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{{short description|European car size classification}}
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| header = 2020-present best-selling C-segment cars
| image1 = Volkswagen Golf VIII Variant IMG 4291.jpg
| caption1 = [[Volkswagen Golf]] Variant 8th generation (2019–present)
| image2 = Skoda Octavia IV Combi IMG 3910.jpg
| caption2 = [[Škoda Octavia]] 4th generation (2020–present)
| image3 = Toyota Corolla Hybrid (E210) IMG 4338.jpg
| caption3 = [[Toyota Corolla]] 12th generation (2018–present)
| image4 = 2018 Mercedes-Benz A200 AMG Line Premium+ 1.3 Front.jpg
| caption4 = [[Mercedes-Benz A-Class]] 4th generation (2018–present)
}}
The '''C-segment''' is the 3rd category of the [[Euro Car Segment|European segments for passenger cars]] and is described as "medium cars".<ref name= "EEC Merger Procedure"/><ref>{{cite web |title= Impact on the Competitiveness of the European Automotive Industry of Potential FTA with India and ASEAN |website = www.europa.eu |url= http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/automotive/files/projects/report_fta_india_asean_en.pdf |page= 8 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130429040531/http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/automotive/files/projects/report_fta_india_asean_en.pdf |archive-date= 29 April 2013 }}</ref> It is equivalent to the [[Euro NCAP]] "small family car" size class,<ref>{{cite web |title=Latest Safety Ratings |url=https://www.euroncap.com/en/ratings-rewards/latest-safety-ratings/ |website=www.euroncap.com |access-date=8 January 2019 |language=en}}</ref> and the [[compact car]] category in the United States.<ref name="segment">{{cite news| title = Taking the 'Cheap' Out of the Small Car| newspaper = The New York Times| date = 7 September 2012| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/automobiles/taking-the-cheap-out-of-the-small-car.html?hpw| last1 = Brooke| first1 = Lindsay}}</ref>
In 2024, the C-segment had a European [[market share]] of 13.9%.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Munoz |first=Felipe |author2= |author3= |author4= |date=30 January 2025 |title=European new car market growth in 2024 driven by hybrids and Chinese brands |url=https://www.jato.com/resources/media-and-press-releases/european-new-car-market-growth-in-2024-driven-by-hybrids-and-chinese-brands |journal=JATO |publisher= |volume= |page= |doi= |access-date=15 May 2025 |quote=}} [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Johannes_Schmidt2/publication/260912866_Cost_and_well-to-wheel_implications_of_the_vehicle_fleet_CO2_emission_regulation_in_the_European_Union/links/548844160cf289302e3082a2.pdf?origin=publication_detail PDF] [http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC82175 EU headliner]</ref>
== Definition ==
The European segments are not based on size or weight criteria.<ref name= "EEC Merger Procedure">{{cite web |title=Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 – Merger Procedure |website= www.europa.eu |url=http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m1406_en.pdf |quote= exact market definition was left open .. boundaries between segments are blurred by factors other than the size or length of cars}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.transportpolicy.net/index.php?title=EU:_Vehicle_Definitions|title=EU: Vehicle Definitions|access-date=25 August 2016}}</ref> In practice, C-segment cars have been described as having a length of approximately {{cvt|4.5|m|ft|1}}.<ref>{{cite book |last=Meadows |first=Jordan |title=Vehicle Design: aesthetic principles in transportation design |date=2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781138685604 |pages=39–40 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ipU4DwAAQBAJ&pg=SA3-PA39 |access-date=29 September 2018 |quote= The [C] segment is around 4.5 metres long.}}</ref><ref name="Jacobs">{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=1hTrCgAAQBAJ |page=33 |title=The new domestic automakers in the United States and Canada: history, impacts, and prospects |first=Andrew James |last=Jacobs |publisher=Lexington Books |year=2016 |isbn=9780739188262 |access-date=19 July 2017 |quote= 4) Compact— vehicles between 165 and 179.99 inches in length or equivalent to Europe's C-segment for cars.}}</ref> As of 2021 C-segment category sizes span from approximately {{cvt|4.2 to 4.6|m|ft|1}}.
