Europe's 2009 segment winners and losers

Some of the biggest sales winners of 2009 in Europe were the Dacia Sandero subcompact (+282 percent), Hyundai i30 compact (+67.5 percent) and Nissan Qashqai compact (+27.3 percent), according to UK-based market researcher JATO Dynamics.

Based on an extract from JATO's Volumes Regional Report, which covers sales in Europe and Turkey, Automotive News Europe below provides a look at the top 3 sellers in the 23 car segments we monitor.

Volume segments such as minicars made significant gains last year thanks largely to government-funded scrapping incentives, while demand for large models nearly collapsed.

Some of 2009's biggest losers where large SUVs such as the Hyundai Santa Fe (down 39.1 percent to 12,851 units last year and down 72.6 percent compared with 2007) and the Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero/Shogun (-31.2 percent). Sales in the segment slipped to 38,497 large SUVs last year from a peak of 180,740 units in 2006.

Demand for fuel-hungry large minivans fell 25.7 percent to 168,293 units last year. The segment is a long way from its peak of 367,771 units in 2003.

Below is more on each segment.

The Fiat Panda minicar had its best sales year ever in 2009.

The Ford Fiesta dominated the subcompact segment last year.

The Volkswagen Golf was Europe's top-selling compact and No. 1 overall in 2009.

Mid-sized

1. VW Passat 188,059 -23.0%

2. Opel/Vauxhall Insignia 141,327 +2979%*

3. Ford Mondeo 117,236 -29.8%

Mid-Sized Total: 849,544 -12.1%

Large

1. Skoda Superb 29,074 +44.0%

2. Subaru Legacy 8,167 -16.8%

3. Subaru Outback 3,992 -17.6%

Large Total: 57,709 -11.0%

Coupe

1. VW Scirocco 44,870 +397.1%*

2. Renault Laguna 7,331 +468.7%*

3. Hyundai Coupe 2,396 -42.6%

Coupe Total: 57,310 +174.0%

Roadsters

1. Peugeot 207 26,088 -36.1%

2. Peugeot 308 15,820 +8270%*

3. Volkswagen Eos 15,707 -41.6%

Roadsters Total: 126,833 -33.2%

Car-Derived Van

1. Citroen Berlingo 66,735 +27.2%

2. VW Caddy 64,078 +42.3%

3. Peugeot Partner/Ranch 42,905 +21.4%

Car Derived Van Total: 290,489 +24.1%

Small Minivan

1. Opel/Vauxhall Meriva 83,746 -18.7%

2. Citroen C3 Picasso 75,723 +27040%*

3. Renault Modus/Grand Modus 71,054 -7.3%

Small Minivan Total: 440,222 +13.6%

Medium Minivan

1. Renault Scenic/Grand Scenic 147,993 -12.2%

2. Citroen C4 Picasso/Grand C4 Picasso 135,673 -26.8%

3. VW Touran 110,378 -14.5%

Medium Minivan Total: 751,533 -24.3%

Large Minivan

1. Ford S-Max 42,991 -21.7%

2. Ford Galaxy 26,103 -14.9%

3. Mercedes Vito/Viano 17,541 -28.5%

Large Minivan Total: 168,293 -25.7%

Small SUV

1. Suzuki SX4 39,399 -21.8%

2. Suzuki Jimny 20,557 -5.1%

3. Fiat Sedici 19,844 -18.3%

Small SUV Total: 114,135 -3.8%

Medium SUV

1. VW Tiguan 107,987 +14.2%

2. Ford Kuga 64,546 +139.3%*

3. Toyota RAV4 44,650 -30.2%

Medium SUV Total: 492,034 -12.6%

Large SUV

1. Hyundai Santa Fe 12,851 -39.1%

2. Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero/Shogun 5,855 -31.2%

3. Jeep Grand Cherokee 4,469 -49.1%

Large SUV Total: 38,497 -33.7%

* Number is high because of a comparison with low sales the year before; this happens when the model is all new or was only on the market for a few months the year before

SOURCE: JATO

The Audi A3 easily outsold its top entry-premium rival from BMW last year.

The Audi A4 topped the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C class in the lower-premium segment last year.

The BMW 7 series won a tough battle in the upper-premium segment with the Mercedes S class in 2009.

Medium Premium

1. Mercedes E class 87,281 +11.2%

2. BMW 5 series 77,318 -26.8%

3. Audi A6 73,964 -28.3%

Medium Premium Total: 339,139 -20.1%

Premium Coupe

1. Audi A5 43,607 +6.7%

2. BMW 3 series 24,630 -40.1%

3. Mercedes CLC 19,482 +53.5%

Premium Coupe Total: 162,268 -11.9%

Premium Roadster

1. BMW 1 series 19,527 +3.9%

2. Mini 19,311 +20.6%

3. BMW 3 series 16,259 -40.9%

Premium Roadster Total: 130,438 -19.5%

Premium Medium SUV

1. Audi Q5 68,033 +1016%*

2. Volvo XC60 39,793 +581%*

3. BMW X3 31,305 -37.2%

Premium Medium SUV Total: 199,686 +101.3%

Premium Large SUV

1. BMW X5 32,609 -34.9%

2. Mercedes M class 23,397 -39.8%

3. BMW X6 19,620 +44.1%

Premium Large SUV Total: 179,335 -31.6%

Exotics

1. Audi R8 1,639 -44.0%

2. Ferrari F430 1,244 -39.1%

3. Aston Martin V8 Vantage 1,212 -34.4%

Exotics Total: 9,910 -30.8%

* Number is high because of a comparison with low sales the year before; this happens when the model is all new or was only on the market for a few months the year before

SOURCE: JATO