Light Cars of the last Twenty Plus Years in Europe 1997 to 2017
Introduction
A lot is written about cars, but little about recent past. many of models names we are familiar with carry on year after year, but later models have little in common with earlier version, such as Renault Twingo that was originally a front wheel drive car and is now a rear engined car. Some models and manufacturers disappear and some new one are introduced. Also some fashions in car design that are now familiar, only appeared in recent past such as small or mini SUV or crossover, and small MPV that only became available at start of this study period and appears to be falling out of fashion after twenty years. City car and supermini where popular in past and I am sure will continue in to future as fashion changes around time.
The front wheel drive hatchback was almost universal format for light car in 1997 Europe. With very few exceptions. One of these exceptions was original Renault Scenic first of small MPV’s, also the Suzuki Vitara a four wheel drive all wear vehicle. four cylinder water-cooled engine with an overhead camshaft, single or twin, was almost universal, with exception of old overhead valve engine in original ford Ka, and three cylinder engine in Daihatsu Charade. Computer control of fuel injection and ignition was also by then universal. A unitary chassis/body unit with McPherson strut front suspension, with various form of rear suspension and power steering was also the norm. ABS was only appearing on expensive models and all or electronic driving safety aids where a thing of future.
The information that follows is presented in yearly order, listing City cars, Supermini’s, small MPV’s and Mini SUV’s, that have been introduced, replaced with a new model of same name or discontinued in that year. Also sales figures for Europe for that year of each class of car. The year 1997 is of a slightly different format as is lists details of cars on sale in 1997 that had been available in previous years as well as any changes in that year. The sales figures used have been developed from data from carsalesbase.com and car model information and pictures are derived from en.wikipedia.org .
All thought a model has been discontinued, remaining stocks can be available for sale for a couple of years after and sold in small numbers. If I have omitted or missed your favourite cars, please forgive me as I am fallible. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 1997 ______Date by name indicate year introduced.
City Cars.. Sales Total for Year .553 Million.
Fiat Panda. First Generation 1980.
Renault Twingo. First Generation 1992.
Ford Ka. First Generation 1996.
Suzuki Alto. Fourth generation. 1994.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year. 3,06 Million.
VW Polo, Mk 3.1994.
Ford Fiesta, Mk4. 1995.
Renault Clio 1. 1990.
Opel/Vauxhall Corsa B. 1993.
Citroen Saxo. 1996.
Seat Ibiza. Second Generation. 1993.
Fiat Punto. First Generation. 1993.
Nissan Micra. Second Generation. 1992.
Suzuki Swift (Cultis). 1988.
Daihatsu Charade. Forth Generation. 1993.
Lancia Y. 1995.
New/ Daewoo Lanos.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .177 Million.
Renault Scenic.1. 1996.
New Renault Kangoo 1.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .035 Million.
Suzuki Vitara. First Generation.1988. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 1998 ______
City Cars. Sales Total for Year .64 Million.
New. Smart ForTwo. First Generation.
New. Fiat Seicento.
Suzuki Alto. Forth generation, replaced by Fifth generation.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 3,18 Million.
New. Peugeot 206.
Renault Clio 1 replaced by Clio 2.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year. .25 Million. New. Fiat Multipla.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year. 42,590
New. Suzuki Jimny.
Suzuki Vitara replaced by a larger model. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year Year 1999 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year .79 Million.
New. Daewoo Matiz. First Generation.
New. Suzuki Wagon R+.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year. 3,46 Million.
New. Toyota Yaris. First Generation.
New. Skoda Fabia Mk1.
New. Rover 25/ MG ZR. First Generation.
New. Daihatsu Sirion. First Generation.
Fiat Punto first Generation replaced by Second Generation. Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .325 Million.
New. Mitsubishi SpaceStar.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year. Sales Total for Year .042 Million.
New. Honda HR-V. First Generation.
New. Daihatsu Terios. First Generation. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2000 ______
City Cars.. Sales Total for Year .85 Million.
New. Suzuki Ignis.
New. Opel/Vauxhall Aqila A.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 3,77 Million. New. Kia Rio. First Generation.
New. Mitsubishi Colt/Mirage.
New Suzuki Ignis. First Generation.
Opel/Vauxhall Corsa B replaced By Corsa C.
Daihatsu Charade discontinued.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .388 Million. New. Daihatsu YRV.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .047 Million.
No new models. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2001 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year .837 Million. No new models.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 3,88 Million.
New. Citroen C3. First Generation.
New.Honda Jazz. First Generation.
New. BMW Mini One. First Generation.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .39 Million. No new models.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .036 Million.
No new models. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2002 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year .78 Million. No new models.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 3,92 Million.
New. Hyundai Getz.
New. Mazda 2. Second Generation.
VW Polo, Mk 3. replaced by Mk4.
Ford Fiesta Mk4. replaced by Mk5.
