[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/2016s-demand-car-manufacturers\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/2016s-demand-car-manufacturers\/","headline":"2016\u2019s most in-demand car manufacturers","name":"2016\u2019s most in-demand car manufacturers","description":"New car sales hit a record high in the UK during 2016, with close to 2.7 million units shifted throughout the year. That could be because Brits shopping for a new car are spoilt for choice, being able to pick from almost 400 different models across 44 brands. We\u2019ve already counted down the ten best-selling models of 2016, according to registrations figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, but which \u00a0were the most in demand car manufacturers \u00a0last […]","datePublished":"2017-01-17","dateModified":"2017-01-20","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/#Person","name":"Matthew Collett","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/","identifier":5,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/feature-14.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/feature-14.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/2016s-demand-car-manufacturers\/","about":["BLOG"],"wordCount":663,"keywords":["Audi","bmw","ford","hyundai","mercedes","Most in-demand cars of 2016","nissan","Peugeot","toyota","Vauxhall","volkswagen"],"articleBody":"New car sales hit a record high in the UK during 2016, with close to 2.7 million units shifted throughout the year.That could be because Brits shopping for a new car are spoilt for choice, being able to pick from almost 400 different models across 44 brands.We\u2019ve already counted down the ten best-selling models of 2016, according to registrations figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, but which \u00a0were the most in demand car manufacturers \u00a0last year?Hyundai – 92,419 unitsThis South Korean carmaker doesn\u2019t get much of a mention on Motor-Vision but we did hail its new Ioniq hybrid – the brand\u2019s first production model to involve an electric powertrain – as a potential Prius killer.From the i10 city car through to the Qashqai-bothering Tucson [pictured] via the Golf-rivalling i30, Hyundai\u2019s canny range of practical, affordable models has clearly chimed with UK buyers.Toyota – 96,746 unitsThe continued appeal of Toyota\u2019s \u2018other hybrids\u2019 like the Yaris and Auris buoyed much of the brand\u2019s sales in 2016, but the year saw the arrival of what is widely considered to be the best Prius yet.Saying that the hybrid saloon is more efficient than ever won\u2019t surprise anyone, but much of the fourth-gen Prius\u2019 appeal came from the fact that it drove and looked better than ever than before, with engaging handling and an aggressive new exterior.Peugeot – 98,529 unitsDespite a merciless roasting by Clarkson and co on the old Top Gear, plenty of UK motorists still wanted to drive a Peugeot in 2016. The 2008 compact SUV was given a striking redesign and its 108, 208 and 308 all hit the right balance between value and quality.2017 will see the dorky 3008 MPV go through a radical rebirth as a smart SUV, which could mean Pug\u2019s showrooms could be even more crowded over the next 12 months.Nissan – 152,525 unitsSUVs may be selling like hot cakes right now, but the Qashqai was the only model in the segment to appear in the UK top ten best selling cars of 2016, appearing at a very respectable fifth.Elsewhere in the Nissan range, the Juke remains to be arguably the best car in its class, while the third-gen Navara [pictured] set a new standard for pick-up trucks. We\u2019ll get a totally reinvented Micra in 2017 too, so expect Nissan to be shifting big numbers once again.Mercedes-Benz – 169,828 unitsThe first of four Germans now, and Merc\u2019s appearance here is largely down to the C-Class, which made up more than a quarter of the brand\u2019s UK sales last year.We also got a new E-Class, while a coupe version will join the E-Class family in April.Audi – 177,304 unitsAudi enjoyed the fruits of offering new iterations of the A4 and TT in 2016, as well as the newly introduced Q2, while the A3 – the brand\u2019s only model in the UK top ten – continued to sell well despite a refreshed model due in the first half of 2017.BMW – 182,593 unitsFurther proof that we Brits are suckers for a premium German brand. Not many of us would have been splashing out six figures on an i8, but we were more than happy to snap up a new 4 Series or X1 – a softroader that no-one at BMW wanted to build, according to Jeremy Clarkson.Volkswagen – 207,028 unitsDieselgate may have dented VW\u2019s reputation but it hasn\u2019t dealt much damage to their sales. This was helped by the enduring appeal of the Polo and Golf, the latter of which will be refreshed in April, as well as a new Tiguan [pictured].Vauxhall – 250,955 unitsExcitement may be all but absent from the current Vauxhall range, but Brits still have a lot of time for the Corsa and Astra, both of which accounted for almost half of the brand\u2019s UK registrations.Ford – 318,316 unitsThe rivalry between Vauxhall and Ford is one of the fiercest in the entire automotive industry, and yet again, Ford has come out on top, thanks to its Fiesta-Focus duo."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"2016\u2019s most in-demand car manufacturers","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/2016s-demand-car-manufacturers\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]