The compact segment in Europe as a whole was stable from 2012 to 2013, and it remained the continent’s largest segment. The traditional leader Volkswagen Golf managed to sell more than twice as many cars as the segment’s number two, the Ford Focus. A feat the brand pulls off as well with the Passat in the midsize segment.
The Opel/Vauxhall Astra and the three French entrants Renault Megane, Peugeot 308 and Citroën C4 all showed double digit losses. The Megane has been facelifted at the end of 2013 and may stabilize this year, while the 308 has been renewed and is set to move back up the charts in 2014. It has already shown some impressive sales in the last quarter, taking back its place from the Hyundai i30. Peugeot has aimed the new 308 directly at the Golf in the styling department, so it may appeal to a larger audience.
The Skoda Octavia has slowly but steadily crept up the sales charts, silently moving into fourth position of the segment and 12th overall, and the Czech model is set to move up onto the podium in 2014, as it already has done in December, thanks to the new generation.
It’s cousin Seat Leon is also looking upwards, especially with a station wagon version available for the first time in the model’s three generations.
The Toyota Auris shows the biggest increase in the top 10, as it also has a station wagon for the first time, and it is the only station wagon on the market with an optional hybrid powertrain.
Look for the Mazda3 to move up in 2014 as well, as it has been renewed at the end of 2013, with a more inspiring design and anti-downsizing engines. It is the only compact still available with a non-turbo 2.0 liter engine, which has a fuel economy rating that is very close to that of the award-winning 1.0 liter 3-cylinder turbo engine in the Ford Focus. This means that in the real world, it will be more efficient. Way to go, Mazda!
The all-electric Nissan Leaf managed over 11.000 sales, which places it ahead of no less than 8 traditionally powered and 3 hybrid competitors, not at all a bad result. Just over 4.600 of those have been sold in Norway, where the Leaf amazingly ranked third overall in 2013, thanks to government incentives on electric cars.
Also read: European sales 2013 premium compact segment: Audi A3 passes BMW 1-series
| 2013 | 2012 | Change | ||
| 1. | VW Golf | 462.527 | 430.088 | 8% |
| 2. | Ford Focus | 225.102 | 241.329 | -7% |
| 3. | Opel/Vauxhall Astra | 198.449 | 237.297 | -16% |
| 4. | Skoda Octavia | 165.027 | 175.428 | -6% |
| 5. | Renault Megane | 149.435 | 199.427 | -25% |
| 6. | Toyota Auris | 114.328 | 65.810 | 74% |
| 7. | Peugeot 308 | 99.697 | 119.143 | -16% |
| 8. | Hyundai i30 | 97.865 | 96.706 | 1% |
| 9. | Kia Cee’d | 86.743 | 76.376 | 14% |
| 10. | Seat Leon | 85.954 | 58.733 | 46% |
| 11. | Citroën C4 | 79.476 | 95.651 | -17% |
| 12. | Honda Civic | 43.009 | 40.999 | 5% |
| 13. | Skoda Rapid | 38.447 | 2.929 | 1213% |
| 14. | VW Beetle | 36.432 | 26.704 | 36% |
| 15. | Chevrolet Cruze | 34.361 | 35.764 | -4% |
| 16. | Citroën DS4 | 25.883 | 30.214 | -14% |
| 17. | Mazda3 | 24.796 | 25.027 | -1% |
| 18. | Toyota Prius | 16.098 | 23.036 | -30% |
| 19. | VW Jetta | 14.693 | 19.169 | -23% |
| 20. | Seat Toledo | 13.597 | 1.240 | 997% |
| 21. | Nissan Leaf | 11.097 | 5.211 | 113% |
| 22. | Fiat Bravo | 9.433 | 16.550 | -43% |
| 23. | Citroën C-Elysee | 7.091 | 1.609 | 341% |
| 24. | Renault Fluence | 6.681 | 10.526 | -37% |
| 25. | Toyota Corolla | 4.714 | 5.475 | -14% |
| 26. | Peugeot 301 | 3.943 | 1.100 | 258% |
| 27. | Kia Soul | 3.202 | 5.532 | -42% |
| 28. | Opel/Vauxhall Ampera | 3.198 | 5.270 | -39% |
| 29. | Mitsubishi Lancer | 2.954 | 5.244 | -44% |
| 30. | Subaru Impreza | 1.996 | 2.676 | -25% |
| 31. | Honda Insight | 1.276 | 3.282 | -61% |
| 32. | Chevrolet Volt (est.) | 1.000 | 650 | 54% |
| Segment total | 2.068.504 | 2.064.195 | 0% | |
- Opel/Vauxhall Astra sales include 18.862 GTC coupe variants, down from 27.845 in 2012.
- Peugeot 308 sales include 7.020 CC convertible variants, down from 10.325 in 2012.
- Renault Megane sales include 13.687 coupe variants, down from 22.181 in 2012 and 3.361 CC convertible variants, down from 6.608 in 2012.
- Volkswagen Golf sales include 14.184 cabrio (convertible) variants, down from 25.095 in 2012.
- Volkswagen Beetle sales include 14.039 cabrio (convertible) variants, up from 84 in 2012.
Click on any model to see its annual sales from 2000-2013 and monthly sales in 2012 and 2013.