Top 10: UK car sales 2011

1,941,253 new cars were sold in the UK during 2011, according to figures just released by the SMMT.



As expected, that was down on 2010’s total of 2,030,846, but the 4.4% reduction wasn’t quite as bad as had been previously forecast.



Some manufacturers did buck the trend though, recording some healthy percentage increases. The biggest winners were Infiniti, Lexus, Alfa Romeo and the rejuvenated MG, but all are comparative minnows with a combined market share of just over 1%.

Of more significance were the rises of 14.2% and 14.0% achieved by Mini and Audi respectively, with the latter also managing the highest unit growth - 13,969 - of any marque. Indeed, Audi finished the year with 113,797 sales, tantalisingly close to archrival BMW’s figure of 116,642.



Needless to say, for many firms it wasn’t a good year. Unsurprisingly, neither Daihatsu nor Saab did well, but shockingly Smart saw its sales slashed by over a third and Mazda’s decrease was of a similar magnitude.

Renault suffered the largest volume drop, with 27,159 fewer registrations compared to 2010. Perhaps that massive 28.4% reduction goes some way to explaining the company’s decision to decimate both its model range and dealer network in the UK?



Despite all the year-on-year movements, there was little change at the head of the manufacturers’ league table, as Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and BMW retained the top four spots.

Top 10: Cumulative UK Car Sales Q4 2011 By Manufacturer
Position 2011	Manufacturer	Registrations	Position 2010	Movement
1	Ford	265,894	1	-
2	Vauxhall	234,710	2	-
3	Volkswagen	179,290	3	-
4	BMW	116,642	4	-
5	Audi	113,797	6	+1
6	Nissan	96,269	8	+2
7	Peugeot	94,989	5	-2
8	Mercedes-Benz	81,873	10	+2
9	Toyota	73,589	9	-
10	Citroën	68,464	11	+1

Ford also excelled in the individual models’ chart, with the Fiesta and Focus occupying the first two positions (as they did throughout 2011).

Top 10: Cumulative UK Car Sales Q4 2011 By Model
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Fiesta	96,112
2	Ford	Focus	81,832
3	Vauxhall	Corsa	77,751
4	Volkswagen	Golf	63,368
5	Vauxhall	Astra	62,575
6	Vauxhall	Insignia	46,324
7	Volkswagen	Polo	45,992
8	BMW	3 Series	42,471
9	Nissan	Qashqai	39,406
10	Mini	Hatchback	35,845

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Escalade security improves

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Cadillac Escalade doesn’t make the top ten list of most stolen vehicles in the United States.



However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the big SUV isn’t an attractive target for criminal types, so Cadillac has decided to upgrade the Escalade’s security features for 2012.



The improvements include a strengthened steering column lock, an alarm-linked inclination sensor to detect when the vehicle is being towed or lifted, the PASS Key 3+ ignition key encryption system, better wheel locks and a shock sensor that reacts to sudden movements, for instance when a window is smashed.

All useful items then, even if it’s a bit surprising that such basic measures aren’t already fitted to the Escalade.



And the thieves’ favourite? That’ll be the 1994 Honda Accord:

Top 10: Most Stolen Vehicles in the United States
Position	Model
1	1994 Honda Accord
2	1995 Honda Civic
3	1991 Toyota Camry
4	1999 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size)
5	1997 Ford F150 Series / Pickup
6	2004 Dodge Ram
7	2000 Dodge Caravan
8	1994 Acura Integra
9	2002 Ford Explorer
10	1999 Ford Taurus
Data from the 2010 National Insurance Crime Bureau Hot Wheels report.

Image © GM Company.



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Top 10: Car sales Q3 2011

The very capable Ford Fiesta remains the best-selling car in the UK. Data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders shows that Ford’s supermini has notched up 77,198 registrations to the end of the third quarter, which equates to just under 5% of the 1,553,094 market total.

Ford Fiesta: Still the UK's best-selling car.

Car registrations in September - the second most important month behind March, thanks to the registration plate change - ended up at 332,476. Encouragingly, that was just 0.8% behind the same month last year, but again it’s the comparatively healthy fleet and business sectors that are preventing a larger decline.



