxhall Corsa
5. Peugeot 206
6. Vauxhall Vectra
7. Ford Mondeo
8. Renault Megane
9. Renault Clio
10. Volkswagen Golf
The top 10 remained the same this year, though not in the same order.
The Focus remained top seller overall and leader of its sector, as did the third-placed Fiesta.
Vauxhall's Astra reached new heights in second place, while its larger Vectra retained leadership of the large family car sector at the Ford Mondeo's expense.
The Volkswagen Golf propped up the top 10, with Renault's Megane and Clio occupying the two places above it.
1999
1. Ford Focus
2. Ford Fiesta
3. Vauxhall Astra
4. Vauxhall Corsa
6. Ford Mondeo
7. Renault Megane
8. Renault Clio
9. Volkswagen Golf
10. Peugeot 206
The most notable missing entry from this year's top 10 was the Ford Escort, now winding down after more than 30 years and four generations in production.
The most popular new car this year was the Escort's successor - the Focus. Its ultra-modern styling and superb ride and handling helped it gain top spot. The Fiesta came second to retain top spot in the supermini sector, while the Mondeo came sixth to lose leadership of the large family car market to the Vauxhall Vectra.
Vauxhall's latest Astra enjoyed its best year yet, coming third overall.
The Renault Megane continued to sell well and this year occupied seventh place, with the one-year-old Clio returning to the top 10 in eighth place.
Rover dropped out of the top 10 due to a decline in demand which saw sales fall by a third.
New in the top 10 were Peugeot's stylish 206 supermini and Volkswagen's desirable Golf hatchback, now in its fourth generation and finally in Britain's top 10 after some 25 years on sale.
1998
1. Ford Fiesta
2. Ford Escort
3. Ford Mondeo
4. Vauxhall Vectra
5. Renault Megane
6. Vauxhall Astra
7. Vauxhall Corsa
8. Peugeot 306
9. Rover 200
10. Rover 400
Ford's top three monopoly continued, but Vauxhall endured a slight dip in sales. The Vectra regained fourth place, while the fourth generation Astra came sixth and the ageing Corsa seventh.
The big news of the year was the Renault Megane's debut in the top 10 - in fifth place. This more than compensated for the Clio's first absence from the top 10 since its first year on sale (1991).
The Peugeot 306 remained a firm favourite in the top 10, coming eighth this year.
The Rover 200 and Rover 400 propped up to the top 10.
1997
1. Ford Fiesta
2. Ford Escort
3. Ford Mondeo
4. Vauxhall Vectra
5. Vauxhall Astra
6. Vauxhall Corsa
7. Peugeot 306
8. Rover 200
9. Rover 400
10. Renault Clio
The top six places remained unchanged, with the top three monopolised by Ford and the next three by Vauxhall.
The Peugeot 306's sales continued to rise, and this time it was Britain's seventh most popular car - the highest position of any Peugeot to date.
The next two places were occupied by the Rover 200 and Rover 400, while the top 10 was propped up by the Renault Clio.
1996
1. Ford Fiesta
2. Ford Escort
3. Ford Mondeo
4. Vauxhall Vectra
5. Vauxhall Astra
6. Vauxhall Corsa
7. Rover 400
8. Renault Clio
9. Peugeot 306
10. Rover 200
The Ford Fiesta ended the larger Escort's four-year monopoly of top spot, while the Mondeo remained third.
Despite heavy criticism from many quarters (most famously Jeremy Clarkson) on its launch towards the end of 1995, the Vauxhall Vectra had a strong first year as it occupied fourth place overall, and came close to overtaking the facelifted Mondeo. The Astra and Corsa occupied the next two places, despite starting to show their age in the face of some newer rivals.
Rover's one-year-old 400 Series exploded into the top 10 to come seventh overall, giving Ford and Vauxhall their most serious competitor in this sector since the Austin/MG Montego a decade earlier. The 200 came tenth overall, its lowest position since the original 200 entered the top 10 in 1987.
Renault's Clio continued to sell well to come eighth, helped by a mild facelift and the addition of a few safety features that did well to hide the fact that this was now a six-year-old product.
The Peugeot 306 also continued to sell well, this time coming ninth overall.
1995
1. Ford Escort
2. Ford Fiesta
3. Ford Mondeo
4. Vauxhall Astra
5. Vauxhall Cavalier
6. Vauxhall Corsa
7. Rover 200
8. Peugeot 306
9. Renault Clio
10. Rover 100
Ford's top three monopoly continued, as did Vauxhall's monopoly of the next three places.
The Rover 200 remained in seventh place, but the smaller 100 series (formerly the Metro) fell to tenth - behind the Renault Clio, which remained in ninth place.
