Best Cars to Buy in France – France stands as a prominent European nation, boasting a formidable presence in the global automobile industry. Curiosity might lead you to wonder about the automobile preferences of the French.

In a nation of such stature, it’s hardly astonishing to discover that the French populace predominantly favors domestically manufactured vehicles. Their automotive market possesses a distinct character when compared to North America.

Now, let’s delve into the current year’s top best cars choices to buy in France.

The Data for Best Selling Cars in France

The information utilized is sourced from ‘Best Selling Cars,’ a specialized data collection firm focusing on global automobile sales figures. This compilation originates from their comprehensive database, wherein new car sales were meticulously ranked based on their unit sales performance in France during the year 2021.

It’s important to note that 2021 represents the most up-to-date and rigorously verified dataset in our possession. For a broader perspective, you can also explore the overall vehicle registrations in France categorized by brand.

Analyzing registrations by manufacturer rather than specific models yields slightly divergent insights. Notably, Renault leads with the highest number of individual registrations, closely pursued by Peugeot and Citroen. It’s noteworthy that all three of the prominent car manufacturers in France, in terms of registered vehicles, are of French origin.

Presented below are the top ten cars that dominated the French market in accordance with the accessible data.

The 10 Most Popular Best Cars to Buy in France

In stark contrast to the automotive landscape in the United States, France exhibits a conspicuous absence of pickup trucks within its coveted top-ten best-selling car roster. Remarkably, pickup trucks are conspicuously absent from the list of the 30 most popular vehicle models in France for the current year.

Instead, the predominant contenders in the top ten comprise compact supermini hatchbacks. Among these, four belong to the SUV category, while the remaining six are distinguished as small hatchbacks or sedans.

It’s noteworthy to mention that ‘supermini’ corresponds to the European term for subcompact cars. Furthermore, in the European context, ‘petrol’ is the term employed for gasoline, and diesel finds greater favor for passenger vehicles compared to the United States.

A striking pattern emerges with nine of the top ten best-selling cars in France originating from European manufacturers, with Toyota being the sole exception breaking this pattern. Remarkably, seven of the top ten bestsellers proudly bear the label of French automakers.

Dacia, a Romanian marque, claims two of the esteemed top-ten positions, though it is worth mentioning their close association with Renault in certain vehicle collaborations.

Peugeot secures a triumphant presence in the top ten, including a remarkable two of the top three best-selling models in France. Renault also asserts itself with three models within the top echelons.

Surprisingly, no American automobile finds representation in the top ten rankings. The highest-ranking American contender is Tesla’s Model 3, holding the 14th position in France’s sales charts. A second American entry, the Ford Puma, squeezes into the top 30 at the 25th spot.

In summary, the automotive trends in France diverge significantly from those observed in the United States, offering a quintessential portrayal of the Western European auto market.

1. Renault Twingo III

The Renault Twingo III is one of the smallest and oldest cars to buy in France on this list. The Twingo was first launched in 1992 and is now in its third generation. The first two generations of Twingo only featured two passenger doors. The city car classification is the smallest size given to passenger cars in France.

Despite its small size, the Twingo continues to sell well, especially in busy urban areas like Paris. When the third-generation Twingo was released in 2014, it won City Car of the Year in the UK. The latest iteration also received a four-star safety rating from NCAP, which is unusual for a car of this size.

2. Dacia Duster II

The Dacia Duster is a subcompact SUV designed in collaboration with Renault. The Duster II was introduced in 2016 and went on sale in 2017. It features the same frame as the first generation model but with an overall upgrade.

The latest generation brings the Duster into the modern age with a full camera system, hill start assist, hill ascent and descent assist, fresh infotainment system and keyless entry. Dacia sold over 30,000 Duster IIs in France during the fiscal year. Modern upgrades and a partnership with local Renault seem to be paying off for the Duster II.

3. Toyota Yaris

The Toyota Yaris is the first non-European car to make this Best Cars to Buy in France. It ranks eighth in total car sales in France for 2021. The Yaris is another supermini hatchback with a long track record. Toyota is the sixth largest car brand in France and the largest non-European brand in the country.

The Yaris is in its fourth generation, which goes on sale in 2020. The fourth generation Yaris was only launched in Europe and Japan. The fourth generation model is not sold in the United States.

There are various trim packages available, including one developed by Gazoo Racing, the GR Yaris. The latest Yaris is only available in hatchback configuration in France, with the sedan model restricted to Asia only.

