“Les voitures préférées des Français en 2023 : catégories, énergies et classement des ventes”

Based on categories of passenger vehicles (VP), popular energy sources in recent years and best sales since January, here is a focus on the cars that are currently attracting the most French people.

Is yours one of them?

The top categories

To know which categories of cars are the favorites of the French, you just need to take a quick look in the rearview mirror. And immediately, the observation is obvious.

For five years now, drivers have been concentrating on two main categories of cars.

Thus, while there were still one or two minivans in the top 10 sales between 2015 and 2017 (like the Renault Scenic and/or the Citroën Picasso), it is now city cars and SUVs that almost exclusively occupy the spotlight.

In 2022, these models occupied 9 of the top 10 ranks, leaving only a small position, the 7th in fact, to the compact/break Peugeot 308.

Trending energies

In the French market, diesel has long been the king of fuels. It was even fiscally encouraged by the state. This reign began to crack in 2015, notably following new anti-pollution standards and the revelation of the “dieselgate” targeting Volkswagen.

Since then, manufacturers have changed tack. They have gradually moved away from diesel in favor of petrol.

In parallel, with the sudden support of public authorities for the “green” cause, most have bet on electrification. As a result, in 2022, petrol accounted for 37% of sales of new models, ahead of hybrids (30%).

Diesel, on the other hand, has fallen to a 15% market share. Conversely, 100% electric has gained 3% compared to 2021, with now 13% of adhesion.

The Top 10 favorite cars of the French

The first quarter of 2023 gave rise, once again, to fierce competition between brands and models. At the end of 65 working days, the Peugeot 208 came out on top, with 24,428 registrations according to CCFA*.

It beat the Renault Clio V (2nd with 19,307 sales) and then the Dacia Sandero, another city car star of the podiums.

Behind them, you’ll find another urban reference, the Citroën C3 (4th) then the Peugeot 2008 (5th), Renault Captur (6th) and Peugeot 3008 (8th) SUVs.

The big surprise of the beginning of the year comes from the Tesla Y 100% electric SUV.

The American model takes the 9th spot. It is the only foreign car in the top 10.

In its wake, another electric model, the Dacia Spring brings up the rear (10th). Note that the Peugeot 308 (7th)like last year, remains the only representative outside city cars and SUVs.

*CCFA – French Automobile Manufacturers Committee

APEI News. Louis-Cyril Tharaux

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