Revealed: UK’s most popular cars by colour (all available to lease right now)

The grey Volkswagen Golf tops the list of the UK’s most popular cars by colour, according to new SMMT figures. Dominating the car market, the colour grey is the top choice for British drivers for the fourth consecutive year. It’s closely followed by black and white, completing the monochrome set.

In 2021, despite the global pandemic disrupting new car registrations, a total of 408,155 grey cars were sold in the UK. This is 2.8% higher than the previous year, making up a quarter of the market. On the heels of the grey Volkswagen Golf is the Black Volvo XC40 and the White Tesla Model 3.

Black, the most popular car paint in Britain from 2009 to 2012, wrapped 20.5% of passenger cars, whilst white made third place with 17.2% vehicles. The group of monochrome colours topped the list for the 11th year running.

White was the most popular shade for mini-sized and sports cars. Larger dual purpose, luxury saloons and executive cars were, as usual, most likely to be black.

The colour blue made a comeback too. Edging closer to the top three, sales of blue cars were up by 1.4% for the first time in five years. The most popular make and model of choice in blue was the Vauxhall Corsa.

Green cars overtook orange to gain seventh place, cladding 17,927 cars. Sales of green cars rose for the first time since 2015, with 24% more buyers opting for the colour in 2021. The green Mini was the most loved choice of car in green.

Under-bonnet appeal with greener cars also scored highly as more drivers switched to electric vehicles. Battery electric and plug-in cars accounted for more than one in six registrations in 2021 – up from around one in 10 in 2020.

The top ten also revealed drivers’ appetites for niche paints. Bronze, yellow, and silver cars have also grown in popularity.

However, whether battery electric, plug-in hybrid, hybrid, petrol or diesel, grey was the colour of choice across all fuel types too.

At Hippo Leasing, we currently have great deals on the cars that made the popularity list. Here, we round up the top seven choices available to lease right away…

GREY: Volkswagen Golf

With a history that spans over four decades, the VW Golf continues to attract both young and seasoned drivers in the UK. The latest eighth-generation model of the sleek vehicle comes with two 1.5-litre petrol engines and two 2.0-litre diesel units on offer. While the eco option includes the advanced 1.5 eTSI mild-hybrid with a frugal new powertrain.

BLACK: Volvo XC40

The Volvo XC40 has just won the Premium Crossover title for the fourth year in a row at the Company Car Today CCT100 Awards. The Volvo XC40 range was recently extended to include the Recharge pure electric line, which saw three new versions of the compact SUV launched to the market. With continued updates on equipment specifications, the XC40 is one of the most reliable and stylish compact SUVs on the market.

WHITE: Tesla Model 3

The Tesla Model 3 topped the European model rankings in September 2021, with 24,600 registered units – giving it a 2.6% market share. Tesla’s smallest and cheapest car is a stylish battery-powered saloon loved for its environmentally-friendly features and good driving capabilities. It remains one of the most reliable EVs with a driving range of up to 335 miles on one charge.

BLUE: Vauxhall Corsa

The Vauxhall Corsa has taken over as the UK’s best-selling new car, with 40,914 sold in 2021. The popular supermini outsold every other model in the UK last year, in figures published by SMMT. The latest generation Vauxhall Corsa launched at the end of 2019. It’s available with a fully electric powertrain and a choice of advanced and efficient petrol and diesel engines. 

RED: Toyota Aygo

The Toyota Aygo is one of the UK’s favourite small cars to offer big features. It offers so many opportunities for personalisation. With a wealth of features inside and out, you can specify choices such as different colours and finishes. The Aygo is defined by its hip look with standout alloy wheels, and instrument panel and seats. It’s the one vehicle where owners can give their car its very own style.

SILVER: Ford Puma

The Ford Puma picked up the accolade for Car of the Year at the 2020 What Car? awards, and it’s not hard to see why. The car combines mild-hybrid fuel efficiency, best-in-class luggage space and advanced driver assistance technologies in a sleek crossover. As a small SUV, the Ford Puma excels in all the areas that are important to buyers; sharp handling, gutsy engine and clever mild hybrid technology. It’s a mix of fun and frugality.

GREEN: Mini

In September 2021, MINI delivered its one-millionth car sold in the UK, just over 20 years since the start of modern MINI production began in 2001.

In mid-2021, the MINI 3-Door Hatch, MINI Electric, MINI 5-Door Hatch and MINI Convertible models received an overhaul. With refreshed exterior and more modern touches, the focus is on the car’s central design features. Alongside the re-designed models, the MINI Electric has also grown in popularity.