However, continued volatile economic conditions mean that the SMMT is predicting a difficult fourth quarter, and a total of 1.92 million cars are now expected to be registered during 2011.



The ten most popular models, and their order in the league table, are unchanged since Q2.

Top 10: Cumulative UK Car Sales Q3 2011
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Fiesta	77,198
2	Ford	Focus	67,672
3	Vauxhall	Corsa	60,959
4	Volkswagen	Golf	50,013
5	Vauxhall	Astra	49,042
6	Vauxhall	Insignia	38,386
7	Volkswagen	Polo	36,655
8	BMW	3 Series	33,650
9	Nissan	Qashqai	30,763
10	Mini	Mini	28,097

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Top 10: Hypermiling tips

Hypermiling is the art of applying various driving techniques to maximise fuel efficiency. The ultimate goal for true hypermilers is to beat the official manufacturer’s consumption figures for their vehicle, something that they pursue with a fanatical zeal.

The place that hypermilers try to avoid visiting.

While most drivers won’t necessarily be that obsessive about their mileage, there can be few that aren’t concerned about the ever increasing prices at the pumps. So these hypermiling tips can apply to everyone, but with one important caveat: a few of the practices may be downright stupid, dangerous or both.



1. Choose the right vehicle



An obvious place to start, although hypermiling skills can be applied to anything with an engine. That said, a single person who’s desperate to reduce their fuel costs would be unwise to buy something like a Chrysler Grand Voyager.



It’s all about choosing the right vehicle for the task, and then specifying the best engine and gearbox combination. Usually, that would mean going for a manual instead of automatic transmission, but in some applications the economy gap between the two has narrowed to almost nothing.



2. Drive less



This applies particularly to short runs, as these don’t give the engine time to warm up sufficiently and will probably involve lots of stop / start driving. Both factors can decimate fuel economy.



For longer journeys, the trick is efficient route planning that minimises the distance travelled while avoiding potential congestion areas.



3. Turn off the engine



Sitting in stationary traffic with the engine running is akin to burning money, so switching it off is an easy way to save cash. Better still, choose a car with an automatic stop / start system, or avoid the problem in the first place by driving at quieter times of the day.



Some avid hypermilers will advocate ‘engine off’ when going downhill, but that can create all sorts of problems. For starters, the lack of power assistance means the steering and brakes will suddenly feel much heavier to use, and there’s a real risk that on a bend the steering lock might engage. The resulting accident won’t be easy to explain to either the police or insurance company, so definitely not recommended.



4. Don’t accelerate



Of course drivers have to accelerate, otherwise they wouldn’t get anywhere. The point is that in order to reduce fuel consumption, it should be done as gently as possible while selecting a higher gear at the earliest opportunity.



Wearing very thin-soled shoes can help with this, as their extra sensitivity gives a better feel for how hard the accelerator pedal is being pressed.



5. Don’t brake



The reason why an increasing number of manufacturers are fitting brake energy recovery systems is because it’s a wasteful activity. Fortunately, it’s also one that can be often avoided with a large dose of smoothness and anticipation.



The secret is to read the road and traffic conditions so that engine braking, aerodynamic drag and friction between the tyres and tarmac alone are used to slow down. Leaving a big gap to the vehicle in front makes this much easier.



A common misconception is that when coasting with the engine on, it helps to select neutral. For the majority of modern fuel injected, ECU-equipped cars, doing that will actually use more fuel, so it’s best to keep an appropriate gear engaged.



Another basic aim is to never come to a complete stop, because that then necessitates a whole load of acceleration to get going again. For some extreme hypermilers, ignoring stop signs is fair game, but that’s something that falls firmly in the ‘unsafe and illegal’ category and so is not worth trying.



6. Stick to the speed limit



Or indeed lower, because it stands to reason that the faster a vehicle is travelling, the more fuel it’s burning. Cruise control is a useful feature to use, as it maintains an optimal throttle opening and prevents speed creep.



However, chugging along at 20 mph below the limit while holding up a huge queue of traffic is really, really annoying.



