Ireland April 2012: VW Golf in the lead, Hyundai i40 #7

Hyundai i40

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

Typically peaking at the start of the year, the Irish new car market typically slows down as the months go by and 2012 is no different, with April down 49% on March but more worryingly also down 22% year-on-year at 6,691 registrations. The year-to-date total stands at 52,260 units, down 7% on 2011. For the first time since last August, the VW Golf takes the lead of the models ranking thanks to 334 sales and a solid 5% share. It however stays #3 year-to-date behind the Ford Focus, down to #12 this month, and the Nissan Qashqai, #1 in March but now #15.

After leading the market in February and falling down to #12 last month, the Toyota Avensis is back up to #2 in April at 258 units and 3.9% and is followed by the Toyota Auris, up 10 spots on March and at its best in over a year and a half. Below the VW Passat, Renault Fluence and Nissan Micra, steady at strong levels, the Hyundai i40 ranks #7, up a huge 22 ranks on last month and simply its 2nd highest position anywhere in the world behind the 5th spot it reached in Norway last August.

Other great performers this month include the Hyundai ix35 up 12 spots to break into the Irish Top 10 for the very first time at #10 with 168 sales and 2.5%, the Audi A1 up a massive 54 ranks to #18 at 110 units and 1.6%, the Honda Civic up 16 spots to #23 and the Mitsubishi Pajero making a remarkable incursion in the Top 50 after selling no unit in March.

Previous month: Ireland March 2012: Nissan Qashqai leads at 8.8% market share!

One year ago: Ireland April 2011: VW Passat best-seller, Golf #1 year-to-date

Full April 2012 Top 50 Ranking Table below.