Examples include Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Corolla, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Ford Focus, SEAT León, BMW 1 Series, Audi A3, Citroën C4 and Honda Civic.<ref>{{cite web|title=European sales 2020 Compact cars|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2020-compact-cars/|website=www.carsalesbase.com|access-date=29 March 2021|date=March 2021|archive-date=13 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213031903/https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2020-compact-cars/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Characteristics ==
The most common body styles for C-segment cars in Europe are [[hatchback]]s, and much less [[Sedan (automobile)|sedans]] and [[station wagon|wagons/estates]].
== Current models ==
In 2020 the highest selling C-segment cars in Europe were the Volkswagen Golf Variant, Škoda Octavia, Toyota Corolla, Mercedes A-Class, Ford Focus, SEAT León, BMW 1-Series, Audi A3, Citroen C4, Peugeot 308, Renault Mégane, Kia Ceed, Opel Astra, Mercedes-Benz CLA and Volkswagen ID.3.
<ref>{{cite web |title= European sales 2020 Compact cars |url= https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2020-compact-cars/ |website= www.carsalesbase.com |access-date= 19 March 2021 |date= March 2021 |archive-date= 13 February 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210213031903/https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2020-compact-cars/ |url-status= dead }}</ref>
'''200,000 – 300,000 sales''' '''(Best-Selling)'''
<gallery widths="300">
File:Volkswagen Golf VIII Variant IMG 4291.jpg|[[Volkswagen Golf]] 8th generation (2019–present)
</gallery>
'''100,000 – 200,000 sales'''
<gallery widths="300">
File:Skoda Octavia Combi 2.0 TDI First Edition (IV) – f 02042021.jpg|[[Škoda Octavia]] <br/>4th generation (2020–present)
File:Toyota Corolla Hybrid (E210) IMG 4338.jpg|[[Toyota Corolla]] <br />12th generation (2018–present)
File:2018 Mercedes-Benz A200 AMG Line Premium+ 1.3 Front.jpg|[[Mercedes-Benz A-Class]] <br />4th generation (2018–present)
File:Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid ST-Line (IV, Facelift) – f 24092022.jpg|[[Ford Focus (fourth generation)|Ford Focus]] <br />4th generation (2018–present)
File:Seat Leon FR (IV) – f 01012023.jpg|[[SEAT León]] <br />4th generation (2020–present)
File:BMW 120 (F70) IMG 1166.jpg|[[BMW 1 Series]] <br />4th generation (2024–present)
</gallery>
'''50,000 – 100,000 sales'''
<gallery widths="300">
File:Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI (8Y) – f 02042021.jpg|[[Audi A3]] <br/>4th generation (2020–present)
File:2022 - Peugeot 308 III (C) - 068.jpg|[[Peugeot 308]] <br/>3rd generation (2021–present)
File:Renault Megane IV FL IMG 5425.jpg|[[Renault Mégane]] <br/>4th generation (2016–2024)
File:2018 Kia Ceed First Edition 1.4 Front.jpg|[[Kia Ceed]] <br/>3rd generation (2018–present)
File:Opel Astra L PHEV Automesse Ludwigsburg 2022 1X7A5888.jpg|[[Opel Astra|Opel]]/[[Vauxhall Astra]] <br/>6th generation (2021–present)