7. Lose weight



Hauling around the junk that can accumulate over time in the boot of a car costs money, so it pays to get rid of it. For some, even the spare wheel has to go, although that does become an issue in the event of a puncture.



It’s the same story with people. Giving passengers a ride will chip away at economy figures, so being anti-social can have its benefits. Of course, the flip side to that argument is that if three people can be found to car share with, then fuel costs could be split four ways.



Okay, doing that means the hypermiler’s basic ambition of achieving the best possible miles per gallon is unlikely to be accomplished. But it’ll save a huge amount of cash, which surely has to be even better?



8. Inflate those tyres



Under-inflation is a sure way to use more fuel than is necessary, so a basic task for aspiring hypermilers is to regularly check that their tyres are pumped up to the correct pressures as per the vehicle’s handbook.



There are those who go further by running on significantly over-inflated rubber. The logic behind such a tactic is that with more air inside, the contact patch between tyre and road is reduced, thereby decreasing rolling resistance.



However, that idea has two serious flaws. Firstly, less contact means less grip, which will be dangerous, especially in the wet. Secondly, it puts additional strain on the tyre’s carcass, which leads to a greater chance of having a blow-out. So for those reasons, over-inflation can’t be recommended.



9. Get aerodynamic



Wind resistance is significantly reduced by removing things like roof racks and cycle carriers when they’re not needed. Similarly, open windows at anything above low speeds increase drag, therefore they should be kept wound up.



One controversial manoeuvre employed by some hypermilers is drafting, where they’ll sit very close to the rear of something big like a truck. Being there in the slipstream effectively gives them an aerodynamic tow, and consequently their engine doesn’t have to work as hard.



Yes, it’s basically tailgating, which irritates people and is foolish. Plus, the chances are it’s all going to go horribly wrong very quickly when the truck being followed jams on the brakes.



10. Get warm



It’s estimated that using air conditioning can lead to a hefty 10% increase in fuel consumption, which means committed hypermilers will rarely - if ever - have it on.



For those who don’t want the full mobile sauna experience, using the recirculation feature or just turning it off altogether every so often should still make a difference.



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Top 10: Car sales Q2 2011

Figures just published by the SMMT show that 1,029,638 cars were sold in the UK to the end of Q2 2011, a reduction of 7.1% compared to the same period last year.



Despite the overall drop, the fleet sector remains fairly buoyant, with registrations up by 3.4% versus 2010. Combined fleet and business sales now account for just over 57% of the market.



As a result of that mix, almost half of all cars sold so far this year have been diesels. In turn, the shift away from petrol power will have undoubtedly contributed to average new car CO2 emissions falling to 138.9 g/km during Q2 2011. That’s the first time ever that a figure of less than 140 g/km has been achieved.



The ten most popular cars haven’t changed much since Q1, with the league table once again headed by the Ford Fiesta and Focus. Whether it’s a situation that will continue in the longer term remains to be seen though, as reports suggest Ford is prepared to sacrifice its top seller position in order to be more profitable.

Ford Fiesta: Still the UK's most popular car.

Top 10: Cumulative UK Car Sales Q2 2011
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Fiesta	51,643
2	Ford	Focus	43,825
3	Vauxhall	Corsa	38,597
4	Volkswagen	Golf	33,118
5	Vauxhall	Astra	32,883
6	Vauxhall	Insignia	25,950
7	Volkswagen	Polo	22,897
8	BMW	3 Series	21,866
9	Nissan	Qashqai	19,992
10	Mini	Mini	18,619

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Top 10: Low insurance cars

For many prospective buyers in today’s market, the question of which new cars are cheapest to insure is a critical one.



In the UK, finding the answer is made easier because all models are placed at launch into one of fifty advisory groups, with the idea being that cars in Group 1 should attract the lowest premiums, and those in Group 50 the highest.



Deciding which vehicles go into each group falls to the Association of British Insurers, working with the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre at Thatcham. The allocation process takes into account things like parts costs, repair times, performance and security.