Seat Ibiza. Second Generation. replaced by Third Generation.
Nissan Micra. Second Generation replaced by Third generation.
New. Chevrolet Aveo.
Suzuki Swift (Cultis) discontinued. Daewoo Lanos discontinued.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .33 Million.
No new models.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .03 Million. No new models. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2003 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year .69 Million.
New. Smart ForFour. First Generation.
Fiat Panda First Generation replaced by Second Generation.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 4,02 Million.
New. Citroen C2.
Lancia Y replaced By Lancia Ypsilon.
Citroen Saxo discontinued.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .426 Million.
New. Fiat Idea.
Opel/Vauxhall Meriva A.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .028 Million.
No new models. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2004 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year .83 Million.
New. Kia Picanto. First Generation.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 4,25 Million.
New. Suzuki Swift. International Second Generation.
New .Dacia Logan 1.
Mitsubishi Colt replaced by a new model.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .385 Million.
New. Renault Modus.
New. Lancia Muso.
First Generation Renault Scenic discontinued.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .034 Million.
No new models. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2005 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year .84 Million.
New. Toyota Aygo. First Generation.
New. Peugeot 107.
New Citroen C1.
Deawoo Matiz replaced By Chevrolet Matiz.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 3,89 Million.
Renault Clio 2. replaced by Clio 3.
New. Fiat Grand Punto.
Kia Rio First Generation replaced By Second Generation.
Rover 25 discontinued.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .47 Million.
No new models.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .03 Million.
New. Fiat Sedici. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2006 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year .94 Million.
New. Daihatsu Trevis.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 3,93 Million.
Opel/Vauxhall Corsa C replaced By Corsa D.
BMW Mini first generation replaced by second generation.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .48 Million.
New. Nissan Note.
New. Skoda Roomster.
Daihatsu YRV replaced by Materia.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .067 Million.
New. Suzuki SX4. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2007 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year 1,0 Million.
New. .Fiat 500.
New. Hyundai i10. First Generation.
New. Suzuki Splash.
Smart ForTwo first generation replaced by second generation.
Renault Twingo 1 replaced by Twingo 2.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 3,98 Million.
Skoda Fabia Mk1 replaced by Fabia Mk2.
Smart ForFour discontinued.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .41 Million. No new models. Mitsubishi SpaceStar discontinued.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .11 Million.
No new models. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2008 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year 1,24 Million.
New. Suzuki Alto. ( Maruti A-Star.)
Ford Ka First Generation replaced by Ka Second Generation.
Suzuki Wagon R discontinued.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 3,61 Million.
New. Dacia Sandero 1.
New.Hyundai i20. First Generation.
New. Alfa Romero MiTo.
Ford Fiesta 5 replaced by Fiesta 6.
Seat Ibiza Mk3 replaced by Ibiza M4.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .37 Million.
New. Citroen C3 Picasso.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .097 Million. No new models. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2009 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year 1,64 Million.
New Toyota iQ.
Chevrolet Matiz replaced by Chevrolet Spark.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 3,93 Million.
New. Citroen DS3.
VW Polo 4 replaced by Polo 5.
Suzuki Ignis discontinued.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .39 Million.
New. Kia Venga.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .09 Million.
New. Skoda Yeti.
New. Kia Soul. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2010 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year 1,36 Million.
Fiat Seicento discontinued. No new models.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 3,653 Million.
New. Audi A1.
Nissan Micra Third Generation replaced by Fourth Generation.
Citroen C2 discontinued. Hyundai Getz discontinued.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .40 Million.
New. Hyundai ix20.
Fiat Multipla discontinued.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .18 Million.
New. Dasia Duster.
New.Nissan Juke.
New. Mini Countryman. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2011 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year 1,17 Million.
New. VW Up.
New. Skoda Citigo.
New. Seat Mii.
Daihatsu Trevis discontinued.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 3,37 Million.
Lancia Ypsilon Second Generation replaced by Third Generation.
Kia Rio Second Generation replaced by Third Generation.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .44 Million.
New. Toyota Verso-S/ Subaru Trezia. Second Generation.
Daihatsu Materia discontinued.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .36 Million.
No new models. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2012 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year 1,16 Million.
New. Opel/Vauxhall Adam.
Fiat Panda Second Generation replaced by Third Generation.
Daihatsu Charade discontinued.
Kia Picanto First Generation replaced by Second Generation. Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 2,97 Million.
Mitsubishi Colt replaced by a new model and renamed Mirage.
Dacia Logan1 replaced by Logan 2.
New. Renault Zoe.
Daihatsu Sirion discontinued.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .36 Million.
New. Ford B-Max.
New. Fiat 500L.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .32 Million.
New. Opel/Vauxhall Mokka. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2013 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year 1,140 Million.
Hyundai i10 First Generation replaced by Second Generation.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 2,77 Million.
New. MG Motors MG3.
BMW Mini second generation replaced by third generation.
