Chinese brands lead Select’s car leasing chart for 2026 so far

FIVE of Select Car Leasing’s Top 10 vehicles of 2026 so far are from Chinese manufacturers, with the top spot taken by the Jaecoo 7.

Earlier this month Select was named the biggest leasing broker by sales volume at the inaugural BN25 event for an outstanding 34,195 contract hire sales orders in 2025.

With its Range Rover-esque styling and choice of traditional petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains, the Jaecoo 7 (main image) was already Select’s most- leased model of 2025. Notably, it was the only Chinese car to figure in the 2025 chart.

Besides the Jaecoo 7, four other cars from Chinese manufacturers appear in the 2026 Top 10; the BYD Seal, BYD Dolphin Surf, Leapmotor C10 and BYD Sealion 7.

Geoff Cockerill, Director of Operations at Select Car Leasing, said: “In a market dictated by price and where customers are looking to secure the best possible lease deals, more and more UK motorists are exploring what Chinese manufacturers have to offer.”

“Past hesitancy and nervousness around new car brands has shifted into growing acceptance. Brands like Jaecoo, BYD and Leapmotor are winning the hearts and minds of UK motorists by offering vehicles that aren’t just affordably-priced, but which are sharply-styled and come loaded with equipment as standard.”

Geoff Cockerill, Director of Operations, Select Car Leasing Tweet

There was still room in Select’s current Top 10 for well-established cars.

The Kia Sportage is No.2 in run-down while the family-friendly Nissan Qashqai is at No.6.

The Ford Puma – overall the most registered new car of 2025 – is at No.8 in the list while the Tesla Model Y is in 9th place, following a recent overhaul of the Model Y’s line-up which has seen the introduction of new ‘Long Range’ variants.

Cars like the Volvo XC40, VW ID.5 and Audi A3 have to settle for a place in the Top 20 most leased cars of 2026, while another Jaecoo model – the Jaecoo 5 – currently sits in 19th place in the countdown.

The latest Top 10 differs from the overall list of most-registered new cars in the UK in 2026 so far, as the leasing list is heavily influenced by specific deals and limited-time, discounted offers that brokers are able to secure with manufacturers and funders.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the most-registered new cars of 2026 so far are the Kia Sportage (4,675 units), Jaecoo 7 (4,059 units), Ford Puma (3,715 units), Nissan Qashqai (2,995 units), and Vauxhall Corsa (2,902 units).