Unfortunately, there aren’t too many new cars that fall into Group 1 or Group 2. In fact, the total number is ten, and here they are listed alphabetically by manufacturer:



Chevrolet Spark 1.0  (Group 1E)



At £7,215 on the road, the base Spark is one of the cheapest cars on sale in the UK. That’s enough to buy eye-catching styling and a five-door body, with little else besides. Customers wanting electric windows, central locking, air conditioning or an audio system have to look higher up the Spark range, but more kit means a higher insurance group.

The Chevrolet’s four cylinder, one litre engine produces 67 bhp (50 kW / 68 PS) and 93 Nm (68 lb/ft) of torque, giving a top speed of 96 mph (154 km/h). Average fuel consumption is a reasonable 55.4 mpg (5.1 l/100km).



Image © GM Corp.



Citroën C1 1.0 VT  (Group 2E)



Unlike anything from the closely related Peugeot 107 and Toyota Aygo line-ups, a Citroën C1 makes it into Group 2. However, the downside is that it’s the basic VT spec, so owners miss out on niceties such as electric windows and air conditioning.

Max power from the three cylinder engine is 67 bhp (50 kW / 68 PS), which is enough to propel the C1 from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 13.3 seconds. Such brisk performance doesn’t come at the expense of efficiency though, as it’ll average 62.8 mpg (4.5 l/100km) with CO2 emissions of just 103 g/km. Prices are £8,695 for the three-door, or £9,045 for the five-door.



Fiat Qubo Active 1.4  (Group 2E)



Possibly the biggest (literally) surprise amongst all the models here is the Qubo, a van-derived mini MPV. The Fiat’s looks may divide opinion, but there’s no doubting that at £10,705 on the road it’s a lot of metal for the money. Equipment levels are fairly generous too, with the Blue&Me Bluetooth / USB connectivity system and four airbags coming as standard with the basic Active trim grade.

Although it has a 1.4 petrol engine, it’s by no means a performance car. 0-62 mph (100 km/h) takes a lethargic 16.2 seconds, while the claimed top speed is 97 mph (156 km/h). Combined cycle fuel consumption of 42.2 mpg (6.7 l/100km) is reasonably good, given the Qubo’s relative bulk.



Nissan Pixo Visia 1.0  (Group 2E)



Nissan recently reduced the price of the Pixo Visia from £7,350 to £6,995, thereby undercutting the Chevrolet Spark. Predictably for that amount of money the windows have to be wound up and down manually, the doors locked individually and there are only two airbags. At least the Visia gets a CD player, though.

The Pixo’s 996 cc three cylinder engine generates 67 bhp (50 kW / 68 PS), and it’ll achieve a very impressive 64.2 mpg (4.4 l/100km) while emitting 103 g/km of CO2.



Nissan Pixo Acenta 1.0  (Group 2E)



The £8,100 Acenta trim grade has only just been dropped from the Nissan price list, effectively replaced by the n-tec version which falls into a higher insurance group. However, there might be some Acenta models still at dealers awaiting buyers.



Toyota Yaris T2 1.0 VVT-i  (Group 2E)



Surprisingly, the entry-level Yaris falls into a lower insurance group than the smaller Aygo. Air conditioning and extra airbags are absent from the T2 version, but it does get electric windows, electrically adjustable door mirrors and a four-speaker stereo with steering wheel mounted controls.

Power comes from a three cylinder, one litre engine producing 68 bhp (51 kW / 69 PS), which is not a lot for a supermini. Consequently, it’s no great surprise that the 0-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint takes a sluggish 15.7 seconds, but the compensation is decent average fuel consumption of 55.4 mpg (5.1 l/100km). The Yaris T2 is priced at £10,730 in three-door form, with the five-door costing £500 more.



Vauxhall Corsa Expression 1.0 ecoFlex  (Group 2E)



Costing £9,995 and only available as a three-door, as expected the standard equipment list for the Corsa Expression is sparse.



In common with many of the cars listed here, under the bonnet lurks a one litre, three cylinder engine. With an output of 64 bhp (48 kW / 65 PS), it’ll do 56.5 mpg (5.0 l/100km) with CO2 emissions of 117 g/km.



