Iceland Full Year 2016: Yaris resumes domination, Sportage shines

The Toyota Yaris is the best-selling car in Iceland in 2016. 

* See the Top 40 All-brands and Top 5 models by clicking on the title *

Consult over 15 years of Iceland Historica Data here

The Icelandic new car market is the most dynamic in Europe with a 32% surge in 2016 to 18.442 registrations, almost bringing sales back to their pre-GFC level (19,316 in 2007), keeping in mind Iceland crashed to just 2.750 units in 2009. It is worth noting though that out of this figure, 8.846 – or 48% of total sales – are sales to rental companies. Private sales account for less than half the annual total in Iceland. In 2016 Toyota cements its domination over the Icelandic market, following the overall trend with a 30% increase to 3.069 sales and 16.6% share. Kia manages to overtake Volkswagen thanks to a 29% gain to a record 9.3% share. Kia even managed to place the Sportage at #1 in Iceland in August. Volkswagen (+18%) is knocked back to #4 ahead of Hyundai (+73%), Skoda (+10%) and Nissan (+28%). Renault (+38%), Mazda (+60%), Peugeot (+62%), Jaguar-Land Rover (+67%), Dacia (+73%), BMW (+118%), Honda (+127%), Jeep (+194%), Fiat (+219%) and Ssangyong (+909%) all take off.

The Kia Sportage ranked #1 in August. 

Over in the models ranking, the Toyota Yaris returns to a top spot it last held in 2012, with the Japanese supermini having now ranked #1 in Iceland for 6 of the past 12 years: in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012 and 2016. The Yaris is followed this year by the VW Golf and Skoda Octavia, leader in 2015. BSCB estimates the Toyota RAV4 to rank in 4th place ahead of the Kia Sportage, with the Hyundai Tucson also among the 10 best-sellers in Iceland for 2016.

Previous year: Iceland Full Year 2015: Toyota and Skoda Octavia best-sellers

Full Year 2016 Top 40 All-brands and Top 5 models below.