Hungary 2008: Suzuki Swift and SX4 on top, Splash arrives

Suzuki SX4

* See the Top 37 All-brands and Top 10 models by clicking on the title! *

At 158.628 registrations in 2008, the Hungarian car market is starting to feel the effects of the economic crisis, down 10.4% on 2007. Suzuki enjoys its 12th consecutive year as the country’s most popular brand despite dropping faster than the market at -17%. This would turn out to unexpectedly be Suzuki’s last dominant year in a long time… In fact in 2008 the entire Top 10 best-selling carmakers are unchanged on 2007 with Opel (-12%), Ford (-6%), Volkswagen (-10%) and Skoda (-20%) rounding out the Top 5 ahead of Toyota (-18%), Chevrolet (-10%), Peugeot (-8%), Renault (-10%) and Fiat (+0.1%). Subaru (+49%), Mazda (+38%), Hyundai (+36%), Lancia (+26%) and Audi (+19%) impress further down.

Suzuki Splash

For the fourth consecutive year, the Suzuki Swift is the best-selling car in the country but this year its sales fall by a worrying 45% to 5.5% share. Reversely, the Suzuki SX4 is up 7% to  5.4%… The Opel Astra Classic (-10%) continues its prolonged life, now 10 years on since its original launch, and gains one spot on 2007 to reappear on the podium at 3.7% share. It is followed by the Ford Focus (-6%), the new generation Opel Astra (-8%) and the new Suzuki of the year: the Splash, making a… splash already and landing directly in 6th place for its very first year on sale, replacing the Ignis in the Top 10.

Previous year: Hungary 2007: Suzuki places 3 models on podium

Full Year 2008 Top 37 All-brands and Top 10 models below.