Europe's 10 Best Selling Cars

As the dust settles on 2007 it's time to look back at who were the winners and losers of what turned out to be a surprisingly healthy year for car sales.

According to figures from industry data firm JATO Dynamics, the overall European market grew by just under 1% which, while it doesn't sound like much, is "a significant achievement" according to a JATO spokesman.

So much of the industry waffle, what about the figures? Well, VW remains at the top of the brand leaderboard, having sold just over 1.6 million cars on the European market. GM comes in second with 1.3 million, Ford just 36,000 sales behind in third. Of the top 10 manufacturers only Renault and Peugeot recorded overall falls in sales, although they maintained their respective rankings of fourth and fifth. And the cars? Well, GM, Volkswagen and Peugeot are going to be happy but don't expect the same cheer at Renault. The full results are as follows -

1st: Peugeot 207 (437,505, +105.5%)
2nd: Volkswagen Golf (435,055, +4.5%)
3rd: Ford Focus (406,557, -7.5%)
4th: Opel/Vauxhall Corsa (402,173, +41.7%)
5th: Opel/Vauxhall Astra (402,044, -7.9%)
6th: Renault Clio (382,041, -11.5%)
7th: Fiat Punto (377,989, -5.9%)
8th: Ford Fiesta (300,566, +0.6%)
9th: Volkswagen Passat (300,566, -9.4%)
10th: BMW 3 Series (295,312, +2%)
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r15mohd - 1/24/2008 12:09:15 PM

+1 Boost

i'm surprised the a3/a4 or even the 1-series isn't on the list.

atomicbri - 1/24/2008 12:21:41 PM

+5 Boost

Why? Those cars are expensive for most normal people.

Rupert - 1/24/2008 3:23:24 PM

+3 Boost

I've driven one..hated it.
I could steer by blowing on the steering wheel, it was as light as Nicole Ritchie.

DaHarder - 1/24/2008 1:48:23 PM

+3 Boost

It's refreshing to see such a collection of practical/sensible/efficient vehicles on a best selling list...

I hope that the U.S. will soon follow suit.

Anthony - 1/24/2008 2:23:27 PM

+4 Boost

...and you are much dumber for making such a statement.

Htay7500 - 1/24/2008 2:43:41 PM

+1 Boost

so I guess if theyre trash, where are they setting their benchmark for family sedans or cross overs?

Star - 1/24/2008 5:07:52 PM

-6 Boost

Htay 7500 What are you talking about? The Passat is a superior machine to what Honda sells under the name Acura in America and you consider the American built Accord which is a piece of junk, benchmark? You seem completely clueless all the time when it comes to cars. Why are you here again?

Htay7500 - 1/24/2008 5:24:24 PM

+5 Boost

why because its german? the VW is a premium over their rivals, in terms of price and cost. plus a fully loaded passat with a V6 goes up to near entry level luxury, like the 3 series territory, while the camry, accord and malibu can be had fully loaded for A LOT less. the passat doesn't sell as much as the camry and accord.

Htay7500 - 1/24/2008 5:26:27 PM

+2 Boost

and they don't get good gas mpg as much as the 2.

maff23uk - 1/24/2008 6:19:58 PM

-3 Boost

Actually cptamazing isn't dumber for making that statement. As a Brit I can tell you that until only very recently Europeans have been put off japanese cars because of the woeful quality of interior design and materials compared to European and American (owned) brands.

toolatetorace - 1/24/2008 11:35:26 PM

-1 Boost

No, I couldn't have said it better myself

Htay7500 - 1/24/2008 4:32:28 PM

+2 Boost

I guess your not aware that if it weren't for that "trash" that GM competes with, then GM wouldn't be making all these decent cars that they're putting out, going back to the image that they make crap cars. like the accord and camry, which are the bench marks of the family sedan segment, they put out the aura and malibu. but I guess your right, GM shouldn't being doing this like I said before. I guess they don't need to be making these cars anyways.

theoptimisticpessimist - 1/24/2008 2:56:36 PM

+4 Boost

Hey look, no trucks!

Rupert - 1/24/2008 3:24:47 PM

+2 Boost

The Opel Astra is the Saturn Astra in the US - you're actually getting a decent car in the US!

Anthony - 1/24/2008 3:30:04 PM

+3 Boost

Well, we also get the Golf, Passat and 3-Series here as well, although not with all the engine choices that you Euros get the privilege of having.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/24/2008 5:31:42 PM

+1 Boost

But we're getting those soon!

VW Jetta TDI and BMW 335d are coming!

Rupert - 1/24/2008 6:00:10 PM

+1 Boost

Of course you get those cars, just the Astra is a much more affordable vehicle, and is a good step by GM.
Some of the engine choices you don't want though - the 1.4 Golf is underpowered, as are all the base petrols of these cars. I despise the 318i and Passat 1.6.

Rupert - 1/24/2008 6:03:03 PM

+2 Boost

One very noteable thing compared with the American list is the size of theese cars.
Never mind the trucks that we don't even get offered here, best selling cars Stateside are Camry and Accord right? Both of those are too big to be on the best seller list - the Passat being here actually surprises me in that it is the most expensive in its class and is a pretty large car.
The 207, Clio, Fiesta, Punto and Corsa are all cars about the size of a Toyota Yaris - they're not big.

chewy - 1/25/2008 1:58:07 AM

+2 Boost

Yep, in the US it is pickup, pickup, Camry (which is a bit bigger than the Passat), pickup, Accord, Corolla, Civic. Or something similar.

It is interesting that about the same amount of cars are sold in Europe and US, but very different types.

EL34 - 1/24/2008 7:23:11 PM

+1 Boost

I thought Toyota was gonna dominate the Euro market? :-(

Porschinator - 1/24/2008 8:42:52 PM

+1 Boost

At ~$8 a gallon and space at a premium small hatch backs are the way to go. More versatile than a sedan and most Europeans only have one car to do everything with.

toolatetorace - 1/24/2008 11:39:58 PM

+2 Boost

Ask a Brit what pay in property taxes. Then you will understand why their fuel prices are so high

maff23uk - 1/25/2008 6:38:30 AM

+1 Boost

Every tax is high in Britain.....Council (property) tax, fuel taxes, road taxes, 17.5% added to EVERY product in value added tax (VAT). You guys don't know how easy you have it!

Porschinator made a lot of sense until he said "most Europeans only have one car to do everything with". You may be a rich American but I don't think the average American has an aircraft hanger full of different vehicles to select from every day either!

rok_altima - 1/25/2008 3:31:38 PM

+2 Boost

Property tax in Britain is dirt cheap, My parents pay more than double the tax on their house in Connecticut than the same house in England has (I currently live in the UK so I can compare). On an added note, all my family that lives on continental Europe all have two cars for their household, The difference is that you don't need them to get everywhere like in the U.S.