Vauxhall Corsa S 1.0 ecoFlex  (Group 2E)



Mechanically the same as the Expression, the slightly posher ‘S’ gets electric front windows and remote central locking, but there’s still no air conditioning.

It costs £11,625 on the road for the three-door, although the ‘Vauxhall Internet Price’ is currently £9,895, which actually makes the lead-in Expression superfluous. For more practicality, the five-door retails at £12,050 (with a ‘Vauxhall Internet Price’ of £10,730).



Image © GM Corp.



Volkswagen Fox 1.2  (Group 1E)



The trump card for Volkswagen’s Brazilian-built entry level model is plenty of cabin space, thanks to a body that’s taller than a Polo’s and almost as wide. Interior trim quality and equipment levels might not be up to Phaeton standards, but then the Fox does currently cost just £7,295 on the road.

A recently reworked 1.2 litre engine provides 59 bhp (44 kW / 60 PS) and a useful 108 Nm (80 lb/ft) of torque, but the Fox tops out at 95 mph (152 km/h). Fuel consumption of 48.7 mpg (5.8 l/100km) isn’t outstanding against the competition, and CO2 emissions of 136g/km are disappointing.



Volkswagen Urban Fox 1.2  (Group 1E)



Sharing its engine with the basic Fox, the Urban version is differentiated by having some extra goodies. These include electric windows, remote central locking, a split folding rear seat and body coloured bumpers. The retail price for the Urban Fox is £8,030.





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Top 10: Car sales Q1 2011

UK car sales in the first quarter of 2011 fell 8.7% to 558,336, according to figures released by the SMMT.



With the fleet and business segments showing slight increases on 2010, the decline was due to 57,769 fewer private registrations. However, given the scrappage scheme that was running last year, such a drop was expected.



Probably reflecting those reduced private sales, the proportion of petrol-powered cars dipped to just over 50%. Consequently, average new car CO2 emissions were 140.3g/km, a 3.4% reduction compared to 2010.



The Ford Fiesta retained its position as the most popular car in the UK. Further down the chart, a D segment model from a mainstream manufacturer actually managed to outsell the ubiquitous 3 Series, with the Vauxhall Insignia achieving 11,904 registrations compared to the BMW’s 10,141.

Top 10: UK Car Sales Q1 2011
Position	Manufacturer	Model	Registrations
1	Ford	Fiesta	27,924
2	Ford	Focus	24,435
3	Vauxhall	Corsa	20,536
4	Vauxhall	Astra	17,250
5	Volkswagen	Golf	17,101
6	Volkswagen	Polo	12,214
7	Vauxhall	Insignia	11,904
8	Peugeot	207	10,335
9	BMW	3 Series	10,141
10	Nissan	Qashqai	9,253

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Top 10: Efficient petrol cars

The one pence reduction in fuel duty announced in today’s UK Budget won’t be enough to stop lots of car buyers searching out the most fuel efficient offerings.



For many, that will automatically mean a diesel or a hybrid, simply because those technologies deliver the best miles per gallon. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that those types of car will appeal to everyone.



For starters, they tend to cost more, which is enough to put off some. Combine that with the higher price of diesel, and it often means that mega miles have to be driven before the extra initial outlay is offset by better fuel economy.



So, for some drivers it will still make financial sense to go for a petrol-powered car. According to the Vehicle Certification Agency, these are the ten models currently on sale that use the least petrol (based on the combined cycle measure).

Most fuel efficient petrol-powered car: The Fiat 500 / 500C TwinAir with Dualogic transmission.

The good news is that all will better 60 mpg (4.7 l/100km), and all except the Suzuki and Nissan emit 100 g/km or less of CO2, qualifying them for zero road tax and exemption from the London Congestion Charge.



However, as would be expected, every one is a small city car which somewhat limits their practicality.