File:Mercedes-Benz C118 IMG 2673.jpg|[[Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class]] <br/>2nd generation (2019–present)
File:Volkswagen_ID.3_(2023)_IMG_7973.jpg|[[Volkswagen ID.3]] <br/>1st generation (2019–present)
</gallery>
== Sales figures in Europe ==
{| class="wikitable collapsibe sortable"
|+
! 2021<br/> rank !! Brand !! Model !! 2013 !! 2014 !! 2015 !! 2016 !! 2017 !! 2018 !! 2019 !! 2020 !! 2021 !! % change <br />(2020–2021)
|-
! 1
| [[Volkswagen]]
| [[Volkswagen Golf|Golf]]
| 462,527
| 523,729
| 534,535
| 491,681
| 482,177
| 445,303
| 410,779
| 285,013
| 214,069
| {{decrease}} -25%
|-
! 2
| [[Škoda Auto|Škoda]]
| [[Škoda Octavia|Octavia]]
| 165,027
| 205,071
| 215,797
| 226,737
| 227,313
| 216,676
| 218,439
| 180,902
| 151,442
| {{Decrease}} -16%
|-
! 3
| [[Toyota]]
| [[Toyota Corolla|Corolla]]
| 4,714
| 12,432
| 12,713
| 14,030
| 14,382
| 15,041
| 133,597
| 137,209
| 142,720
| {{increase}} +4%
|-
! 4
| [[Mercedes-Benz|''Mercedes'']]
| [[Mercedes-Benz A-Class|''A-Class'']]
| 131,258
| 121,231
| 119,475
| 141,800
| 143,550
| 153,882
| 198,926
| 158,955
| 118,439
| {{Decrease}} -25%
|-
! 5
| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| [[Ford Focus|Focus]]
| 225,102
| 222,297
| 232,160
| 212,083
| 212,353
| 199,197
| 224,401
| 173,853
| 101,066
| {{Decrease}} -42%
|-
! 6
| [[SEAT]]
| [[SEAT León|León]]
| 85,954
| 136,896
| 141,777
| 143,938
| 144,951
| 139,470
| 136,622
| 111,045
| 96,748
| {{decrease}} -13%
|-
!7
|''[[BMW]]''
|[[BMW 1 Series|''1 Series'']]
| 152,808
| 131,847
| 130,494
| 132,287
| 137,959
| 127,681
| 112,068
| 107,870
| 96,410
| {{Decrease}} -11%
|-
! 8
| ''[[Audi]]''
| [[Audi A3|''A3'']]
| 167,804
| 199,815
| 198,663
| 189,956
| 163,928
| 142,414
| 124,422
| 97,492
| 95,788
| {{decrease}} -2%
|-
! 9
|[[Kia]]
|[[Kia Ceed|Ceed]]
| 86,743
| 75,692
| 73,412
| 76,530
| 68,443
| 71,848
| 100,676
| 72,017
| 80,057
| {{increase}} +11%
|-
! 10
|[[Volkswagen]]
|[[Volkswagen ID.3|ID.3]]
| –
| –
| –
| –
| –
| –
| –
| 54,495
| 72,723
| {{increase}} +32%
|-
!11
| [[Renault]]
| [[Renault Mégane|Mégane]]
| 149,435
| 135,206
| 123,114
| 148,213
| 167,836
| 138,077
| 129,222
| 74,536
| 68,692
| {{decrease}} -8%
|-
! 12
| [[Citroën]]
| [[Citroën C4|C4]]
| 79,476
| 61,533
| 50,202
| 46,939
| 32,673
| 14,926
| 129
| 3,441
| 64,982
| {{increase}} +1.788%
|-
!13
| [[Opel]]/[[Vauxhall Motors|Vauxhall]]
| [[Opel Astra|Astra]]
| 198,449
| 179,547
| 192,973
| 250,410
| 216,515
| 158,674
| 136,638
| 70,550
| 58,063
| {{decrease}} -18%
|-
!14
|''[[Mercedes-Benz]]''
|[[Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class|''CLA'']]
| 27,598
| 38,374
| 62,100
| 65,810
| 64,086
| 58,522
| 61,958
| 67,319
| 55,956
| {{decrease}} -17%
|-
!15
|[[Peugeot]]
|[[Peugeot 308|308]]
|99,697
|161,515
|213,764
|194,650
|157,422
|153,651
|141,060
|90,324
|53,356
| {{Decrease}} 40%
|-
!Mainstream
!
!
! 2,068,504
! 2,274,368
! 2,317,728
! 2,380,154
! 2,335,894
! 2,132,583
! –
! –
! –
!
|-
!Premium
!
!
! 721,936
! 746,176
! 865,724
! 938,349
! 873,774
! 798,398
! –
! –
! –
!
|-
!Segment total
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
! 2,650,578
! 2,026,503
! 1,774,634
!{{Decrease}} -12%
|-
!Source
!
!
