Europe 2004: VW Golf, Peugeot 206 and 307 on podium

VW Golf

* See the Top 50 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

As predicted, the arrival of the 5th generation enables the VW Golf to take back the European best-selling car title from the Peugeot 206 in 2004. Golf sales are up 18% to 585,356 units, whereas 206 sales are down 2% to 539,037. For the first time in the history of automobile Peugeot manages to place 2 models on the European podium with the 307 up two spots and 9% to #3 and 485,271 sales!

Peugeot 307

The Renault Megane’s controversial new looks are a huge success: the model is up 4 spots and 31% to #4 with 465,778 units, to this date the nameplate’s strongest year ever. It is followed by the Renault Clio at 433,375 sales and the Ford Focus at 432,426. The Opel Astra, helped by the third generation launched this year, starts to climb back the ranking at #7 and 398,767 units (+14%).

Renault Megane

Further down, notice the Renault Scenic up 27% to #11, the Skoda Fabia up 71% to #16, the Toyota Yaris up 19% to #17, the Opel Meriva up 81% to #21, the VW Touran up 109% to #22, the Ford Focus C-Max landing directly at #30, the Skoda Octavia up 59% to #33 and the Hyundai Getz up 62% to #40, the highest ever European year-end ranking for a Korean model.

Previous year: Europe 2003: Peugeot 206 most popular, VW Golf down to #2

Next year: Europe 2005: VW Golf keeps Opel Astra at bay – or does it?

Full Year Top 50 Ranking Table and every model’s sales below.