The small MPV segment in Europe continues to lose volume, with another 10% decline in the first quarter of 2017, to just 78.000 sales. Every single nameplate lost volume compared to Q1 of 2016, except for the single newcomer to the segement. The traditional segment leader Fiat 500L loses share but still accounts for more than 1 in 4 cars sold in this segment. 72,5% of its volume comes from its home market Italy, the highest of the 500 family. Despite almost being replaced by the more crossover-like Crossland X, the Opel/Vauxhall Meriva manages to finish Q1 as the best performer of the segment, with sales virtually stable (down just 28 units). The Ford B-Max with its sliding rear doors is also relatively stable with a loss of “just” 8% and therefore gains share of the segment.
Note: clicking on the model name opens the sales data page for that model; clicking year in the legend turns the display for that year on/off
The Nissan Note continues to suffer, but the biggest loser of the segment this quarter is the Citroën C3 Picasso, which is also due for a replacement by a crossover-like model, based on a shared platform with the Opel/Vauxhall Crossland X. The South-Korean models have been surprisingly stable and continue to do so, with single digit declines for both the Hyundai ix20 and the Kia Venga. And these models too will be soon replaced by crossover models. Newcomer Opel Ampera-e EV has had its first registrations of demo models before officially starting customer deliveries in June after a bit of delay due to the PSA takeover of Opel/Vauxhall.
In 2017, the Note will be withdrawn from the European market, as the facelifted version won’t be sold in this continent, nor will the hybrid e-Power version which has been very well-received in Japan. As mentioned above, the Meriva, C3 Picasso, ix20 and Venga will all be replaced by crossover-like models later this year, leaving just a handful of players in this dying segment.
| Small MPV segment | 2017-Q1 | 2016-Q1 | Change | |
| 1 | Fiat 500L | 19.887 | 22.805 | -13% |
| 2 | Opel/Vauxhall Meriva | 13.895 | 13.923 | 0% |
| 3 | Ford B-Max | 10.788 | 11.769 | -8% |
| 4 | Nissan Note | 10.238 | 11.574 | -12% |
| 5 | Citroën C3 Picasso | 8.610 | 11.364 | -24% |
| 6 | Hyundai ix20 | 8.186 | 8.604 | -5% |
| 7 | Kia Venga | 6.932 | 7.077 | -2% |
| 8 | Opel Ampera-e | 68 | 0 | New |
| 9 | Toyota Verso-S | 31 | 406 | -92% |
| 10 | Lancia Musa | 1 | 3 | -67% |
| Segment total | 78.636 | 87.601 | -10% |
Click on any model to see its annual sales from 1997-2016 and monthly sales from 2012 to 2016, or use the dropdown menu in the top right of this site.
Car sales statistics are from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Sources: Manufacturers, ANDC, JATO Dynamics.