Rank	Manufacturer	Model	Transmission	CO2	mpg (l/100km)
1	Fiat	500 / 500C TwinAir Dualogic	SAT5	92	70.6 (4.0)
2	Fiat	500 / 500C TwinAir	M5	95	68.9 (4.1)
3=	Smart	fortwo coupé (MY 2011) 71 bhp mhd w/ Softip & 15" rear wheels	5 AMT	97	67.3 (4.2)
3=	Hyundai	I10 Blue 1.0 litre SOHC	M5	99	67.3 (4.2)
5=	Smart	fortwo cabrio (MY 2011) 71 bhp mhd w/ Softip & 15" rear wheels	5 AMT	99	65.7 (4.3)
5=	Smart	fortwo coupé (MY 2011) 71 bhp mhd w/ Softouch & 15" rear wheels	5 AMT	98	65.7 (4.3)
7=	Suzuki	Alto 1.0 SZ-L / SZ-2 / SZ-3 / SZ-4	M5	103	64.2 (4.4)
7=	Toyota	iQ (MY 2011) 1.0 VVT-i 5 speed manual	M5	99	64.2 (4.4)
7=	Smart	fortwo cabrio (MY 2011) 71 bhp mhd w/ Softouch & 15" rear wheels	5 AMT	100	64.2 (4.4)
7=	Nissan	Pixo 1.0	M5	103	64.2 (4.4)

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Top 10: Irish car sales 2010

According to figures published by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, 88,373 cars were sold in Ireland during 2010.



That was almost 55% more than 2009’s figure of 57,118, an encouraging increase achieved in spite of harsh economic conditions. However, the market still has a long way to go before it recovers to the volumes seen in 2008, when sales topped 150,000.



2010’s performance was undoubtedly helped by the scrappage scheme, which accounted for over 17,000 registrations. Good news for the industry is that the programme will continue until the end of June 2011, although the amount of support - which is applied via Vehicle Registration Tax relief - is reduced from €1,500 to €1,250.



The top three manufacturers remained unchanged in 2010, with Ford selling the most cars followed by Toyota and then Volkswagen.



Fourth spot went to Renault, which trebled its sales thanks partly to being the manufacturer with the most scrappage scheme reclaims. Skoda also recorded a notable result but, despite a doubling of volumes, it only moved up one place to seventh on the league table.

Top 10: Irish Car Sales By Manufacturer
Position	Manufacturer	2010	2009	+/-	% +/-
1	Ford	11,215	8,121	3,094	38.1%
2	Toyota	10,660	7,603	3,057	40.2%
3	Volkswagen	10,301	6,174	4,127	66.8%
4	Renault	9,746	2,414	7,332	303.7%
5	Opel	6,603	4,046	2,557	63.2%
6	Nissan	5,494	4,684	810	17.3%
7	Skoda	4,915	2,390	2,525	105.6%
8	Hyundai	2,959	1,665	1,294	77.7%
9	Peugeot	2,924	1,766	1,158	65.6%
10	Audi	2,723	2,388	335	14.0%
Figures provided by SIMI Statistical Service

Top 10: UK car sales 2010

Despite the car scrappage scheme ending in March, figures just published reveal that UK car sales managed to rise very slightly in 2010 compared to the previous year.



Total registrations were 2,030,846, up 1.80% on 2009’s figure. This modest growth was mainly down to increased fleet activity, particularly in the first half of the year.



However, the harsh economic climate continues, and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is predicting that sales will fall by 5% in 2011.



The ten best-selling cars in the UK during 2010 were:



1. Ford Fiesta (103,013 registered)

Despite its overall sales dropping by over 36,000 to 280,364, Ford was the manufacturer that shifted the most cars in 2010. The Fiesta remained the most popular model, too, and deservedly so. A great drive, decent equipment and affordable prices make it one of the best superminis on the market.









2. Vauxhall Astra (80,646 registered)

In its first full year on sale, the sixth-generation Astra managed to out-perform its rivals, even though the range has been criticised for its prices. Overall, Vauxhall registrations were up by almost 4%, finishing the year at 247,265.









3. Ford Focus (77,804 registered)

A perennial favourite, the Focus managed to secure third place in 2010’s chart. Sales weren’t too far behind the much newer Astra, a feat that was probably helped by some healthy discounts and fleet sales. Due to be replaced by the third-generation Focus in 2011.









