The Volkswagen Golf was found to be the most popular new car in 2019, according to data from AutoTrader.

Attracting more than 1.3 million views on the AutoTrader website, the Golf was the most searched for new car on the platform.

The research published in the UK’s Most Popular Cars 2019 report combines a survey of 2,000 UK drivers with search data from ad views on Auto Trader’s website and app to reveal the most popular makes, models and features on the new car market.

It highlights the models that drivers are the most interested in and therefore the ones they are likely to expect to see on company car choice lists.

The all-new mk8 Golf will go on sale this year, read our revew of it here.

Audi was found to be the most desirable overall new car brand with a total of 4.8m ad views since January 2019, overtaking BMW by almost 800,000 views and continuing the tight contest between the German brands.

The data also shows that interest in new electric cars is starting to overtake that for petrol hybrids. The electric Audi E-Tron is revealed as the UK’s most popular eco car, aligning with changing attitudes towards going green, as the government offers subsidies and manufacturers continue to improve range and battery costs of their greener models.

Auto Trader’s Rory Reid said: “Audi’s performance shows the strength of its brand across all classes and price brackets. From the A1 to its prestige and electric models, it has something to appeal to all tastes and budgets.  Audi performed particularly well with drivers aged 34 and under, highlighting its status as a brand to which many younger motorists aspire.

“The Volkswagen Golf also performs well, outscoring top selling models such as the Ford Fiesta and Focus, indicating the strength of this evergreen brand with new car buyers.

“The most popular electric cars are consistently outscoring petrol hybrids for desirability in the eco ranges, suggesting a change in the nation’s tastes for more environmentally friendly cars and the impact of a wider roll out for charging points. For example, the top scoring electric model, the Audi E-Tron, gained 7% more interest than the top petrol hybrid, the Toyota Corolla.”

Top 10 Most Popular Cars of 2019 (based on ad views):

1 .Volkswagen Golf

2. Ford Focus

3. Ford Fiesta

4. Land Rover Range Rover

5. Land Rover Range Rover Sport

6. BMW 3 Series

7. Mercedes-Benz A Class

8. Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

9. Volkswagen Polo

10. Mercedes-Benz C Class

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