Best-selling cars in September revealed: Jaecoo 7 claims the top spot and diesel sales grow despite rising fuel prices
Car changing is a big deal
The Jaecoo 7 is the best-selling car in September 2026, and it’s risen to be the second most-popular car in 2026 so far. News editor Jamie Edkins breaks down September’s new car sales figures.
The Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders has published preliminary sales figures for September 2026, and the Jaecoo 7 has knocked the Ford Puma off the top spot.
Elsewhere, new car registrations grew 12.1% in September year-on-year. Petrol models made up the majority with a 37.6% share. Electric car sales are catching up though, because EVs made up 28.3% of new car sales in September.
Sales of electric cars are up 36.3% year-on-year, while petrol cars fell by 6.7%. What’s more surprising is the growth of diesel models. They saw an 11.5% increase in September, despite diesel prices reaching a record high in September, but the market share is still a lowly 4%.
Seeing growth in the new car market is par for the course in September because of the plate change. UK number plates switched from 26 to 76 in September, so many buyers rush to get new cars with the latest date stamp.
What were the best-selling cars in September 2026?
According to these preliminary figures, the Jaecoo 7 was the best-selling new car in September with over 10,800 registrations. It’s the second time this year that this Chinese newcomer has topped the charts, and now it’s the second most-popular car in 2026 so far.
In a close second is the Tesla Model 3 with over 9,900 registrations. The Ford Puma, which came in first place last month and is currently in first place for 2026, came third in September.
Here are the top 10 models sold in September 2026:
| Model | Number of sales |
|---|---|
| Jaecoo 7 | 10,813 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 9,929 |
| Ford Puma | 6,958 |
| Kia Sportage | 6,521 |
| Tesla Model Y | 5,946 |
| Nissan Qashqai | 5,554 |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 5,498 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 5,496 |
| MG HS | 5,444 |
| Audi A3 | 5,268 |
It’s worth noting that these are preliminary numbers which could change slightly. The final figures will be published on Monday 5 October.
Electric car growth continues
With EV sales up 36% in September year-on-year, and market share quickly catching up to petrol cars, people are clearly more interested in switching to an EV than ever. Rising fuel prices are likely to be a big deciding factor, and electric cars are becoming more affordable as well – especially with the government’s electric car grant.
The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y take first and second place, followed closely by the BYD Sealion 7. The Leapmotor B10 is also a newcomer at number 10.
Here are the top 10 best-selling electric cars in September 2026:
| Model | Number of sales |
|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 | 9,929 |
| Tesla Model Y | 5,946 |
| BYD Sealion 7 | 3,191 |
| BYD Seal | 3,184 |
| Kia EV3 | 3,026 |
| Skoda Enyaq | 2,214 |
| Volvo EX30 | 1,961 |
| Mercedes CLA | 1,921 |
| Skoda Elroq | 1,897 |
| Leapmotor B10 | 1,883 |
As with the overall sales figures, these could be subject to change on Monday 5 October.
Car change? Carwow!
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