4. Vauxhall Corsa (77,398 registered)

The Corsa is strong on refinement and comfort, but it seems a very large number of buyers still prefer the Fiesta. It’ll be interesting to see what impact the recently introduced Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty has on 2011’s sales figures.









5. Volkswagen Golf (58,116 registered)

One of the best all-rounders on the market, it’s no great surprise to see the Golf make the top ten. Overall, Volkswagen sales were up by over 8% in 2010, with 174,655 cars registered. That was good enough to retain third place in the manufacturer league table behind Ford and Vauxhall.









6. Volkswagen Polo (45,517 registered)

Under the skin, the Skoda Fabia and Seat Ibiza have a lot in common with the Polo, but apparently customers are happy to shun the cheaper brands in favour of Volkswagen. Whatever the reasons for this behaviour, sixth place was a respectable result for the 2010 European Car of the Year.









7. Peugeot 207 (42,185 registered)

Another decent all-rounder, although the somewhat gawky styling and lack of image might have put some buyers off. Peugeot didn’t have a bad year with total sales up over 6% to 109,324, making it the fifth most popular manufacturer.









8. BMW 3 Series (42,020 registered)

It has become a bit trite to say that the 3 Series outperforms its mainstream rivals such as the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia, but the fact is it does. Overall, BMW achieved 109,418 sales in 2010, an increase of nearly 11% that gave it fourth spot in the manufacturer table. A premium brand, but no longer exclusive?









9. Mini Hatchback (41,883 registered)

A fantastic image, low emissions, that terrific chassis and extremely strong residuals continue to make the Mini Hatchback an attractive buy. The only things letting it down are a lack of kit on lower-spec models and a small boot.











10. Nissan Qashqai (39,048 registered)

This British-built crossover is arguably the ideal family car. There’s plenty of choice, too, with front- or all-wheel drive available and ‘+2’ extended wheelbase versions that seat seven. Total Nissan registrations rose by 15% in 2010 to 89,681, but it remained in eighth place in the manufacturer chart.

Top 10: Cheapest new cars

With the increase in the rate of UK Value Added Tax from 17.5% to 20% on 4th January, the media has been trying to paint a picture of doom and gloom for the car industry.



But for anyone still looking to buy a brand new car without paying lots of extra tax, these are the ten cheapest model ranges currently available in the UK. Of course, for the same money, there will probably be plenty of better used cars available...



1. Chevrolet Spark £7,215 - £10,485

Modern with distinctive looks, the Spark benefits from the Chevrolet 5 Year Promise which includes warranty, servicing, roadside assistance, annual vehicle checks and MOT warranty for - no prizes for guessing - five years.



On the downside, the basic £7,215 Spark does without niceties such as central locking and air conditioning. There’s no radio either, and the windows have to be wound up and down manually.



2. Nissan Pixo £7,350 - £9,450

The Pixo is essentially a re-badged Suzuki Alto, and is built alongside it in India by Maruti Suzuki.



Those buyers looking for remote central locking, side airbags, electric front windows and split folding rear seats will have to go for the mid-range Acenta trim level, which costs £8,100. None of those items are included with the entry-level Visia specification.



3. Kia Picanto £7,370 - £9,100

In basic Picanto ‘1’ guise, there’s vinyl and cloth trim and no air conditioning, but at least electric front windows are standard.



As an incentive to buy, Kia has cut prices across the Picanto range until the end of January 2011. Consequently, the Picanto ‘1’ is currently reduced to £6,670, while the more generously equipped Picanto ‘2’ has dropped from £8,595 to £8,095. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that a second generation Picanto has just been announced, so expect the current model to be replaced later this year.



4. Volkswagen Fox £7,615 - £8,525

A new Volkswagen for under £8,000? Then it’ll have to be the Brazilian-built Fox, although in Europe it’s only available in three-door form.



