The Volkswagen Group was the largest and best-selling brand in Europe during 2015. Its Golf model was a No. 1 seller, and its Polo model was the second-best.
Throughout the year, the number of new passenger vehicle registrations rose 9.2 percent to 14.2 million cars in the European Union and European Free Trade Association. Below is a list of the best-selling cars in Europe, according to data that the European Automobile Manufacturers Association released on new passenger vehicle registration.
1. Volkswagen Golf (648,176 sold)
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The Volkswagen Golf is equipped with a standard 1.8-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that generates 170 horsepower and a five-speed manual transmission. It has a narrow grille in the front bumper, and the most popular rear is a hatchback. The cabin features top-notch materials in the dash and door panels, and the standard cloth seats are comfortable and spacious.
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The standard interior features include an infotainment system with a 5.8-inch touch display, Bluetooth and an iPod adapter. Navigation, forward collision alert, rear parking sensors, and a rearview camera are optional. Owners enjoy the agile handling, exceptional cargo room, great fuel economy and a well-equipped interior with great additional options. The starting price for the Golf is $17,995.
2. Volkswagen Polo (377,652 sold)
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The Volkswagen Polo offers a standard 1.2-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with both manual and dual-clutch automatic transmissions available. The hatchback features fog lights in the lower bumper that connect to a long, narrow grille. Inside is a thick, soft-touch dashboard, and hard plastic-trim seats.
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A 5-inch touch screen is standard with the in-car media system and rear parking sensors are optional. Consumers love the Polo for its attractive price, decent amount of rear storage, powerful turbo engine, and smooth ride. The car is available from about $15,990.
3. Renault Clio (367,301 sold)
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With a standard 1.2-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 74 brake horsepower and a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, the Renault Clio is a smoothly designed supermini. The front features a large Renault logo on a glossy black background, which is complemented with LED and chrome-detail headlights. Hidden rear door handles give it a coupe-like profile. The cabin features cloth seats, with gloss black and chrome accents.
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The Clio uses a 7-inch touch display for its R-Link and Media Nav infotainment systems, which enable satellite navigation, Bluetooth, audio streaming and radio. Consumers’ favorite aspects of the car are its admirable fuel efficiency, generous cabin space, and high-speed stability. The Clio has a starting price of about $16,900.
4. Ford Fiesta (332,077 sold)
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The Ford Fiesta basic model is equipped with a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine that generates 120 horsepower and a five-speed manual transmission. The car has an arched roofline, crisp profile, and its headlights sweep back into the fenders. The attractive design of the cabin features premium materials on the armrests, dashboard and center console.
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The Fiesta includes a voice-activated Sync system with Bluetooth, but the 6.5-inch infotainment touch screen, navigation, rear parking sensors and a rearview camera are optional. People mostly like its large trunk, proportionate exterior, and sporty handling. The Fiesta is priced from $14,455.
5. Opel Corsa (282,410 sold)
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Also known as the Vauxhall Corsa in the United Kingdom, the basic model of this car has a 1.0-liter turbo engine that produces 113 brake horsepower and accelerates from zero to 62 mph in 10.3 seconds. The supermini comes in sporty three-door and roomy five-door body styles. The inside has comfortable tactile materials with soft-touch plastics and trims in the dashboard.
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A standard 7-inch touch display controls the Intellilink infotainment system. The Corsa also has a Wi-Fi hotspot that allows for up to seven connected devices. The most praised features are the spacious cabin and cargo area, along with the value of a price from around $12,717.
6. Nissan Qashqai (261,245 sold)
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The standard Nissan Qashqai has a 1.2-liter, DIG-T engine that produces 113 horsepower. Transmission options include a six-speed manual or an Xtronic automatic. The headlights are angular, while the taillights are elongated, stretching around the sides from the rear hatch. Inside, the seats use NASA-inspired medical scanning techniques to analyze blood flow and pressure in passengers’ lower backs.
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Optional interior features include a 7-inch touch screen infotainment system, driver attention alert, forward emergency braking, and intelligent park assist. Generally, drivers like the sharp exterior design, very efficient drivetrain, and available tech. The Qashqai is available from about $21,700.
7. Volkswagen Passat (260,369 sold)
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The Volkswagen Passat utilizes a standard 1.8-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower and either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The midsize sedan has a simply designed front-end with a slim grille, and an overall upscale cabin design. The Car-Net telematics system from Volkswagen is optional, including automatic crash notification and geo-fencing for parents to set boundaries for teen drivers.
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The rearview camera is another optional feature. Owners enjoy the Passat mostly for its above average cargo and passenger space, fuel-efficient and powerful engine options, quiet ride, and simple style. The starting price is $21,340.
8. Skoda Octavia (254,367 sold)
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The basic model of the Skoda Octavia has a 1.2-liter, TSI engine that produces 103 brake horsepower and a six-speed manual transmission. With a simple exterior, its front-end grille looks as though it’s smiling from just underneath the Skoda logo. The design of the cabin is also simple and clean, with crisp dials and large buttons.
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The touch screen infotainment system is easy to read and includes Bluetooth connectivity as well. An emergency braking system is standard, while optional features include an automatic parking system, fatigue detection, intelligent park assist, lane assist, and navigation. Customers’ favorite aspects of the Octavia tend to be its roomy cabin and comfortability. The starting price is about $23,500.
9. Ford Focus (249,935 sold)
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The Ford Focus base model is equipped with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with 160 horsepower and a five-speed manual transmission. The front-end is styled with a wide-mouth grille and headlights that extend into the fenders. The cabin has an attractive design with premium materials and supportive front seats.
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The voice-controlled Sync system and a rearview camera are standard interior features. Optional features in the Focus include blind-spot monitoring, lane assist, navigation, and the MyFord Touch infotainment system, which includes an 8-inch touch display. Powerful engines, a quiet ride, and several high-tech options are why so many consumers chose the Focus in 2015. Its starting price is $17,170.
10. Peugeot 208 (249,386 sold)
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With a standard 1.2-liter engine and a five-speed manual transmission, the Peugeot 208 has a wide-mouth grille and elongated headlights. The cabin has a quality appearance, with soft-touch materials on the dash and supportive seats.
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While Bluetooth is a standard feature, the 7-inch touch screen for the infotainment system and Active City Stop are not available in the base model. Drivers’ favorite features seem to be the supple, supportive seats and great steering and suspension. The Peugeot 208 has a starting price of about $17,612.
The best-selling cars of 2015 are a mix of low- and mid-priced models that have a range of features from the bare minimum to the most high-tech.
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