Best-selling cars in Europe in 2020, country by country

In a year when sales across the European Union (which still included the United Kingdom) dropped by roughly 25%, totalling just under 10 million vehicles, which models led the sales charts in Europe, country by country?

From premium contenders to an unlikely low-cost front-runner-and even markets where the entire top three is made up of electric cars-one theme stands out when you look at the figures: nationalism.

What do we mean by that? It is straightforward. In countries with home-grown manufacturers, very few fail to “hand” the number-one spot in their market to a local car maker.

Portugal

Let’s start at home: Portugal. In 2020, a total of 145 417 cars were sold here, a fall of 35% compared with 2019 (223 799 units sold).

As for the podium, a German premium model squeezed in between two French cars:

• Renault Clio (7989)
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class (5978)
• Peugeot 2008 (4781)

Germany

In Europe’s largest market, with 2 917 678 units sold (-19,1% versus 2019), the top three is not only dominated by German brands-it is dominated by a single brand: Volkswagen.

• Volkswagen Golf (136 324)
• Volkswagen Passat (60 904)
• Volkswagen Tiguan (60 380)

Austria

A total of 248 740 new cars were registered in 2020 (-24,5%). As expected, the lead went to a brand from a neighbouring country-just not the one many would assume (Germany), but rather the Czech Republic.

• Skoda Octavia (7967)
• Volkswagen Golf (6971)
• Skoda Fabia (5356)

Belgium

With a decline of 21,5%, the Belgian car market recorded 431 491 new registrations in 2020. The podium here is among the most eclectic, featuring models from three different countries (and two continents).

• Volkswagen Golf (9655)
• Renault Clio (9315)
• Hyundai Tucson (8203)

Croatia

With only 36 005 new cars registered in 2020, Croatia is one of the smallest markets, shrinking by 42,8% last year. The top three includes models from three different countries.

• Skoda Octavia (2403)
• Volkswagen Polo (1272)
• Renault Clio (1246)

Denmark

Denmark registered 198 130 new cars in total, down 12,2% on 2019. This is the only podium where the Citroën C3 and the Ford Kuga appear.

• Peugeot 208 (6553)
• Citroën C3 (6141)
• Ford Kuga (5134)

Spain

In 2020, Spain sold 851 211 new cars (-32,3%). The podium brings a few surprises: SEAT managed to place only one model and did not hold on to first place.

• Dacia Sandero (24 035)
• SEAT Leon (23 582)
• Nissan Qashqai (19 818)

Finland

Finland is in Europe, but having two Toyotas on the podium underlines the preference for Japanese models in a market that sold 96 415 units (-15,6%).

• Toyota Corolla (5394)
• Skoda Octavia (3896)
• Toyota Yaris (4323)

France

Big market, big numbers. Unsurprisingly, it is a French podium on French soil, in a market that fell 25,5% versus 2019 (1 650 118 new cars were registered in 2020).

• Peugeot 208 (92 796)
• Renault Clio (84 031)
• Peugeot 2008 (66 698)

Greece

With 80 977 units sold in 2020, the Greek market contracted by 29% compared with 2019. Japanese brands stand out on the podium, taking two of the three spots.

• Toyota Yaris (4560)
• Peugeot 208 (2735)
• Nissan Qashqai (2734)

Ireland

Another Toyota leads the way (this time with the Corolla) in a market that recorded 88 324 units sold in 2020 (-24,6%).

• Toyota Corolla (3755)
• Hyundai Tucson (3227)
• Volkswagen Tiguan (2977)

Italy

Was there ever any doubt it would be an Italian podium? The Panda dominates outright, while the “eternal” Lancia Ypsilon takes second place in a market where 1 381 496 new cars were sold in 2020 (-27,9%).

• Fiat Panda (110 465)
• Lancia Ypsilon (43 033)
• Fiat 500X (31 831)

Norway

Generous incentives for buying electric cars help explain an all-electric podium in a market that registered 141 412 new cars (-19,5%).

• Audi e-tron (9227)
• Tesla Model 3 (7770)
• Volkswagen ID.3 (7754)

Netherlands

As well as electric cars playing a particularly important role in this market, the Kia Niro pulls off a surprising first place. In total, 358 330 new cars were sold in the Netherlands in 2020 (-19,5%).

• Kia Niro (11 880)
• Volkswagen ID.3 (10 954)
• Hyundai Kauai (10 823)

Poland

Despite the Skoda Octavia taking first place, Japan’s Toyota occupies the remaining podium positions in a market that fell 22,9% compared with 2019 (with 428 347 units sold in 2020).

• Skoda Octavia (18 668)
• Toyota Corolla (17 508)
• Toyota Yaris (15 378)

United Kingdom

Britons have long been big Ford fans, and in a year when 1 631 064 new cars were sold (-29,4%), they “handed” the Fiesta its only first-place finish.

• Ford Fiesta (49 174)
• Vauxhall/Opel Corsa (46 439)
• Volkswagen Golf (43 109)

Czech Republic

A Skoda hat-trick on home turf, in a market that fell 18,8% versus 2019 (a total of 202 971 new cars were sold in 2020).

• Skoda Octavia (19 091)
• Skoda Fabia (15 986)
• Skoda Scala (9736)

Sweden

In Sweden, be Swedish. Another 100% nationalist podium in a country that recorded 292 024 units sold in 2020 (-18%).

• Volvo S60/V60 (18 566)
• Volvo XC60 (12 291)
• Volvo XC40 (10 293)

Switzerland

Yet another first place for Skoda in a market that fell 24% in 2020 (with 236 828 units sold in 2020).

• Skoda Octavia (5892)
• Tesla Model 3 (5051)
• Volkswagen Tiguan (4965)