The most popular SUVs on sale right now, and the ones you should buy instead
July 23, 2025 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
These are the best-selling SUVs on sale right now, but are they the ones you should buy?
SUVs are hugely popular these days, making up eight out of the top 10 best selling cars in the UK in 2025 so far. The Ford Puma has been the most popular model for well over a year now as well.
But are the most popular SUVs necessarily the right ones to buy? Well, we’ve rounded up the five biggest-selling models in this class and suggested some alternatives you might want to consider instead.
Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.
The five most popular SUVs in 2025 are:
- Ford Puma – 26,400 sold
- Kia Sportage – 23,000 sold
- Nissan Qashqai – 22,000 sold
- Nissan Juke – 18,500 sold
- MG HS – 16,100 sold
1. Ford Puma
The Ford Puma was the UK’s most popular car in 2024, and it’s on track to retain that crown in 2025. More than 26,000 of these funky little SUVs have found homes so far this year, and a recent update may have contributed to these high sales.
It not only looks great, the Ford Puma is also a hoot to drive on a country road and it has a massive boot for such a small car. It also comes loaded with standard equipment. There’s not much room in the back seats though, and the interior feels pretty cheap as well.
Consider a Toyota Yaris Cross instead
The Ford Puma may be a crackling little car, but for similar money you could also have a Toyota Yaris Cross. It has a super-efficient hybrid engine which will get 63mpg, over 10mpg more than the Puma, and it’s more spacious in the rear seats. The boot isn’t a match for the Ford’s though.
2. Kia Sportage
With 23,000 sales in 2025, the Kia Sportage is the most popular mid-sized SUV this year. The impressive seven-year warranty may have been a big draw for customers, and there’s a wide range of petrol and hybrid engines on offer.
The Sportage has a massive boot as well, and you get loads of standard equipment. It’s not as fun to drive as a Ford Kuga though, and it can be a bit stiff over bumps.
Consider a Skoda Karoq instead
If you’re after something a bit more comfortable, the Skoda Karoq could be worth a look. It not only handles the bumps really well, it’s also spacious inside and the interior layout is more intuitive than the Kia’s thanks to a lack of touch sensitive controls. It doesn’t look as interesting inside as the Sportage though, and it’s not as well-equipped either.
3. Nissan Qashqai
The Nissan Qashqai was one of the first family SUVs to sell in big numbers in the UK, and it’s been around in one form or another since 2008. The latest version is simply a very pleasant thing to waft around in.
It’s comfortable, easy to drive and comes with loads of standard equipment. You get a decent amount of interior space as well, with plenty of room for rear passengers, but the boot isn’t as big as some alternatives.
Consider a Dacia Bigster instead
The Dacia Bigster offers a huge amount of interior space for a very reasonable price. It’s around £5,000 cheaper than the Qashqai, but the boot is 173 litres bigger at a whopping 677 litres. It’s not quite as refined as the Qashqai on the motorway, but the Bigster is a solid and great-value family SUV.
4. Nissan Juke
It’s a double whammy for Nissan as the Juke comes in fourth place. This quirky car’s styling will be a big reason it’s proven so popular, because it stands out in the sea of samey SUVs on offer these days – especially if you get one in bright yellow.
The Juke is also pretty good value for money thanks to a long equipment list, but it’s not a practical car thanks to tight rear seats and a small boot. It’s also not very comfortable over bumps, and the infotainment system is a faff to use.
Consider a Volkswagen T-Cross instead
The T-Cross is a much better option if you’re after a cheap, small SUV which is also practical. The boxy body makes it spacious inside, and it’s a comfy thing to waft around town in. You can even get a T-Cross in a similar shade of yellow to the Juke if you want to stand out.
5. MG HS
Finally we have the MG HS, and it’s this car’s low price tag which makes it stand out against alternatives like the Volkswagen Tiguan. It’s around £11,000 cheaper than that car, and yet offers similar levels of equipment and interior space.
The HS isn’t the best SUV to drive – it’s a bit noisy on the motorway and it can feel a bit unsettled over bumps – but the plug-in hybrid model is really tempting with its massive 75 miles of electric range.
Consider a Citroen C5 Aircross instead
If you want a cheap SUV which is also hugely comfortable, the Citroen C5 Aircross is your best bet. It glides over bumps like a car costing twice as much, and you get a big boot as well. The infotainment system isn’t the most user-friendly though.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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