Demand for used cars surges in January as the pandemic causes new car registrations to stall

The Vauxhall Corsa was the UK’s best-selling new car in January 2021. According to the SMMT, 3078 new Corsas were registered in January, with most drivers choosing the zesty three-cylinder 1.2-litre 100PS petrol, which is identical to the 1.2 PureTech engine found in the Peugeot 208.

It’s easy to see why the Corsa is so popular: it’s easy to drive, comfortable and stylish. All versions are good to drive, with sharp road-handling and lots of front-end grip that makes this little Vauxhall a hoot to drive on challenging B roads.  In addition to the impressive 1.2 petrol, the Corsa is also offered as an efficient 1.5 diesel or pure EV (badged Corsa-e) with a maximum range of 209 miles.

All versions of the Corsa are well-equipped; even the most basic models are fitted with LED headlights, 16-inch alloy wheels and touchscreen infotainment (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility as standard). You also get a comfortable and smart interior, which makes the Corsa a breeze to use.  

The Kia Sportage is one of the very best crossovers.  Its distinctive styling gives it a unique look, while a spacious interior and generous level of spec make the Sportage excellent value for money. Little wonder, perhaps, it's one of the best-selling cars in the UK. 

Most buyers choose their Sportage with the 1.6-litre CRDi Ecodynamics+ diesel. In our opinion, it's one of Kia's best engines. Particularly given the useful boost in performance and fuel economy, thanks to its 48-volt mild hybrid technology that recovers energy under braking. The 1.6 diesel hybrid has a decent 134PS and is capable of averaging over 52mpg. 

The fact Kia offers the Sportage with a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty should reassure you that this is a good quality car, built to survive everything you (and your kids) can throw at it. The interior is robust but high in quality, while the boot is large with a flat load lip that makes it easy to slide heavy things in and out. 

The Nissan Qashqai is a brilliant all-rounder. Affordable, practical and comfortable, it ticks all of the essential family car boxes. Factor in its eye-catching exterior and accomplished range of engines, it's easy to see why this British-built crossover is a big success for Nissan.

The Qashqai is very easy to drive and is backed by an impressive range of petrol and diesel engines. Most Qashqai buyers tend to go for diesel and we rate the 1.6 dCi very highly. However, if you want a petrol, we'd also recommend the 1.3-litre DIG-T - it is a genuine alternative to diesel in all regards, with good pace, low noise and reasonable fuel costs.

The Qashqai is one of the most comfortable cars in its class. The seats in the front have a wide range of adjustments, while the ride quality will iron out all of the lumps and bumps in the road. The boot is practical, too, with a wide opening and a useful floor divider that prevents loose items from sliding around.

The Ford Fiesta has been the UK's best-selling new car over a decade, which makes its fourth place in January's SMMT figures a little surprising. Is the Fiesta losing some of its sparkle? We think it would be a mistake to write-off Ford's brilliant small hatchback off just yet because it'll probably surge back to its number one spot by the end of 2021. 

Refined, fun to drive and comfortable, the Fiesta is a brilliant small car. Most buyers choose the 1.0 petrol, while those covering long distances can opt for an efficient 1.5 diesel. However, no matter which version you choose, you will not be disappointed with the Fiesta's value.

The Fiesta is the small car that sets a benchmark for quality. The interior is spacious, comfortable and logically laid out. Most versions get a smart ‘floating’ touchscreen display that's located at the top of the centre dash. High spec models also benefit from navigation and voice controls, which means you can set the sat nav or browse your favourite driving songs without lifting a hand from the wheel. 

The Volvo XC40 family-friendly crossover with premium appeal. We rate it as one of the best-looking cars in its class, while the XC40's upmarket and sophisticated interior sets new benchmarks for quality and comfort. 

The dashboard is dominated by a swish 9.0-inch portrait-style infotainment screen. Easy to use and colourful, it is identical to the system found in pricier Volvos, which really reinforces the XC40's shrunken premium car vibe. Despite its compact dimensions, the interior is roomy, with lots of head and legroom across both rows of seats. You also get a good-sized boot, with space for a spare wheel under the load floor. 

The latest versions of the XC40 are offered with petrol or electric power, but older models can be found with Volvo's impressive 2.0 diesel engine. Unless you really need a long-distance motorway motor, we'd recommend the 1.5 petrol. It's powerful and quiet. The 1.5-litre engine can also be specified with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, while all-electric 'Recharge' models will cover 250+ miles on a single charge.