Top 10 most popular cars of 2026 so far!

• Top 10 most popular lease cars of 2026 so far
• List to mark new '26' reg plate launching March 1st
• Half of top 10 are from Chinese manufacturers
• Jaecoo 7 continues its unprecedented rise
• Vauxhall Frontera is the cheapest lease car in the top 10

These are the most leased cars of 2026 so far - and five of the Top 10 vehicles are from Chinese manufacturers.

The figures have been revealed by Select Car Leasing to mark the launch of new ‘26’ registration plates on March 1st.

The No.1 spot is taken by the Jaecoo 7 - a Chinese SUV that arrived in Europe at the beginning of 2025 before taking the lease market by storm.

The Jaecoo 7 has won armies of admirers thanks to its Range Rover-esque styling and choice of traditional petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

It was Select Car Leasing’s most-leased model for 2025 as a whole - and it’s continuing its dominance at the beginning of 2026.

Besides the Jaecoo 7, four other cars from Chinese manufacturers appear in the Top 10; the BYD Seal, BYD Dolphin Surf, Leapmotor C10, and BYD Sealion 7.

Geoff Cockerill, Director of Operations at Select Car Leasing, said: “In a market dictated by price and where customers are looking to secure the best possible lease deals, more and more UK motorists are exploring what Chinese manufacturers have to offer.

“Past hesitancy and nervousness around new car brands has shifted into growing acceptance.

“As our latest stats show, brands like Jaecoo, BYD, and Leapmotor are winning the hearts and minds of UK motorists by offering vehicles that aren’t just affordably-priced, but which are sharply-styled and come loaded with equipment as standard.”

There was still room in Select’s current Top 10 for well-established cars.

The Kia Sportage is placed No.2 in run-down while the family-friendly Nissan Qashqai is at No.6.

The Ford Puma- overall the most registered new car of 2025 - is at No.8 in the list while the Tesla Model Y is in 9th place, following a recent overhaul of the Model Y’s line-up which has seen the introduction of new ‘Long Range’ variants.

Cars like the Volvo XC40, VW ID.5 and Audi A3 have to settle for a place in the Top 20 most leased cars of 2026, while another Jaecoo model - the Jaecoo 5 (below) - currently sits in 19th place in the Select countdown.

Select Car Leasing was recently recognised as the UK’s biggest leasing broker by sales volume in the inaugural Broker News ‘BN25’ league table.

The latest Top 10 differs from the overall list of most-registered new cars in the UK in 2026 so far, as the leasing list is heavily influenced by specific deals and limited-time, discounted offers that brokers are able to secure with manufacturers and funders.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the most-registered new cars of 2026 so far are the Kia Sportage (4,675 units), Jaecoo 7 (4,059 units), Ford Puma (3,715 units), Nissan Qashqai (2,995 units), and Vauxhall Corsa (2,902 units).

Select Car Leasing’s Top 10 Lease Cars of 2026 so far (based on vehicle orders)

1 - Jaecoo 7 - (21.3% of top 10 orders)

Why lease the Jaecoo 7? Affordable, Range Rover-esque styling, wealth of equipment fitted as standard.

2 - Kia Sportage - (19.1% of top 10 orders)

Why lease the Kia Sportage? Family-friendly motoring, plug-in hybrid engines available, great choice of trim levels.

3 - BYD Seal - (9.3% of top 10 orders)

Why lease the BYD Seal? Tesla Model 3 alternative, recently revamped with better tech, dual-motor variants are rapid.

4 - BYD Dolphin Surf - (9.27% of top 10 orders)

Why lease the BYD Dolphin Surf? Affordable electric urban mobility, sharp modern styling, 200-mile max range.

5 - Leapmotor C10 - (8.5% of top 10 orders)

Why lease the Leapmotor C10? Value electric SUV, elegant styling, Leapmotor backed by industry giants Stellantis.

6 - Nissan Qashqai - (7.5% of top 10 orders)

Why lease the Nissan Qashqai? Qashqai is a byword for ‘family car’, E-Power models offer EV-style driving experience, different trims to suit many budgets.

7 - Vauxhall Frontera Electric - (6.9% of top 10 orders)

Why lease the Vauxhall Frontera Electric? Great value leasing offers right now, 250-mile range, large boot for the class.

8 - Ford Puma - (6.4% of top 10 orders)

Why lease the Ford Puma? Consistently a UK best-seller, timeless styling, well equipped as standard.

9 - Tesla Model Y - (5.8% of top 10 orders)

Why lease the Tesla Model Y? Minimalist exterior and interior, huge touchscreen, 390-mile range.

10 - BYD Sealion 7 - (5.7% of top 10 orders)

Why lease the BYD Sealion 7? Major Tesla Model Y rival, plush interior, AWD versions are seriously quick.

Select Car Leasing’s most popular lease cars of 2025

• Jaecoo 7
• Nissan Qashqai
• Tesla Model 3
• Hyundai Tucson
• Peugeot 2008
• Volkswagen Golf Hatchback
• Renault Symbioz
• Volkswagen ID.4
• Peugeot 3008
• Volkswagen Tiguan

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