Why the UK loves Minis: most popular cars of November revealed

What are the most popular cars in the UK? Well in November it was the Mini Cooper, with a lot of people taken with its stylish design and lovely interior.

There’s a pretty good mix of brands in the top sales charts for November, however as a nation we seem to have a penchant for SUVs – with nine out of the top 10 being high-riding family cars.

The top 10 most popular cars of November were:

1. Mini Cooper
2. Nissan Qashqai
3. Tesla Model Y
4. Kia Sportage
5. MG HS
6. Ford Puma
7. Volvo XC40
8. Volkswagen Tiguan
9. Peugeot 3008
10. Hyundai Tucson

1. Mini Cooper

The petrol-powered Mini Cooper was the most popular new car of November, with 4,412 of these cutesy little city cars finding new homes. There’s a lot to like about the Mini, but the main draw was likely the stand-out styling and wonderful interior.

It certainly wouldn’t have been the practicality, because the Mini Cooper has tight rear seats and a tiny boot. It’s great fun to drive though, and it’s actually quite affordable for a premium small car.

2. Nissan Qashqai

The Nissan Qashqai has become synonymous with family SUVs over the years. For many it’s the go-to choice if you’re after a no-nonsense, practical and well-equipped car for a good price, and the latest one is really rather good.

It’s comfortable, spacious and cheap to run. The Qashqai’s boot may not be as big as a Kia Sportage’s, but it’s still a fantastic all-rounder and 3,776 people took one home in November

3. Tesla Model Y

Tesla has been offering some good deals on the Model Y over the past few months, which is probably why it’s the most popular electric car of November. It’s also been given more range and the option of seven seats, further broadening this SUV’s appeal and leading to 3,350 of them finding their way onto UK roads last month.

It may not be as comfortable to drive as a Skoda Enyaq, but the Model Y has a cavernous boot, a large front boot and loads of space inside, as well as spaceship levels of standard equipment. Add in Tesla’s excellent Supercharger network and it’s a very tempting choice.

4. Kia Sportage

Kia’s seven-year warranty is one of the best in the business, and this was likely a deciding factor for a lot of the 3,339 people who bought a new Sportage in November. Not only do you get this peace of mind when buying a Kia, the Sportage is a great all-rounder for families as well.

You get a range of smooth, economical hybrid engines, an interior which looks and feels much more premium than the price tag suggests and a generous amount of standard equipment. The front-end styling may not be to everyone’s taste, but look past this and the Sportage is a great SUV.

5. MG HS

It’s hard to ignore the bargain price tag attached to the new MG HS and in November 3,181 people were drawn in by it. For around the same price as a well-specced Vauxhall Corsa you get a spacious SUV with all the kit you could ever need, and there’s even a plug-in hybrid version with a whopping 75 miles of electric range.

It’s not the most enjoyable car to drive thanks to the jiggly suspension, and the infotainment system is a bit fiddly as well. These are niggles which are easy to look past at this price though.

6. Ford Puma

The Puma may have dropped a few places compared to last month, but it’s still the most popular car of 2024 so far. This year 45,538 Pumas have gone to new owners, with 3,073 sold in November.

It’s great fun to drive, has a massive boot and it looks great as well. The Puma may not be that spacious in the rear seats, but it makes up for this with the massive list of standard kit. An all-electric version is also on the way to further boost the Puma’s appeal.

7. Volvo XC40

The current Volvo XC40 may have been around for a while now, but it still looks fresh and 2,973 people bought a new one in November. This small SUV is stylish, practical and packed with safety kit, although the infotainment system isn’t the best.

The interior design is starting to show its age now as well. Still, at least the XC40 is properly comfortable for long-distance driving.

8. Volkswagen Tiguan

Continuing with high-riding family cars we have the Volkswagen Tiguan in 7th place, with 2,447 people picking up their keys last month. This classy SUV looks smart, both inside and out, and it’s really well-made as well.

It’s quite pricey compared to some alternatives, but the Tiguan is spacious and comfortable to drive, and you get loads of kit as standard.

9. Peugeot 3008

If the Tiguan seems a bit bland to you, that’s not a criticism you can level at the Peugeot 3008. It looks fantastic on the outside, and it has one of the most stylish interiors of any SUV on the market. In November 2,420 new 3008s were sold.

You can choose between petrol and electric versions of the 3008, and it’s the petrol hybrid model which represents the best value for money. That said, it’s still a bit more expensive than some alternatives such as the Kia Sportage.

10. Hyundai Tucson

Finally then we have the Hyundai Tucson, sneaking in at number 10 with 2,384 sold in November. It’s very similar under the skin to the Kia Sportage, but that car’s seven-year warranty was probably a factor in it being more popular.

Still, the Tucson is a very appealing family car for a few reasons. It’s comfortable, has a massive boot and the same range of efficient hybrid engines as the Kia, all wrapped up in an eye-catching package.

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