The 54 bhp (40 kW / 55 PS) 1.2 litre petrol engine found in the £7,615 Fox has been phased out, because it’s not compliant with Euro 5 emissions standards. Cars in that spec might still be available from dealer stock, but any new factory orders will come with a reworked 1.2 motor that produces 59 bhp (44 kW / 60 PS). Unfortunately, the change pushes up the entry price slightly to £7,790 but, as a sweetener, until the end of March 2011 Volkswagen is offering three years’ fixed priced servicing for £299. 



5. Hyundai i10 £7,890 - £9,040

Even the basic i10, the Classic, comes with a generous list of equipment: air conditioning, electric front windows, radio / CD player with four speakers, 60/40 split rear seats, central locking and front side airbags are all standard. What’s more, there’s a five year warranty to complete the package.



Power comes from a 76 bhp (57 kW / 77 PS) 1.2 litre petrol engine with a five-speed gearbox. Performance is respectably brisk, with 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration taking 12.8 seconds and a top speed of 102 mph (164 km/h).



6. Fiat Panda £7,960 - £13,975

The top end of the Panda range is now rather decimated, because the more expensive variants - including the 100 HP, 4x4 and 4x4 Cross - aren’t Euro 5 compliant. Lesser models have been affected too, with the lead-in £7,960 Panda 1.1 Active Eco also only conforming to Euro 4. That means that Fiat has to get rid of any unsold stock fast, so it has reduced the price down to £6,295 until the end of March 2011.



Effectively replacing the 1.1 Active Eco is the 1.2 Active, which meets Euro 5 standards but costs £8,155. The slightly bigger engine does have its benefits, though. Power is up 25% from 53 bhp (40 kW / 54 PS) to 68 bhp (50 kW / 69 PS), allowing the Panda to top 100 mph (160 km/h), yet combined cycle fuel economy actually improves from 56.5 mpg (5.0 l/100km) to 57.6 mpg (4.9 l/100km).



7. Proton Savvy £7,995 - £8,695

There’s really just one Savvy model on offer, the only choice being between manual or automated manual transmissions, but it’s well equipped. Electric front windows, air conditioning and a four-speaker stereo are all included, as are 15” alloy wheels, remote central locking and reverse parking sensors. 



One drawback though is relatively high CO2 emissions from the 73 bhp (55 kW / 75 PS) 1.2 litre engine. 134 g/km means that UK owners will have to hand over £110 each year for road tax, whereas Pixo and Alto drivers, for example, would pay £20.



8. Perodua Myvi £7,999 - £9,399

With the disappearance of the Kenari from the Perodua price list, the Myvi becomes the only model in the manufacturer’s UK line-up. Based on the Daihatsu Sirion / Boon and Toyota Passo, the Myvi comes with a three year warranty, but service intervals are only 10,000 miles.



Perodua is currently knocking off £1,000 from the prices of all its cars until the end of March 2011, which brings the entry-level SXI down to £6,999.





9. Suzuki Alto £8,345 - £9,760

Prices for the Alto have increased dramatically in recent months but, to compensate, Suzuki is offering the Alto SZ3 and SZ4 derivatives ‘VAT free’ until the end of March 2011. That useful discount brings the cost of the cheaper SZ3 down to £6,953.



Like the Pixo, all versions are powered by a 67 bhp (50 kW / 68 PS) three-cylinder petrol engine that produces 103 g/km of CO2 - so near yet so far from the 100 g/km target that would have made both models exempt from the London Congestion Charge.



10. Toyota Aygo £8,485 - £11,115

One reason for choosing the Aygo over the basically identical Peugeot 107 and Citroën C1 is the Toyota’s lower entry price. £8,485 is enough for the basic three-door version, with another £355 needed for the five-door.



However, with that entry-level spec, there’s no air conditioning, central locking or electric windows although, like every Aygo, it does benefit from a five year warranty.





As a footnote, the Daihatsu Sirion might have made it onto the list. However, the company hasn’t updated its prices since last April and this notice on the Daihatsu website probably explains why:

“Due to the current weakness of the Pound against the Japanese Yen it has not been possible to order cars from our factory. As a result, some models are now in very short supply. We are sorry if you are unable to find the exact colour and specification of the car you want, however your dealer will be able to advise you on the availability of stock across the UK.”