The Peugeot 306's popularity continued to rise, as it came eighth overall and once again was Peugeot's most popular product.
1994
1. Ford Escort
2. Ford Mondeo
3. Ford Fiesta
4. Vauxhall Cavalier
5. Vauxhall Astra
6. Vauxhall Corsa
7. Rover 200
8. Rover Metro
9. Renault Clio
10. Peugeot 306
The Ford Escort was Britain's best selling car for the third year running. The Mondeo overtook the Vauxhall Cavalier to top the large family car sector and come second overall, while the Fiesta dipped slightly to third but regained its lead of the supermini market.
While Ford regained its monopoly of the top three, Vauxhall occupied the next three places, with its Corsa rising from ninth to sixth.
The Rover 200 and Metro occupied the next two places, both of these cars down one place on 1993.
The Renault Clio improved slightly to ninth place, while the Peugeot 405 dropped out of the top 10 in favour of the smaller 306.
1993
1. Ford Escort
2. Ford Fiesta
3. Vauxhall Cavalier
4. Vauxhall Astra
5. Ford Mondeo
6. Rover 200
7. Rover Metro
8. Peugeot 405
9. Vauxhall Corsa
10. Renault Clio
Once again, it was a one-two for Ford, with the Escort being Britain's best selling car and the Fiesta coming second. Its new Mondeo took over from the Sierra and was met with high acclaim, but failed to overtake the Vauxhall Cavalier as Britain's most popular large family car.
The Vauxhall Astra continued to sell strongly, once again coming fourth. The new Corsa took over from the Nova and retained its predecessor's ninth place.
The Rover 200 and Metro occupied sixth and seventh place respectively, while the Peugeot 405 remained in eighth place and the Renault Clio in tenth.
1992
1. Ford Escort
2. Vauxhall Cavalier
3. Ford Fiesta
4. Vauxhall Astra
5. Ford Sierra
6. Rover 200
7. Rover Metro
8. Peugeot 405
10. Renault Clio
A dismal year in the new car market saw the Ford Escort regaining top spot after two years of leadership by the Fiesta, while the Vauxhall Cavalier was Britain's top selling large family car for the third year in a row. The Astra moved up to fourth place (its highest yet) and the Nova's final full year saw it come ninth. Rover's success continued as its 200 Series came sixth and the Metro seventh.
Peugeot's 405 moved up to eighth place, but the 205 dipped out of the top 10.
This year's newcomer in the top 10 was the Renault Clio, launched in early 1991 and giving supermini buyers new levels of comfort, build quality, space and refinement. It was also Renault's first appearance in the top 10.
1991
1. Ford Fiesta
2. Ford Escort
3. Vauxhall Cavalier
4. Ford Sierra
5. Vauxhall Astra
6. Rover 200
7. Rover Metro
8. Peugeot 205
9. Peugeot 405
10. Vauxhall Nova
The top five remained unchanged this year, while the Rover 200 moved up one place into sixth and the Metro moved one place down into seventh.
The Peugeot 205, though now in its eight year, continued to sell strongly as it occupied eighth place, and was joined in the top 10 by the ninth-placed 405 that overtook Rover's Montego and 400 Series to third place in the large family car charts.
The Vauxhall Nova propped up to the top 10, with its ageing design being overtaken by the fresher Ford Fiesta and Rover Metro. With a replacement due by 1993, the Nova's imminent demise was welcome in the face of a new wave of superminis such as the Renault Clio and Peugeot 106.
1990
1. Ford Fiesta
2. Ford Escort
3. Vauxhall Cavalier
4. Ford Sierra
5. Vauxhall Astra
6. Rover Metro
7. Rover 200
8. Vauxhall Nova
9. Peugeot 205
10. Ford Orion
Ford remained firmly in top spot as Britain's most popular car brand, and this year it was the Fiesta rather than the Escort that occupied number one spot. The Sierra was down to fourth place, and lost its top spot in the large family car sector after five successive years, although the previous year's facelift kept the eight-year-old design looking fresh. The fourth generation Escort arrived in 1990 along with the Orion saloon, and these sold very well in spite of disappointing feedback from the media and motoring public.
Vauxhall's Cavalier climbed to third place overall and topped the large family car sector, with its Astra enjoying another successful year in fifth place. Its Nova occupied eighth place, and the upcoming third generation Astra gave Vauxhall overheads renewed hope of increasing its already huge market share.
Rover's heavily revised Metro continued to sell well, but it was the one-year-old Rover 200 that turned most heads with its distinctive styling, upmarket interior and excellent range of engines helping it gain seventh place.
Peugeot made a comeback to the top 10 after a three-year exile, with its 205 supermini occupying ninth place.