Mitsubishi Colt discontinued.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .41 Million.
No new models.
Renault Modus discontinued.
Lancia Muso discontinued.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .53 Million.
New. Renault Captur.
New. Peugeot 2008.
New. Chevrolet Trax.
New Suzuki S-Cross
Daihatsu Terios discontinued. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2014 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year 1,14 Million.
New. Suzuki Celerio.
New. Smart ForFour. Second Generation.
Toyota Aygo replaced by Second Generation.
Citroen C1 replaced by Second Generation.
Peugeot 107 replaced by 108.
Renault Twingo 2 replaced by Twingo 3.
Smart Fortwo second generation replaced by third generation.
Suzuki Splash discontinued. Opel/Vauxhall Aqila discontinued.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 2,77 Million.
Opel/Vauxhall Corsa D replaced by Corsa E.
Hyundai i20 First Generation replaced by Second Generation.
Ford Ka Second Generation replaced by Third Generation and renamed Ka+.
Skoda Fabia Mk2 replaced by Fabia Mk3.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .41 Million.
No new models.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year .81 Million.
New. Fiat 500X.
New. Jeep Renegrade.
New Ford Ecosport. Second Generation.
Kia Soul First Generation replaced by Second Generation.
New. Ssang Yong Tivoli.
Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2015 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year 1,23 Million.
New.Opel Karl/Vauxhall Viva.
Chevrolet Spark discontinued.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 2,91 Million.
New Suzuki Balano.
Chevrolet Aveo/Lanos discontinued.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .35 Million.
No new models.
Subaru Trezia discontinued. Toyota Verso-s discontinued. Skoda Roomster discontinued.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year 1,1 Million.
New. Suzuki Vitara. Fourth Generation.
New. Mazda CX-3.
Fiat Sadici discontinued.
Chevrolet Trax discontinued. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2016 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year 1,22 Million.
New. Suzuki Ignis.
Fiat 500 replaced by a restyled version.
Toyota iQ discontinued. Suzuki Alto discontinued.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 3,07 Million.
No New models.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .55 Million.
No New models.
Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year 1,64 Million.
New. Kia Niro.
Honda HR-V first generation replaced by second generation. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year
Year 2017 ______City Cars. Sales Total for Year 1,25 Million.
Kia Picanto second generation replaced by third generation.
Supermini’s. Sales Total for Year 3,11 Million.
Kia Rio Third Generation replaced by Fourth Generation.
VW Polo fifth generation replaced by sixth generation.
Small MPV’s. Sales Total for Year .22 Million. Opel/Vauxhall Meriva discontinued. Nissan Note discontinued. Citroen Picasso discontinued. No new models. Mini SUV’s. Sales Total for Year 1,51 Million. New. Kia Stonic.
New. Hyundai Kona.
New Seat Arona.
New. Volkswagen T-Roc
New. Citroen C3 Aircross.
New. Opel/Vauxhall Crossland X. Skoda Yeti discontinued. Light Car Sales in Europe Year by Year 2018 and Beyond.
Going into 2018 the City or Minicar segment consist’s of eighteen models, with the Fiat 500 and Panda continuing to be most popular, followed by Volkswagen Up, Hyundai i10, Toyota Aygo, Renault Twingo, Smart ForTwo, Kia Picanto, Peugeot 108, Citroen C1, Opel Karl/Vauxhall Viva, Opel/Vauxhall Adam, Suzuki Ignis, Skoda Citigo, Smart ForFour, Mitsubishi Mirage, Suzuki Celerio and finally Seat Mii.
The Supermini segment at beginning of the year consist’s of twenty seven models. Headed by the top selling model in 2017 the Renault Clio, followed by Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 208, Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, Citroen C3, Toyota Yaris, Dacia Sandero, Skoda Fabia, Mini, Seat Ibiza, Hyundai i20, Nissan Micra, Audi A1, Kia Rio, Lancia Ypsilon, Dacia Logan, Ford Ka+, Fiat Punto, Suzuki Swift, Honda Jazz, Mazda 2, Renault Zoe, Citroen DS3, Suzuki Baleno, Alfa Romeo MiTo,MG3.
The small MPV segment has never been strong, but is now down to four models. The Fiat 500L, Ford B-max, Hyundai iX-20 and the Kia Venga.
The mini SUV segment continues to grow with twenty four models in production. The Renault Captur is the best seller, followed by the Peugeot 2008, Opel/Vauxhall Mokka, Dacia Duster, Nissan Juke, Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegrade, Suzuki Vitara, Ford Ecosport, Mazda CX-3, Mitsubisi ASX, Opel/Vauxhall Crossland X, Kia Niro, Suzuki S-Cross, Honda HR-V, Citroen C3 Aircross, Suzuki Jimny, Kia Soul, Kia Stonic, Ssang Yong Tivoli, Hyundai Kona, Seat Arona, and finally the Volkswagen T-Roc.