!<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2013 compact segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2013-compact-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2013 Premium Compact segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2013-premium-compact-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2014 compact segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2014-compact-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2014 Premium Compact segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2014-premium-compact-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2015 compact segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2015-compact-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2015 Premium Compact segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2015-premium-compact-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2016 compact car segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2016-compact-car-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2016 Premium Compact segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2016-premium-compact-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2017 compact car segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2017-compact-car-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2017 Premium Compact segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2017-premium-compact-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2018 compact car segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2018-compact-car-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2018 Premium Compact segment|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2018-premium-compact-segment/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2019 Compact cars|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2019-compact-cars/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=European sales 2020 Compact cars|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2020-compact-cars/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.carsalesbase.com|archive-date=13 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213031903/https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2020-compact-cars/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
!<ref>{{cite web|date=2022|title=European sales 2021 Compact cars|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2021-compact-cars//|access-date=14 May 2022|website=www.carsalesbase.com}}</ref>
!
|}
Note: Sales of [[Subcompact executive car|premium C-segment vehicles]] were recorded separately until 2019, where they were consolidated into total segment sales along with [[D-segment]] [[Compact executive car|premium cars]]. Premium brands and models are marked in ''italic''. Electric car sales were first included in the segment total in 2020.
==
2019 – The compact car segment in Europe sees 5% fewer deliveries in 2019, as Europe’s #2 segment is down to 2.65 million sales, or 16.9% of the total European car market, down from 18% in 2018.
<ref>{{cite web |title=European sales 2019 Compact cars |url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2019-compact-cars/|website=www.carsalesbase.com |access-date=29 March 2021|date=March 2021}}</ref>
2020 – Sales of compact cars in Europe are down 24% to 2.03 million in 2020, perfectly in line with the overall market. And while Europeans bought more small crossovers than compact cars in the first three quarters of the year, in the full-year score the pecking order is returned to “normal”, with an advantage of 17,000 sales for the compact class. This result is mostly due to a wave of VW ID.3 (self)registrations, especially in December. We expect small crossovers to become Europe’s #2 segment in 2021 by a large margin.
<ref>{{cite web|title=European sales 2020 Compact cars|url=https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2020-compact-cars/|website=www.carsalesbase.com|access-date=29 March 2021|date=March 2021|archive-date=13 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213031903/https://carsalesbase.com/european-sales-2020-compact-cars/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Europe ==
[[File:2017 Volkswagen Golf (5G MY17) 1.4 SE TSI hatchback (2017-08-30).jpg|thumb|[[Volkswagen Golf]]]]
According to 2011 sales,<ref>{{cite web|title=Europe Full Year 2011: Top 318 All models ranking now available! |date=6 October 2006 |publisher=Automotive News |url= http://www.autoweek.nl/forum/read.php?1,2449761,page=23 |access-date=7 February 2016}}</ref> compact cars are currently the second segment in Europe after the [[subcompact]] one (which in Europe corresponds to [[A-segment]] + [[B-segment]]), with approximately 3 million units sold.
Because of the [[Volkswagen Golf]]'s definition and long standing dominance of this class it is often referred to as the "Golf segment" in much of Europe.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2016-08-19 | url = http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/kompaktklasse-1916624.html | title= Kompaktklasse |trans-title=Compact Class | publisher = Auto Motor und Sport | language = de }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.expressen.se/motor/stort-test-de-10-basta-bilarna-i-golf-klassen/ | publisher = Expressen | date = 2013-04-16 | work = Allt om Bilar | title = Stort test: De 10 bästa bilarna i Golf-klassen |trans-title=Big test: The 10 best cars in the Golf class | language = sv | last1 = Jakobsson | first1 = David | last2 = Berggren | first2 = Jan-Erik }}</ref><ref name="Copping 2006 17">{{cite book|first=Richard |last=Copping |page=17 |title=VW Golf: Five Generations of Fun: The Full Story of the Volkswagen Golf |publisher=Veloce Publishing |year=2006 }}</ref>
Mainstream compact sedans began falling in popularity since 1990s, when Peugeot stopped production of [[Peugeot 306|306]] in 4-door saloon form, and also sharply declining since 2010s, as well as the reduced sales of 4-door [[Ford Focus]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2019}}
=== Compact MPVs ===
During the late 1990s, [[compact MPV]]s increased in popularity as a competitor to the compact car, with models such as the [[Renault Scenic]] and the [[Citroën C4 Picasso#Second generation (2013–2018)|Citroën C4 Picasso]] becoming popular in Europe.<ref name="ScenicLeaderMPV">{{cite web|url= http://www.autonews.com/article/20090320/ANE02/903209993/renault-wants-to-be-minivan-leader-again |title=Renault wants to be minivan leader again |publisher=Automotive News Europe |first=Lawrence J. |last=Speer |date=20 March 2009 |access-date=7 February 2016}}</ref> By the early 2010s, demand for compact MPVs was declining, due to the rise of the [[compact SUV]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2018's most popular cars in Europe by market segment |url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/2018s-most-popular-cars-europe-market-segment |website=www.autocar.co.uk |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref>
{{clear}}
== International history ==
After the Second World War, European manufacturers usually featured two vehicle types: small [[economy cars]] that were usually saloons and large [[sedan (car)|saloons]]. By the 1960s, the post war economic boom had produced customers who wanted something of intermediate size. These were usually saloons during the 1950s and 1960s.