1989
1. Ford Escort
2. Ford Sierra
3. Ford Fiesta
4. Vauxhall Cavalier
5. Vauxhall Astra
6. Austin/MG Metro
7. Vauxhall Nova
8. Ford Orion
9. Rover 200-Series
10. Austin/MG Montego
Ford continued to monopolise the top three, with a total of four entries in the top 10. The Escort, Sierra and Fiesta were leaders of their respective sectors, while the Orion continued its unusually high sales for a car of this size.
Austin Rover became the Rover Group this year, but its ageing Metro dipped from fourth to sixth position, and the Rover 200 and Montego propped up to the top 10, but the launch of the highly-acclaimed new Rover 200 range - and the imminent introduction of the facelifted Metro and 200-based Rover 400 - gave the firm hopes of a boost in sales.
1988
1. Ford Escort
2. Ford Sierra
3. Ford Fiesta
4. Austin/MG Metro
5. Vauxhall Astra
6. Vauxhall Cavalier
7. Ford Orion
9. Rover 200
10. Vauxhall Nova
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Ford occupied the top three for the third year running, with the Escort occupying top place once again, the Sierra moving up to second and the Fiesta dropping to third.
Vauxhall's all-new Cavalier was an instant hit with buyers and the press, but this year it was the Astra that was Vauxhall's most popular product. The Nova returned to the top 10 at the expense of the Peugeot 205 and restored Britain's monopoly of the top 10.
Austin Rover's Metro, Maestro and Rover 200 retained their positions within the top 10, but the Maestro remained in decline outside the top 10.
1987
1. Ford Escort
2. Ford Fiesta
3. Ford Sierra
4. Austin/MG Metro
5. Vauxhall Cavalier
6. Vauxhall Astra
7. Ford Orion
8. Austin/MG Montego
9. Rover 200
10. Peugeot 205
Ford Motor Company retained the top three places in the sector, with the Escort, Fiesta and Sierra all selling in their highest volumes yet, with the Sierra aided by a major facelift and the addition of a saloon bodystyle. The Orion was also hugely popular in spite of its unfashionable styling.
Vauxhall's Cavalier endured another slight dip in sales, but this was less of a worry with its successor just one year away. The Astra maintained its sixth place overall, but the Nova slipped out of the top 10 after three years.
Austin Rover's Metro and Montego retained their comfortable top 10 finishes, but the Maestro slipped out in favour of the more upmarket and desirable Rover 200 saloon.
A foreign car made it into the top 10 for the first time ever. The Peugeot 205, built in France, entered 10th place overall and outsold the Vauxhall Nova. Only the Ford Fiesta and Austin/MG Metro achieved more sales in the supermini sector.
1986
1. Ford Escort
2. Ford Fiesta
3. Ford Sierra
4. Vauxhall Cavalier
5. Austin/MG Metro
6. Vauxhall Astra
7. Austin/MG Montego
8. Ford Orion
9. Austin/MG Maestro
10. Vauxhall Nova
Ford's Sierra regained the lead of the large family car market as well as the overall third place that it last held in 1983. The Escort maintained its top place overall for the fifth year in a row, aided by a mild facelift in March. The Fiesta retained top spot in the supermini sector and moved up one place overall. The Orion enjoyed another strong year with a its position of eighth place showing that there was still a high demand for saloons of this size.
Vauxhall endured a slight dip in sales of four years of outstanding success, with the Cavalier losing top spot in the large family car sector and going down from second place to fourth overall. The Astra remained in sixth place, while the Nova dipped slightly from ninth to tenth.
Austin Rover's Metro, Maestro and Montego maintained their comfortable top 10 overall places, with the Maestro's proving slightly more popular this year and the Metro enduring just a slight dip in sales.
1985
1. Ford Escort
2. Vauxhall Cavalier
3. Ford Fiesta
4. Austin/MG Metro
5. Ford Sierra
6. Vauxhall Astra
7. Austin/MG Montego
8. Ford Orion
9. Vauxhall Nova
10. Austin/MG Maestro
Ford dominated the top 10 with the Fiesta, Escort, Orion and Sierra all making an appearance. The Escort was Britain's most popular car and the Fiesta was the most popular supermini.
Vauxhall's rising market share maintained its growth, with the Cavalier being Britain's second most popular car and best selling large family car. The recently-launched MK2 Astra was also a resounding success, with only the Escort gaining a larger share of the small family car sector.
Austin Rover's Metro continued to sell in huge volumes, although it was still unable to regain its lead of the supermini market from Ford's Fiesta. Its Montego and Maestro ranges also sold well, though they didn't quite match the popularity of rival products from Ford and Vauxhall.
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