Most popular small cars in 2017

SUV sales are going through the roof, but it’s the small-car segment that remains the biggest by market-share, sitting at 18.7 per cent for the first half of 2017.

This equates to 112,312 sales, down about 5 per cent over 2016. In other words, sales are eroding, but slowly. And three members of this segment remain ensconced in the top-five selling vehicles overall, behind the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger utes.

These three are the Toyota Corolla (19,454 sales, down 5 per cent), Mazda 3 (18,052, down 10 per cent) and Hyundai i30 (14,537, down 36 per cent, tempered by the change-over to an all-new model).

The fact that these three kings of the class are down, at a rate greater than the segment average, is due to the introduction of several brand new offerings, and very sharp factory incentives on some old favourites.

Fourth-in-segment is the Kia Cerato on 10,331, up a massive 65 per cent. With many brands shifting slightly upmarket, Kia has capitalised by retailing its ageing offer at $19,990 drive-away with an auto thrown in, and reaped the rewards.

Next is the Volkswagen Golf on 8994, down 17 per cent despite sharp pricing of runout models ahead of the recent launch of a facelifted model.

Two new Japanese entrants have pinched a number of sales from the established set, being the Honda Civic (6563, up 350 per cent, even more impressive given the hatchback version only just arrived) and Subaru Impreza (6373, up 114 per cent).

Both of these offerings are vastly superior to their predecessors — read reviews of the Civic here and the Impreza here — and clearly this is resonating.

Another new arrival is the Holden Astra, which is the number-two European model in-segment after the Golf, with 4735 sales — a good result, albeit fewer than its Cruze predecessor managed over H1, 2016. Then again, the just-launched Astra sedan will help.

Ninth spot is an old warhorse in the Mitsubishi Lancer (3612, down 14 per cent), showing that proven mechanicals and cut-throat pricing can counteract age, just ahead of the savagely underrated Ford Focus on 3243, up 10 per cent.

Nipping at the Ford’s heels is the Hyundai Elantra on 3203 (up 27 per cent) which, when paired to Hyundai’s i30 hatch, almost matches the Mazda 3’s total. Almost.

Germans own the next three spots in the ladder, though sales of premium-priced small cars have fallen at a rate almost three-times the segment average.

The leader is the Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatch (2560, up 6 per cent), ahead of the Audi A3 hatch and sedan (2483, down 19 per cent) and BMW 1 Series (1227,down 17 per cent).

Rounding out the top 15 is the Subaru WRX, counted separately to the Subaru Impreza, on 1179 sales — down 10 per cent.

Read about the total market over H1 here for more in-depth info.

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Small car sales H1, 2017

Model	Sales
Toyota Corolla	19,454
Mazda 3	18,052
Hyundai i30	14,537
Kia Cerato	10,331
Volkswagen Golf	8994
Honda Civic	6563
Subaru Impreza	6373
Holden Astra	4735
Mitsubishi Lancer	3602
Ford Focus	3242
Hyundai Elantra	3203
Mercedes-Benz A-Class	2560
Audi A3	2483
BMW 1 Series	1227
Subaru WRX	1179
Mercedes-Benz B-Class	763
Volvo V40 and V40 CC	644
Renault Megane	636
Volkswagen Jetta	619
Lexus CT200h	486
Peugeot 308	415
Holden Cruze (discontinued)	386
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer	325
MG6 Plus	257
Toyota Prius V	216
Alfa Romeo Giulietta	214
Skoda Rapid	181
Kia Soul	163
Toyota Prius	150
Nissan Pulsar (discontinued)	138
Kia Rondo five-seat	70
BMW i3	67
Citroen C4 Picasso	27
Proton Suprima S	14
Renault Fluence (discontinued)	2
Citroen DS4	2
Proton Preve	1

Any sales figures not mentioned here that you want to know? Ask away, in the comments. 

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MORE: VFACTS car sales news stories 

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