The world's first [[Hatchback#Early examples|hatchback]],<ref>{{cite book|first1=Tony |last1=Lewin |first2=Ryan |last2=Borroff |first3=Ian |last3=Callum |page=185|title=How to Design Cars Like a Pro |publisher=Motorbooks |year=2010 }}</ref><ref name="Copping 2006 17"/> the 1958 [[FR layout]] [[Austin A40]] Farina Countryman model that was a co-development of [[British Motor Corporation|BMC]] and the Italian design house [[Pininfarina]] at a time when this was unusual. It had a lift up rear window and drop down boot lid. It was also sold as a two-door saloon. It was built in Italy by [[Innocenti]] as well as in the UK. For 1965 Innocenti designed a new single-piece rear door for their Combinata version of the Countryman. This top-hinged door used struts to hold it up over a wide cargo opening and was a true hatchback – a model never developed in the home (United Kingdom) market. The Countryman name has 'estate' type associations, and BMC successor company [[MG Rover Group|Rover]] used the name on [[estate car]]s / Station Wagons so it is largely forgotten. This hatchback layout was further pioneered along with the European switch to front wheel drive [[FF layout]] with the smaller 1964 (Fiat) [[Autobianchi Primula]].
The modern C-segment market in Europe can be traced back to the 1968 launch of the [[Renault 6]], the first successful hatchback of this size. The ''hatchback'' bodystyle was first introduced by [[Renault]] with the 1964 [[Renault 16]], which was elected the 1965 [[European Car of the Year|Car of the year in Europe]]. A review in the English ''Motoring Illustrated'' in May 1965 stated: "The Renault Sixteen can thus be described as a large family car but one that is neither a four door saloon and nor is it quite an estate. But, importantly, it is a little different."<ref name="Motoring Illustrated, May 1965">Motoring Illustrated, May 1965</ref> Even the later similar-sized cars like the [[Ford Escort (Europe)|Ford Escort]], [[Vauxhall Viva (1963–1979)|Vauxhall Viva]], [[Austin Allegro]] and [[Hillman Avenger]] were still only available as saloons or estates, although some cars of this size, like the [[Austin 1100|BMC/BL 1100 and 1300 saloons]] and [[Italy|Italy's]] [[Fiat 128]] featured front-wheel drive from their launch during the 1960s.
The C-segment was revolutionized in 1974 with the launch of the [[Volkswagen Golf]], a front-wheel drive hatchback, which was hugely successful all over Europe. Within a decade, most cars of this size in Europe were front-wheel drive hatchbacks. These included the [[Fiat Ritmo]] (Strada in the UK), [[Ford Escort (Europe)|Ford Escort]] (from the MK3 model launched in 1980), [[Opel Kadett]] ([[Vauxhall Astra]] in the UK), [[Renault 11]], and the [[Talbot Horizon]] (originally a [[Chrysler]]/[[Simca]] until [[Peugeot]] took over [[Chrysler|Chrysler's]] [[Chrysler Europe|European division]] in 1979). Most manufacturers still offered a traditional saloon of this size though, with Volkswagen using the Golf as the base for its [[Volkswagen Jetta|Jetta]] saloon, and Ford launching the Escort-based [[Ford Orion|Orion]] in 1983. Also in the 1980s saloons became popular again in certain Western European markets, often with a different model name than the hatchback, for example the [[Renault 9]] (Renault 11-based), [[Fiat Regata]] (Ritmo-based) and [[SEAT Málaga]].
