Affordable SUVs are leading the way in leasing demand so far during 2026, with a trio of crossovers topping the charts.Â
With drivers continuing to be squeezed by high fuel prices, along with the continuing cost-of-living crisis, models that offer value for money are generating interest.
This has seen the Vauxhall Frontera emerge as the model taking the number one spot, accounting for 7.2 percent of all enquiries received by car leasing marketplace, Leasing.com.
Removing ultra-low volume models from its analysis, Leasing.com saw the Frontera come top out of the 150 vehicles receiving the most enquiries throughout 2026 to date.
Between January and September 2026, the Vauxhall Frontera has seen leasing searches increase by an incredible 10,963 percent compared to the same period in 2025.
Demonstrating the continuing growing interest in new-entrant SUVs, the BYD Sealion 7 also saw a 793 percent jump in enquiries.
New-entrant SUVs still in demand
Taking second place behind the Vauxhall Frontera in Leasing.com’s top ten enquiries of 2026 was the Jaecoo 7, accounting for 3.3 percent.
Named as the Leasing.com ‘Car of the Year’ in the company’s 2025 awards, the Chinese-made SUV has continued to see substantial demand throughout 2025.
Earlier this year, the Jaecoo 7 became the UK’s most-registered new car for the month of March, and has seen it remain in the top three throughout the year.
Such demand has helped Jaecoo, and its Omoda sister brand, already achieve sales of more than 100,000 examples.
The ever-popular Kia Sportage takes the final podium position for 2026 to date, with the Korean SUV responsible for 2.4 percent of Leasing.com’s enquiries.
Leapmotor B10 now one to watch
Interest in family SUVs continues unabated, according to Leasing.com’s data, taking seven of the ten positions on the enquiries list.
The company has highlighted the Leapmotor B10 as one to watch, though, leading the way of new-entrant models so far in 2026.
With its all-electric powertrain, the B10 was responsible for 1.8 percent of enquiries made through the company’s website.
Mike Fazal, CEO of Leasing.com, says: “Buyers are no longer sticking automatically to the car brands their parents drove or renewing former leases out of habit. Value for money is driving choices now, which explains why stylish, practical SUVs like the Jaecoo 7 are performing so well.
“What is really striking from our fresh data is that the top five market newcomers are all Chinese-manufactured models. Drivers are genuinely engaged and excited to see what these new brands bring to the table.”
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