Top-selling models in China, India, Brazil, the UK and more revealed - and how some of them are related to Holden Barina
The Nissan Sylphy is the best-selling car in China, the largest automotive market in the world.
Each year, automotive brands in markets around the world compete for the title of best-selling model and best-selling brand.
In Australia last year, Toyota once again dominated the new car market, more than doubling second-place Mazda and also taking the crown as the best-selling HiLux model.
But what about the rest of the world? Figures published Blog about best selling cars reveal some surprises at the top of the sales charts in some countries.
Among the surprises is how many models are linked to the long-gone Holden Barina.
If you're even curious to know what Kazakhs drive, or which model tops the charts in the world's largest car market, China, then read on.
Last year, the Vauxhall Corsa outpaced its main competitor, the Ford Fiesta, in the UK.
England
Perhaps unsurprisingly, British and European cars dominate the UK charts. Well, for the most part.
The most popular choice among Britons last year was a car once sold in Australia in the previous iteration as the humble Holden Barina. This is a light hatchback Vauxhall Corsa!
Formerly built in the UK, but now sourced from Spain after Vauxhall and German sister brand Opel were bought by the PSA Group, the Corsa has been one of the best-selling cars in the UK for many years.
Corsa knocked the Ford Fiesta off the top last year with a total sales of 34,111 but was nearly overtaken by the Tesla Model with 3 (32,767).
The UK-built but BMW-owned Mini hatchback was the third-biggest seller in the UK last year, beating out German rivals including the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf.
The Nissan Sylphy is the Sentra's twin for the US market.
China
More new cars are sold in China than any other country (just over 20 million in 2021), making it the largest market in the world with annual sales of several million.
Considering the rapid expansion of Chinese brands in the domestic market, as well as Chinese brands that have gone global - Haval, MG, etc. - one would think that one of them would take the top spot. But in the end, the model under the Nissan brand became the winner.
The sadly named Sylphy sedan may be from a Japanese brand, but in China, the Sylphy and other Nissan models, as well as Peugeot and Citroen vehicles, are made in a joint venture with Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng.
The Sentra-based Sylphy in the US market sold just over 500,000 vehicles, surpassing the decades-old Volkswagen Lavida sedan built by its Chinese partner SAIC and the charming Wuling Hongguang Mini EV.
Suzuki Wagon R received top honors in India last year.
India
Remember the Suzuki Wagon R+? A tiny tall sunroof sold in Australia in the late 1990s?
Well, the latest iteration of this quirky offering was India's favorite model in 2021, branded as the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R. Maruti was a government-founded and run car company until Suzuki bought a majority stake in 2003.
Maruti Suzuki is India's Toyota, with a huge market share of 44% in 2021, as well as eight of the top 10 best-selling models.
The only other brands that come close to that number are Hyundai, which has a large manufacturing presence in India and is the fifth best-selling Creta SUV model, and local brand Tata.
Toyota dominates the domestic Japanese market, with the Yaris taking the top spot.
Japan
Unsurprisingly, Japan's top 10 brands by sales volume are made up of Japanese manufacturers, led by the dominant Toyota with a market share of 32%.
This correlates with the most popular models, with Toyota occupying the top four places on the list of non-kei car models.
The lightweight Yaris is the top seller in Japan with 213,000 units sold last year, displacing the Roomy MPV, Corolla and Alphard.
Add to that sales of kei cars - the Japanese market segment for the smallest legal passenger cars with limited size and engine power - and Honda's super cute N-Box comes in second, ahead of the Corolla.
Fiat's compact Strada ute has become Brazil's favorite car in 2021.
Brazil
Fiat has a huge presence in South and Central America with a range of small and cheap models and a strong manufacturing base in Brazil.
Brazilians have embraced the Fiat brand in huge numbers, and not only is it the number one brand with over 20 percent market share, the Fiat Strada compact pickup was the most popular new model last year.
The cute ute outsold two subcompacts, including the Brazilian-made Hyundai HB20 hatchback and another Fiat, the Argo.
The Hyundai Porter light truck outsold the Grandeur sedan in South Korea.
South Korea
It will surprise no one that the Hyundai Group dominates the South Korean automotive market. Hyundai, Kia and Genesis occupy the top three spots on the list of best-selling brands with a market share of 74%.
Hyundai topped sister brand Kia in total sales by around 56,000 units, but the biggest surprise was the best-selling model in South Korea last year. It was the Hyundai Porter, also known as the H-100, a fourth-generation light truck that has been on sale since 2004.
The light commercial vehicle outperformed the Hyundai Grandeur large sedan, which is based on the Sonata and Kia Optima models, as well as the Kia Carnival crossover.
The group holds such a leading position in its home market that the first non-Hyundai Group model in the 2021 top 20 was the Renault-Samsung QM6, known locally as the Renault Koleos, in 17.th positions.
Last year Lada Vesta became the best model in Russia.
Russia
Despite a population of 144 million, the new car market in Russia is not much larger than in Australia, with 1.7 million cars sold in 2021.
The Russian brand Lada, owned by Renault Group, is still the top choice for Russians, with the Vesta subcompact car topping the list in 2021. It was followed by the aging small car Lada Granta, and the third - Kia Rio.
This is not the Rio hatchback that Australians know. This is a Russian-Chinese market model built in Russia.
Those with a good memory can remember Lada's presence in Australia for about ten years, starting in 1984 when the all-wheel drive Niva was the standout model. Well, this model, oddly named after a model designed by GM, is still a bestseller, coming in sixth place last year.
Chevrolet Cobalt became the top model of Kazakhstan.
The Republic of Kazakhstan
I promised Kazakhstan, and here it is. Chevrolet Cobalt is the sales leader in the Central Asian country.
The Uzbekistan-built compact car is based on the GM Gamma II platform, which was the same as the last Holden Barina sold in Australia.
It outsold another Chevrolet, the Nexia branded as Ravon Nexia. This model is also based on the old 2005 Barina, which itself was renamed the Daewoo Kalos.