Some carmakers later created the ''liftback'' bodystyle like the [[Peugeot 309]], which replaced the Talbot Horizon in this sector at the end of 1985.
Since the mid-1990s, premium brands usually associated with larger and more expensive cars have entered the C-segment with more affordable hatchbacks and saloons. The first such example was the [[Audi A3]] in 1996. Subsequent cars of this type include the [[BMW 1 Series]] and [[Mercedes-Benz A-Class]].
In the 1st decade of 21st century, [[coupé convertible]]s (cabriolets) with components from these vehicles were being also built. Examples of this are the [[Peugeot 307 CC]] and later [[Peugeot 308 CC|308 CC]] in the first generation, third-generation [[Opel Astra TwinTop]], second generation [[Ford Focus (international)|Ford Focus Coupe-Convertible]], and [[Volkswagen Eos]].
=== France ===
Early successful compact family cars by French manufacturers are [[Citroën GS]]A hatch version of the 1970 GS, [[Peugeot 304]] and [[Renault 14]]. During 1980s, [[Citroën]] replaced the GSA with the 1983 [[Citroën BX|BX]] that was between the sizes of the small family car and large family car, in an attempt to cover both markets with single model. The [[Citroën ZX]] was the model which celebrated the entry of [[PSA Group]] (now Stellantis) in China during early 1990s.
=== Former USSR/Russia ===
Cars of the Soviet/Russian brand [[Lada]]: [[VAZ-2101]], [[VAZ-2103]], [[VAZ-2106]], [[Lada Riva]] (based on the [[Fiat 124]] and [[Fiat 125]]) and [[Lada Samara]] (since 1984) were very popular in [[Central Europe|Central]] and [[Eastern Europe]] in the 1970s and 1980s. The modern-day [[Lada]]'s compact cars are [[Lada Priora]] and [[Lada Vesta]]. There was also the lineup of the [[AZLK]]-factory, [[Moskvitch]] (from 1947 to 2003): [[Moskvitch 400-420|400]], [[Moskvitch 402|402]], [[Moskvitch 408|408]], [[Moskvitch 412|412]], [[Izh 2125]] (the first Soviet [[hatchback]]), [[Moskvitch 2140|2140]] and [[Aleko]].
== History in the United Kingdom ==
=== 1970s ===
[[File:Morris 1300 MKIII 1974 - front.jpg|thumb|[[BMC ADO16#Mark III (1971–1974)|Morris 1300]] (1971–1974)]]
At the start of the 1970s, the two most popular sectors of the UK market{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} were small family cars and [[D-segment|large family cars]]. From its launch in 1962, the [[BMC ADO16|BMC 1100/1300]] was often Britain's best selling car;<ref>{{cite web |title=BMC 1100/1300 development story – the car that shaped 1960s Britain |url=https://www.aronline.co.uk/cars/bmc-cars/1100-1300/ado16-development-story/ |website=www.aronline.co.uk |access-date=12 January 2019 |date=17 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Buyer's Guide BMC 1100 & 1300 / ADO16 Britain's best-selling |url=https://drive-my.com/en/retro-carss/item/2299-buyer-s-guide-bmc-1100-1300-ado16-britain-s-best-selling.html |website=www.drive-my.com |date=9 February 2016 |access-date=12 January 2019 |language=en-gb}}</ref> other locally produced compact cars included the [[Ford Escort (Europe)#First generation (1967–1975)|Ford Escort]], [[Vauxhall Viva#HA Viva (1963–1966)|Vauxhall Viva]] and [[Hillman Avenger]]. Imported small family cars that were popular in the UK included the [[Citroën GS]] and [[Nissan Sunny|Datsun Sunny 120Y]].
[[British Leyland]] replaced the BMC 1100/1300 with a variety of models: the 1969 [[Austin Maxi]], the 1971 [[Morris Marina]], and the 1973 [[Austin Allegro]].
