Why the Ford Puma's three-year reign matters for used buyers
Britain's best-selling car has topped the charts for three years running. Here's what that consistency actually means once Pumas start reaching the used market.
Same car, same spot, third year running
May's new-car registration figures are out, and the headline is barely a headline any more: the Ford Puma is Britain's best-selling car for the third year running, with 4,019 sales in May alone and 24,358 so far in 2026. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), it now sits roughly 3,000 registrations clear of second-placed Kia Sportage.
The wider market had a strong month too — registrations rose 7.1% year-on-year to 160,662, the best May since before the pandemic, driven largely by a 17.2% jump in private buyers responding to sharper deals across more brands than ever.
A small SUV that quietly wins on substance
It's worth asking why a small SUV with a mild-hybrid 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine keeps winning, rather than one of the EVs or premium SUVs that usually grab headlines. Honest John's verdict is straightforward: the Puma is fun to drive, has an unusually big boot for its class, and its petrol mild-hybrid drivetrain suits buyers who want efficiency without committing to a full EV or paying PHEV premiums. Ford's Romanian factory has now built over a million of them — and the UK is the only market where the Puma is a genuine best-seller.
It's not winning by default, either. The Jaecoo 7 — a Chinese newcomer — climbed back to fourth place in May after a wobble in April, and combined Chinese-brand registrations (Chery, Jaecoo, Omoda) would rank second overall if counted as one marque. The Puma has real competition and is still pulling clear.
What this means if you're buying used
Three years of consistent best-seller volume means one thing for the used market: supply. Most Puma registrations are private and fleet sales that typically reach forecourts after three to four years, so the 2023-2024 vintage — already a strong seller back then — is starting to filter through to the used market now, with the even bigger 2025-2026 volumes to follow over the next couple of years. More supply usually means more competitive used pricing and a wider choice of trim levels and mileages to pick from.
That volume also cuts the other way for resale value if you're buying to keep: a car this common won't carry the scarcity premium of a niche model, but it will hold a dependable floor price, because parts, servicing knowledge and used demand are all abundant. For a private buyer who wants low-risk ownership over outright exclusivity, that's exactly the trade-off you want.
What this means if you're selling
If you're selling a Puma, don't expect a scarcity-driven price spike — but do expect a fast, straightforward sale. High demand for the model new translates into reliable demand secondhand, and dealers know it moves quickly off the forecourt. The fact that petrol and diesel registrations actually fell in May (down 7.1% and 2.2% respectively) while the Puma's mild-hybrid petrol setup kept selling strongly is also a signal that buyers aren't rejecting petrol outright — they're rejecting petrol cars without an efficiency story to tell.
The takeaway
The Puma's grip on the top spot isn't a fluke of fleet deals — it's a genuinely well-judged small SUV that happens to suit the way most private buyers actually use a car. If you're shopping used, expect growing choice over the next year or two as the high-volume 2023-2025 cars mature into the secondhand market. If you already own one, you're holding a car that will keep selling itself.