Heavyweights: The Best Selling Cars of All Time

back of a ford fiesta car best selling car of all time

From Aston Martins to Bentleys, everyone has their dream car, which got us to thinking: what do most of us Brits end up with? Here’s our lowdown on the best-selling models in the UK of all time*.

1. Ford Fiesta – 4.13 million+ sold

From first time drivers to OAPs, who has ever looked out of place behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta in the UK? We seem to love this crowd-pleasing hatchback model. In fact, the British public has apparently accounted for the ownership of roughly a quarter of the Fiestas that have ever existed. Icon.

2. Ford Escort – 4 million+ sold

That’s right, Ford takes first and second on our most sold models list in the UK. Despite this car being discontinued over 15 years ago, it dominated two decades worth of the automotive market – totting up an impressive number of sales in the process.

3. Vauxhall Astra – 2.8 million+ sold

This was by far the closest Ford ever got to any serious sales competition. The original Vauxhall Astra has been one of the best-selling cars in the UK since 1979. Its forty-year existence makes it one of the longest-living cars still in production.

4. Ford Cortina – 2.5 million+ sold

For a staggering nine-year run from 1972 to 1981, the Ford Cortina was the best-selling car in the country. In 1979, it broke a British record by making 193,000 sales and in its final year of production in 1982 it was second only to its sibling model, the Ford Escort.

5. Vauxhall Corsa – 1.82 million+ sold

This is the dream model for every boy racer that’s just passed their test. The Vauxhall Corsa has always been a popular car in the UK but experienced the height of its success from 2002 to 2005 where it was the best-selling supermini for all four years and in the top three best-selling cars overall.

6. Vauxhall Cavalier – 1.81 million+ sold

The Cavalier is a master of disguise. This family car has had many versions, facelifts and modifications including an estate and a sports coupe version. This automotive chameleon was one of the best-selling cars of the early eighties and was pipped to the top spot only by the Ford Cortina in 1984 and 1985.

7. Volkswagen Golf – 1.8 million+ sold

The Volkswagen Golf might not be the highest-selling hatchback on the market but it certainly holds claim to being the best. The Golf has received multiple international awards over twenty years for being an affordable car with great automotive technology – winning ‘World Car of the Year’ once and ‘European Car of the Year’ twice.

8. Ford Focus – 1.7 million+ sold

The Ford Focus had pretty big shoes to fill when it first came on the market, replacing one of the best-selling Ford models in the UK of all time (the Escort). It didn’t disappoint. The Ford Focus was a favourite amongst mums for its space and the Ford Focus ST was a favourite amongst boy racers for its speed.

9. The Mini – 1.58 million+ sold

Yes, of course, the Mini is on the list. This car has been an icon for the UK automotive industry for more than 50 years. Although it’s ninth on this list, the Mini often features on the top of the greatest British cars polls and is widely considered as one of the most influential models of all time.

10. Rover Metro – 1.49 million+ sold

Intended to be a follow-up from the classic Mini, the Rover Metro became a popular car in its own right: during its early years, it even outsold the almighty Ford Fiesta! Princess Diana also famously owned one before her engagement to Prince Charles – talk about British car royalty!

* Figures accurate as of 2014. Source: Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders

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