In pictures: the best-selling cars of 1995

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

December 16, 2025

Rewinding 30 years
© Ford
It was a good year for moviegoers, with Die Hard with a Vengeance, Toy Story, Apollo 13, GoldenEye and Se7en all among the highest-grossing films of 1995. As for new cars, we were treated to the likes of the Bentley Azure, BMW Z3, Ferrari F50, MGF, Peugeot 406 and Renault Megane. Here, we count down the best-selling cars of 1995, along with a look at the best new cars according to the European Car of the Year jury.
10. Rover 100: 52,392 registrations
© Rover Group
Ford accounted for around a fifth of the 1.95m cars registered in 1995, with Vauxhall taking a 15.1 percent share of the market. Next up was Rover, which had a 10 percent slice of the cake. The Rover 100 – essentially a facelifted and rebadged Metro (you fool) – secured a place in the top 10 for the last time.
9. Renault Clio: 52,3576 registrations
© Renault
Launched in 1990 and deemed good enough to be named European Car of the Year in 1991, the Clio had become a strong seller, picking up where the Renault 5 left off. Although it never managed to secure a place in the top half of the table, the Clio was a regular in the UK’s top 10. This was the year when it was joined by the Megane, which would reach the dizzy heights of fifth place in 1998.
8. Peugeot 306: 56,112 registrations
© Peugeot
Having made its debut in 1993, the Peugeot 306 was proving a great success for the French company. Essentially a replacement for both the 309 and the smaller 205, the 306 was available as a pretty hatchback, stylish cabriolet, practical estate and ungainly saloon, with buyers able to pick anything from a frugal diesel to a brilliant hot hatch.
7. Rover 200: 68,114 registrations
© Rover Group
This was a crossover year for the Rover 200, with the new R3 generation arriving in October to replace the old R8 model. A rival for the Ford Escort and Vauxhall Astra, the new 200 was based on its own platform with a choice of three- and five-door variants. There were no Honda engines this time, with buyers able to select from a range of K-Series petrol engines or an L-Series diesel.
6. Vauxhall Corsa: 72,508 registrations
© Vauxhall
Two brands dominated the top six – and there are no prizes for guessing which ones. In 1993, Vauxhall dropped the Nova name in favour of Corsa – and it never looked back. The new car was larger than the Nova, with more rounded styling and a choice of three- or five-door bodies. It wasn’t particularly innovative or good to drive, but the combination of keen pricing and a dealer on every high street ensured it became one of Britain’s most popular cars.
5. Vauxhall Vectra: 73,978 registrations
© Vauxhall
The Cavalier had been a strong seller for Vauxhall; sales hit six figures even in the car’s final year on sale. A lot of these registrations were in the fleet sector, which is something Vauxhall hoped would continue with the launch of the new Vectra. It got off to a decent start, with sales of 73,978, despite not appearing until the autumn. Sales increased every year until 1999, but the Vectra never truly recovered from Jeremy Clarkson’s review on Top Gear (or the fact that the Mondeo was a superior car).
4. Vauxhall Astra: 100,709 registrations
© Vauxhall
The third-generation Vauxhall Astra was entering the second half of its production run, having been through a mid-life refresh in 1994. Don’t let its ubiquity fool you, because the Astra was a thoroughly good car that deserved to outsell the all-conquering Ford Escort. The styling has aged well and a good one would be most welcome at the Festival of the Unexceptional.
3. Ford Mondeo: 118,040 registrations
© Ford
Still fresh from its deserved European Car of the Year award in 1994, the Ford Mondeo was the best family car on the market. Great to drive, well engineered and better than its predecessor in almost every way, the Mondeo was a revelation. Gone was the old ‘Sierra/Cavalier class’, replaced by a new benchmark (not to mention the birth of ‘Mondeo Man’).
2. Ford Fiesta: 129,574 registrations
© Ford
It was a good time to be a Ford dealer. As well as the Mondeo, a Ford salesperson could offer punters the new, fourth-generation Fiesta, which was so much more than a comprehensive rework of the outgoing model. Better to drive and nicer to look at, the Fiesta also benefited from a new Zetec 16-valve engine, available as a 1.25-litre petrol – then later in 1.4-litre guise.
1. Ford Escort: 137,760 registrations
© Ford
By 1995, the Escort was nearing retirement, with Ford preparing to shock the world with the 1998 launch of the Focus. There was, however, time for one final facelift, with Ford treating the Escort to a new nose, a restyled grille and an improved interior. There was also a noticeable increase in quality, which enabled the Escort to soldier on until 2000 (the van version continued until 2002).
Third place, 1995 ECoTY: Opel – Vauxhall Omega
© Vauxhall
And finally, here’s a brief look at the three cars battling for supremacy at the 1995 European Car of the Year awards ceremony. The Opel/Vauxhall Omega arrived in 1994 was a brilliant alternative to cars with a premium badge for wafting in comfort on Europe’s motorways. In V6 guise, it became a traffic cop favourite.
Second place, 1995 ECoTY: Volkswagen Polo
© VW
Unveiled at the 1994 Paris Motor Show, the third-generation Polo was a completely new model. For the first time, three- and five-door versions were available, with the Polo sharing its underpinnings with the 1993 Seat Ibiza. The Polo made its UK debut at the 1994 NEC Motor Show, with sales starting in 1995.
First place, 1995 ECoTY: Fiat Punto
© Fiat
Unveiled in 1993 as a replacement for the hugely successful Fiat Uno, the Punto was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and used a platform that would underpin several Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia models of the 1990s. UK sales began in 1994 and in many ways it was the best supermini on the market.