NISSAN QASHQAI TAKES TOP SPOT FROM FORD AS MOST-REGISTERED UK CAR OF SEPTEMBER

The Nissan Qashqai has been in the top five for years now, but now the SUV best-seller has officially overtaken Ford Fiesta as the most-registered car of September with 13,499 registered across the month compared to Fiesta's 10,826. 

These unexpected figures follow a less buoyant sales period for the Fiesta since the latest-generation model was launched. The Fiesta still remains the best-seller across the year so far, however, with 75,814 registered compared to the Qashqai's 53,197. 

But for September, the Fiesta dropped to third place. Second place was given to the Volkswagen Golf with 12,800 registrations. 

Between January and September 2016, Ford had shifted 96,139 Fiestas – 20,000 more than this year. However, the new car market was altogether stronger last year.

Weaker figures for the UK's two best-selling superminis is, in some way, a confirmation of the industry's prediction of the decline of small hatchbacks. Meanwhile, the Qashqai remains stable every year, gaining almost 3000 sales so far this year over the same period in 2016.

According to a Ford spokesmen, only two of the Fiesta's six trim levels – the Zetec and Titanium – are currently available to order, hence the decrease in sales. The other trims – entry-level Style, sporty ST-line and range-topping Vignale – will become available in the next coming months.