A second-generation Ford Escort (jointly designed in Britain and Germany) was released in 1974. The same year, the German [[Volkswagen Golf]] front-wheel-drive hatchback was released, becoming one of the first significantly imported small family cars in the UK market. The sporty "GTI" version of the Golf sparked a huge demand for "hot hatches" in the UK and many other countries.
The third-generation Vauxhall Viva was produced until late 1979, when it was replaced by the [[Vauxhall Astra#First generation (1979-1984)|Vauxhall Astra]] (a rebadged [[Opel Kadett#Kadett D (1979–1984)|Opel Kadett D]] which was initially produced in West Germany and Belgium).
The Astra was part of a late-1970s transition in small family cars from being predominantly [[rear-wheel drive|rear-wheel-drive]] [[sedan (automobile)|saloon]]s, to becoming [[front-wheel drive|front-wheel-drive]] [[hatchback]]s (by then increasingly popular in mainland Europe). The Austin Allegro – introduced five years earlier – was front-wheel-drive, but was built in only saloon and [[station wagon|estate]] body styles. Only the related [[Austin Maxi]] was a hatchback.
The Hillman Avenger (marketed as a Chrysler Avenger 1976–1979 and as a Talbot Avenger 1979–1981) continued to sell well,{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} in spite of the 1978 launch of the [[Simca-Talbot Horizon#Horizon in the UK|Talbot Horizon]] front-wheel-drive hatchback.
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=== 1980s ===
[[File:1981 Ford Escort GL, Ireland (17496006958) (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Ford Escort (Europe)#Third generation (1980–1986)|Ford Escort Mk3]] (1980–1986)]]
The [[Ford Escort (Europe)#Third generation (1980–1986)|Ford Escort Mk3]] went on sale in the autumn of 1980, replacing the rear-wheel-drive saloon format of the Mk2 with a hatchback and front-wheel drive. (A saloon version called the [[Ford Orion]] was added in 1983.) Only in 1983 was the Austin Allegro replaced by the [[Austin Maestro]] hatchback. In 1984, the [[Vauxhall Astra#Second generation (1984–1991)|Vauxhall Astra Mk2]] hatchback/estate/cabriolet was released, alongside a saloon version called the [[Vauxhall Belmont]].
The first significant Japanese-designed compact car in the UK was the 1981 [[Triumph Acclaim]], a licensed version of the four-door [[Honda Ballade]] with a Honda-designed engine. The Acclaim was replaced in 1984 by the [[Rover 200 / 25#SD3|Rover 200]]. In late 1985 the [[Peugeot 309]] became the first Peugeot to be built in the UK at the [[Ryton plant]].
=== 1990s ===
[[File:1990 Rover 216 GSi 1.6 Front.jpg|thumb|[[Rover 200 / 25#R8|Rover 200 Mk2]] (1989–1995)]]
VW Group introduced C-segment cars sharing various generations of its [[Volkswagen Group A platform|Volkswagen Group A]] [[Car platform|platform]] under the Volkswagen, SEAT, Audi and Škoda brands.
Ford began the 1990s by replacing its 10-year-old Escort (and the Orion saloon version) with the [[Ford Escort (Europe)#Fifth generation (1990–1997)|Ford Escort MkV]]. In 1998, the European version of the Escort was replaced by the global [[Ford Focus#First generation (C170; 1998)|Ford Focus MkI]] model.
General Motors released the [[Vauxhall Astra#Third generation (1991–1998)|Vauxhall Astra Mk3]] update in 1991 and the all-new [[Vauxhall Astra#Fourth generation (1998–2006)|Astra Mk4]] in 1998.
Rover Group introduced the [[Rover 200 / 25#R8|Rover 200 Mk2]] in 1989. The [[Rover 200 / 25#R3|Rover 200 Mk3]] was introduced in 1995, replacing the Honda Concerto-based Mk2 with a UK-designed car.
== See also ==
* [[B-segment]]
* [[D-segment]]
* [[Euro Car Segment]]
* [[Car classification]]
* [[Compact car]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{EC car classification}}
{{Automobile configuration}}
[[Category:Euro car segments]]
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