UK 2007: Ford Focus challenged by Vauxhall Astra and Ford Fiesta

Vauxhall Astra

* See the Top 100 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Florian *

For the first time since 2003, new car sales in England are up, at +3% this year with 2,404,007 registrations. For the first time since it became the best selling car in the country in 1999, the Ford Focus sees its reign truly challenged this year. It still manages to finish the year #1 for the 9th time in a row at 118,267 sales (4.9%), but was on top in the monthly rankings ‘only’ 8 times out of 12.

Ford Focus

The model responsible for this is the Vauxhall Astra, now well and truly installed in the hearts and minds of the English consumers. It manages to take the lead in June, the first time the Astra nameplate was #1 since November 98, and did it again in August and October. All in all the Astra sells 113,894 units for a 4.7% market share, just short of the nameplate’s best volume reached in 1989 (115,294).

The Ford Fiesta is the 3rd model to take the lead at some stage this year, and like in 2006 it did so in September, a high volume month that favours superminis. It is #3 at year-end with 102,872 sales (4.3%). The Vauxhall Corsa is up 27% to 94,120 units thanks to the new gen but stays 4th. The Top 4 models have created a gap with the rest of the ranking, staying in close circuit for 10 out of 12 months this year.

BMW 3 Series

Below, the title of best selling foreign model goes to the VW Golf for the third time in a row at #5 with 68,843 sales (+11%). The Peugeot 207 comes at a close 2nd with 67,185 units, peaking at #4 in October. The BMW 3 Series continues its extraordinary progression, up 17% to 58,544 sales and still at its best-ever #7, peaking at #4 in August. Both the Audi A4 (January) and Citroen C4 (August) break into the monthly Top 10 for the first time this year.

Jaguar S-Type

Further down the ranking, notice the Toyota Auris landing directly at #27 with 21,799 sales, the Honda CR-V up 14 spots to #28, the Citroen C4 Picasso arriving at #29 with 21,331 units, the Land Rover Freelander up 43% and 14 ranks to #35 with 18,956 sales and the Jaguar S-Type breaking into the year-end Top 100 at #99 with 4,453 units.

Full Year 2007 Top 100 Ranking Table below.