Volkswagen Golf, Europe's Top-Selling Car

Volkswagen Golf continues to remain a good selling model and the most recent sales figures do nothing than to support this statement. The sixth-generation Golf is still topping its class and, according to a report by autocar.co.uk citing data provided by Jato Dynamics, the German manufacturer sold no less than 59,628 units across Europe in the first half of 2009. Ford Fiesta came in second with 43,338 sold units, followed by Peugeot 207 with 37,361 units.

Sales were obviously driven forward by sales incentives offered by governments across the continent, with this particular class attracting the most new car buyers.

Renault for example is putting many of its hopes in the new Clio which the company hopes will be able to take on Peugeot 207 in the European small segment.

"We think we have developed a product that can take on Peugeot's 207, and anyone else for that matter," Renault's director for the small-car segment Yves-Eric Morel told Automotive News Europe.

"The new design, the new features, and the touch of sportiness associated with the Renault Sport models will give us advantages over the 207, and the rest of the competition."

However, the battle is going to be fierce as Peugeot was the leader of the small segment in 2008 in Europe, with 368,463 sold units of its 207 model. This means the French automaker held a 10 percent share of the European markets it was selling cars in. Opel/Vauxhall Corsa snatched the second place of this top with 365,458 sales while Renault completed the podium on the third place with "only" 346,699 sold Clios.