4. Peugeot 3008 II

The Peugeot 3008 is the biggest car on this list so far. The compact SUV is the larger version of the 2008 model that takes third place on this Best Cars to Buy in France list. The second-generation 3008 began deliveries in 2016, and since then, it has amassed an impressive list of accolades, including 2017’s European Car of the Year.

Since 2016, the Peugeot 3008 II has acquired a large number of customization options. You can get the 3008 SUV with multiple petrol engines, diesel engines or electric engines.

You can choose from four separate transmission configurations, multiple color and style options, and trim packages. In 2021, Peugeot reported sales of 140,000 units in Europe for the 3008 II, and 50,000 of those units were sold in France.

5. Renault Captur II

The Renault Captur II is an SUV based on the Common Module Family B (CMF-B) platform. The CMF-B frame is the same base as the popular Clio V, which ranks second on this Best Cars to Buy in France list. The CMF-B frame was developed in collaboration with Renault and Nissan and is also the basis for the Nissan Juke.

Renault tried to make the Captur II more stylish and customizable. They launched the car with 90 different color combinations, including 11 different exterior body colors and 4 separate roof colors, along with several trim packages.

Renault sold just north of 50,000 units of the Captur II in France in 2021. That means Renault sold over 137,000 units of their subcompact SUV based on the same CMF-B frame.

6. Citroën C3 III

Citroën C3 is the third generation of the popular C3 model. The third generation was released in 2017 and got a minor upgrade to its lighting system in 2020. The first C3 appeared in 2002, replacing the ailing Citroën Saxo. The Citroën C3 is a five-door hatchback manufactured in Slovakia.

The C3 has two options for petrol engines and two options for diesel engines. In 2021, Citroën announced it had sold over 1,000,000 third-generation C3s worldwide and over 4.5 million C3s in total. The car received a four-star safety rating from the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), which is better than its peers.

7. Dacia Sandero 3

Dacia introduced their third generation Sandero car in 2020, and it immediately became popular. Dacia is tapping into public demand for small, simple cars that don’t add much to their monthly gas bills or to the environmental issues facing Europe. Dacia simplified their Sandero 3 and only offered a three-cylinder petrol engine.

All new Sanderos come with the I3 configuration. However, you can get different trim packages that can increase horsepower from a baseline of 60 HP up to almost 100 HP. Dacia achieved very healthy sales figures in 2021 and sold over 72,000 Sandero 3s in France alone.

8. Peugeot 2008 II

The second generation Peugeot 2008 (not to be confused with the 208) is in third place. This is Peugeot’s most popular SUV and the most popular SUV in France today. This subcompact hatchback has a variety of options that will appeal to a wide audience, including petrol (gasoline) engines, diesel versions and even a new electric offering that goes on sale in 2020.

It is a five-door hatchback that continues to top the sales charts in European countries. The 2008 Peugeot commands a 4.5% market share in France for 2021, giving Peugeot almost just under 10% of the total market share for the country.

9. Renault Clio V

The Renault Clio V almost topped the 2021 sales charts but fell just below rival Peugeot 208 II. No wonder the Clio V is in second place as it is very similar to the Peugeot 208 II. The similarity of the top two cars shows the French’s penchant for economical supermini sedans. The Clio V is the fifth generation of the Renault Clio, which began production in 1990.

The current iteration has various trim packages, six engine options, including a diesel model, and a choice of four different transmissions. Size options, affordability and customization make the Clio V a very popular offering. Renault sells an estimated 85,000 new units in 2021.

10. Peugeot 208 II

The Peugeot 208 is a supermini sedan that topped the French sales charts in 2021. The car is an interesting combination of affordability, style and energy efficiency. The Peugeot 208 II was first released in 2013 and has been a consumer favorite for years.

This is the second generation of the 208, which began rolling off the assembly line in 2019. There are multiple engine options for the 208, including different horsepower amounts, various gearbox configurations and emission levels.

In 2021, Peugeot sold an estimated 88,000 units of the new 208 II, which puts it at the top of the chart. The 88,000 new vehicles represent about 5% of the market share, meaning that one in twenty cars sold in France in 2021 will be a Peugeot 208 II. Not a bad showing for the French automaker.

Final Thoughts

The most popular best cars to buy in France are all small hatchbacks and crossover SUVs. French drivers appreciate French cars, and they enjoy supermini hatchbacks the most. Renault and Peugeot dominate France in terms of sales and overall car registrations. France continues to be the world leader in car manufacturing and European car sales.

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