- UK's most popular lease cars revealed
- Top 10 according to Select Car Leasing customers
- Stats for 2025 as a whole so far
- No.1 on the list is the Jaecoo 7
- Jaecoo 7 has come from nowhere to dominate the list
These are the Top 10 most popular lease cars of 2025 so far - and number one on the list might surprise you.
The run-down has been revealed by Select Car Leasing, one of Britain’s largest vehicle lease brokers - and also the most trusted, according to Trustpilot reviews.
The top 10 covers new cars of all types and includes those with electric powertrains and traditional petrol and diesel combustion engines.
Sitting at the very summit of the list is the versatile Jaecoo 7, a Chinese SUV that only arrived in Europe at the beginning of 2025 but which has taken the lease market by storm.
The Jaecoo 7 is proving more popular than heavyweights like the Nissan Qashqai and Tesla Model 3, who sit second and third in the top 10 most-leased list for 2025.
The family-sized Jaecoo 7 - which has been praised for its Range Rover-esque styling and affordable leasing price - is also on course to oust the Tesla Model Y from its perch, with the Model Y having been Select’s most-leased vehicle of 2024.
Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing, says the Jaecoo 7 is proof that Chinese car manufacturers are winning the hearts and minds of UK motorists.
He added: “Over the past 12 months we’ve witnessed an influx of vehicles from Chinese manufacturers and, as the Jaecoo 7 proves, lease customers have been quick to explore what they can offer.
“Jaecoo might not be a name that all drivers are instantly familiar with. But what the popularity of the Jaecoo 7 illustrates is that customers are willing to look beyond the more established brands when they see a lease deal that offers real value.
“Sitting just behind the Jaecoo 7 is the Nissan Qashqai, an ever-popular stalwart of the roads, while the Tesla Model 3 has accelerated away from the Tesla Model Y in terms of leasing popularity in 2025.
“As the UK’s most trusted leasing broker and also the largest in the UK, our sales figures are a great indicator for the lease market as a whole.”
The Jaecoo 7 is available with either a petrol engine or plug-in hybrid powertrain and comes well-equipped as standard, including a 13.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, panoramic glass roof, and a power tailgate.
It also achieved the full five-star score from industry safety assessors Euro NCAP this year and comes with driver assistance tech like adaptive cruise control and emergency lane keep assist as standard.
While the Top 10 most popular lease vehicles features two fully-electric vehicles - the Tesla Model 3 and the Volkswagen ID.4 - Select points out that, overall, 36.8% of all orders with Select in 2025 have been for EVs - an increase on the 29.2% of EV orders during the same period of 2024.
Around 50% of new vehicles leased with Select in 2025 are either fully electric or plug-in hybrid, which is well above the general market’s figure of around 33.4%.
The leasing top 10 also differs from the overall list of most-registered new cars in the UK in 2025 as a whole - with the most popular lease cars influenced by specific deals and limited-time, discounted offers that brokers are available to secure with manufacturers and funders.
According to the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the most-registered new car of 2025, as a whole, is the Ford Puma, followed by the Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai, Vauxhall Corsa and Nissan Juke.
The Jaecoo 7 was the 6th most-registered new car in October 2025, but is yet to feature in the SMMT’s list for the most-registered cars of 2025 as a whole.
The Select top 10 includes both personal and business lease contracts.
Most popular lease vehicles of 2025 so far, according to Select Car Leasing
1. Jaecoo 7:
China’s Jaecoo is coming for the market’s biggest hitters. The Jaecoo 7’s looks have been likened to that of Range Rover and this family-sized SUV is 2025’s smash hit.
2. Nissan Qashqai:
The epitome of practical family motoring, the Nissan Qashqai offers sharp styling, a 504-litre boot, and e-POWER hybrid models can return more than 60 mpg.
3. Tesla Model 3:
Tesla’s sleek electric saloon is outperforming its Model Y sibling on the lease market this year and boasts a huge range of up to 466 miles between charges.
4. Hyundai Tucson:
Hyundai’s medium-sized SUV is available with petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines while an enormous 620-litre boot leads the class when it comes to luggage space.
5. Peugeot 2008:
This hatchback-SUV crossover offers compact, affordable motoring while its distinctive ‘three claw’ vertical LED light signature ensures it stands out from a crowd.
6. Volkswagen Golf Hatchback:
The VW Golf has been a fixture of UK roads since the 1970s, and the popularity of this premium hatchback shows no signs of slowing.
7. Renault Symbioz:
First launched in 2024, the Renault Symbioz is a medium-sized crossover that can be leased with a powerful and efficient full hybrid powertrain.
8. Volkswagen ID.4:
VW’s do-it-all electric SUV offers a range of up to 352 miles between charges while potent GTX models are seriously quick.
9. Peugeot 3008:
The second Peugeot on Select’s list, the medium-sized 3008 features an athletic ‘Fastback’ silhouette while plug-in hybrid models can travel 53 miles in EV mode.
10. Volkswagen Tiguan:
Another practical, medium-sized SUV on this top 10, the VW Tiguan is still available with an efficient diesel engine - while petrol or plug-in hybrid variants also complete the line-up.
Most popular lease vehicles of 2024, according to Select Car Leasing
- Tesla Model Y
- Volkswagen Tiguan
- Nissan Qashqai
- Volkswagen ID.3
- Hyundai Tucson
- Nissan Juke
- Volkswagen Golf hatchback
- Peugeot 2008
- Kia Sportage
- Ford Ranger pick-up
What is car leasing?
Leasing is a method of financing a car, whether it’s a vehicle that’s brand-new or used. It essentially works like a long-term rental agreement that lets you drive the vehicle for a fixed period by paying monthly instalments, rather than having to buy it outright.
Leasing is also known as Personal Contract Hire (PCH) for private individuals or Business Contract Hire (BCH) for companies.
Once you’ve selected a lease car, you agree on the contract length, set your annual mileage, and you can also add optional extras to the package, such as premium paint, larger alloy wheels, or tech upgrades.
You’ll also need to determine the size of your ‘Initial Payment’ - a lump sum paid at the beginning of a lease contract which works to lower your monthly fees. The Initial Payment isn’t a ‘deposit’ and it’s not returned at the end of the contact. The larger your Initial Payment, the lower your monthly fees.
Road tax and breakdown cover is automatically included in your lease deal, but you’ll need to arrange insurance yourself. At the end of your lease agreement, you simply hand the vehicle back to the leasing company - leaving you free to choose another lease deal.
Check out our guide to personal car leasing.
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