February was the month of love, and recent research by Carzone has demonstrated that when it comes to cars, there are certain brands and models we love the most.
Mixing internal combustion engined (ICE) and electric vehicles (EV), and going by the most-searched cars on Carzone in 2026 so far plus the top-selling machines in the country year-on-year, here are the top 10 most-loved cars in Ireland right now.
VW’s evergreen family hatchback tops the charts for Carzone searches in 2026, showing the enduring popularity of this premium product. The current car is the Mk8 and it first appeared in showrooms in its native land back in 2019, so it’s not the freshest vehicle out there. But old Golfs are almost as desirable as new, and with lots of pre-loved examples on the market then there should be a Golf out there that will be the perfect match for everyone.
The research shows that we love SUVs the most in Ireland, followed by hatchbacks and then saloons. So, while the Golf has slightly upset that order by coming top of the list, it’s no surprise to see the Tiguan SUV sitting pretty in second here. The Tiguan is three generations strong and counting, and any of them will make a great, practical motor that will win over any family’s heart.
The third most-popular search this year is for BMW’s genre-defining executive car. It has a history that’s even longer than the Golf, stretching right back to 1972, but the latest version is a technological tour de force, available with both ICE powertrains and as a full EV under the slightly different badging of i5. Again, though, used BMW Fives are plentiful and often well cared-for, given owners tend to buy them and then love them so much, once they realise what a good car the 5 Series is.
Another long-serving model dating back to the 1970s, the BMW 3 Series has totally dominated its class for such an enduring period that it’s hard to remember a time before it existed. Another all-round brilliant car that’s rarely ever bad, no matter how you specify it, used examples command big money but they’re in big demand, as a high placing in Carzone’s 2026 searches proves the light of love for the 3 Series is not dimming at all as the years roll by.
It might ‘only’ be in fifth on this list, but this is the love affair that Ireland’s motorists want to partake of the most of all. Used searches might be slightly less effusive for the Hyundai Tucson than the vehicles above, but guess what the best-selling new car in Ireland was in 2021? And 2022? And all of 2023, 2024 and 2025, just for good measure. Yes, the big-grilled Tucson has been Ireland’s favourite box-fresh motor for five years straight, and there’s no reason to think our desire for this excellent Korean SUV will diminish in the slightest during 2026.
Volkswagen is going to appear three times on this list in total, proving how much affection we in this country hold for the German brand, but one of the company’s owned marques is almost as wanted. Skoda’s Octavia is a great example of the breed, too, available as a hatchback (one of our preferred shapes) or a simply vast Combi, so that it can fit effortlessly into your lifestyle and form a lasting relationship for years to come.
The German outfit completes its hat-trick of the heart on this list, with the top-searched EV in 2026 being the Volkswagen ID.3. It’s essentially the electric equivalent of a Golf, so its inclusion here makes plenty of sense – and it’s a smooth operator, with plenty of range from its line-up and distinctive styling which has informed every VW ID product ever since.
It might be kind of hard to say you love Elon Musk, but the controversial kingpin’s cars are still in high demand. The second-most searched-for car on our site was the Model 3 saloon, and the reasons for its deep appeal are obvious. It has loads of driving range, it can make the most of Tesla’s proprietary Supercharger rapid-charging network, it goes really well in all formats and many love the gag-laden yet minimalist-of-design interior of the Model 3. It’s also a technophile’s dream, as absolutely everything on the car is run through the central touchscreen.
Combining the triple-hit attractiveness of being an SUV, being a Skoda and being electric, the Enyaq is a superb companion for anybody’s needs. It drives beautifully and has decent range across the board, and there are a multitude of different powertrain and performance options to consider – including a high-speed RS derivative – as well as two body styles, the chunky and handsome regular SUV, or the sleek and svelte Coupe.
Before Hyundai’s Tucson began its five-year domination of our new-car charts, 2020’s biggest-selling motor of all was the Toyota Corolla. Well, we’ve always adored a Toyota in Ireland and the company’s products continue to win our affection into the mid-2020s. Sitting fourth on the overall sales list for 2025 was the superb little Yaris Cross, and it was just ahead of another SUV from the Japanese outfit – the bigger and longer-serving RAV4.