2021 Best-Selling
Tesla Model 3 1st generation (2017–present)
BMW 3 Series 7th generation (2018–present)
Volkswagen Passat 8th generation (2015–present)

The D-segment is the 4th category of the European segments for passenger cars, and is described as "large cars".[1][2]

It is equivalent to the Euro NCAP "large family car" size class,[3] and the present-day definition of the mid-size car category used in North America.[4][5] Compact executive cars are part of the D-segment size category.

D-segment sales represent approximately 7% of the market in 2010s. [6] [7]

Characteristics

Most D-segment cars are sedans/saloons or wagons/estates but hatchbacks, and coupes have been common.

Pricing and specification of D-segment cars can vary greatly, from basic low-cost transport to more luxurious and expensive models. As of 2021 the typical D-segment category size span from approx. 4.6m to 4.8m.

Current models

D-segment cars in Europe are the BMW 3 Series, Tesla Model 3, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4/S4/RS4, Mazda6, Škoda Superb, Volvo S60/V60, Citroen C5X, Peugeot 508, Audi A5/S5/RS5, BMW 4 Series, Volkswagen Arteon, Toyota Camry and Polestar 2. [8]

100,000 – 200,000 sales (Best-Selling)

50,000 – 100,000 sales

10,000 – 50,000 sales

List of current cars produced in 2024

Sales figures in Europe

2021
rank 		Brand Model 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 % change
(2020–2021)
1 Tesla Model 3 – – – – – 95,168 85,979 140,868 Increase +64%
2 BMW 3 Series 168,275 143,023 144,561 129,053 106,991 124,537 118,369 113,209 Decrease -4%
3 Volkswagen Passat 153,677 226,127 206,813 183,288 154,074 124,650 115,363 82,488 Decrease -28%
4 Audi A4/S4/RS4 124,170 124,466 162,655 146,006 112,484 102,994 77,515 59,251 Decrease -24%
5 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 136,474 173,011 176,038 176,915 150,995 143,293 81,909 56,927 Decrease -30%
6 Volvo S60/V60 54,663 54,354 53,268 45,335 46,945 65,917 58,003 47,054 Decrease -19%
7 Škoda Superb 46,149 50,533 85,879 81,410 74,697 67,488 59,925 46,285 Decrease -23%
8 BMW 4 Series 53,948 72,769 67,983 64,710 52,248 35,908 18,139 33,083 Increase +82%
9 Audi A5/S5/RS5 47,591 45,202 43,686 61,619 49,799 41,812 28,525 26,100 Decrease -9%
10 Peugeot 508 41,797 43,301 37,104 22,842 13,378 41,329 29,011 25,202 Decrease -13%
11 Volkswagen Arteon – – – 9,798 21,495 19,048 13,582 20,994 Increase +55%
12 Polestar Polestar 2 – – – – – – 8,746 20,949 Increase +140%
13 Opel/Vauxhall Insignia 92,694 88,544 73,161 72,347 67,424 45,925 21,133 20,384 Decrease -4%
14 Ford Mondeo 45,405 79,673 70,900 56,173 49,596 39,555 21,222 13,481 Decrease -36%
15 Toyota Camry – – – – – 7,640 9,119 8,222 Decrease -10%
16 Alfa Romeo Giulia – – 10,475 24,679 17,075 10,932 7,436 6,297 Decrease -15%
17 Subaru Legacy/Outback 6,415 10,806 8,242 7,016 7,460 7,504 3,844 6,045 Increase +57%
18 Renault Talisman – 1,824 34,344 32,163 19,784 16,405 8,025 5,608 Decrease -30%
19 Mazda Mazda6 31,032 30,519 29,226 23,090 23,090 22,048 6,950 4,890 Decrease -30%
20 Jaguar XE – 16,535 24,461 18,999 10,877 7,978 3,780 2,039 Decrease -46%
21 Kia Stinger – – – 1,143 3,820 3,600 1,387 1,142 Decrease -18%
22 BMW i4 – – – – – – – 762 New
23 Lexus IS 9,610 7,729 6,234 5,649 5,413 3,282 1,855 551 Decrease -70%
24 Kia Optima 3,409 3,263 9,515 16,152 14,404 12,202 6,086 430 Decrease -93%
25 Subaru Levorg – 2,437 4,689 2,865 1,748 1,395 825 417 Decrease -49%
26 Lexus RC 30 526 1,815 1,390 1,334 1,082 710 96 Decrease -86%
27 Genesis G70 – – – – – – – 96 New
28 Citroën C5 X – – – – – – – 63 New
29 Xpeng P5 – – – – – – – 8 New
Mainstream 527,783 619,474 625,185 542,947 450,035 – – –
Premium 613,234 662,738 709,754 694,030 584,091 – – –
Segment total – – – – – 1,046,829 787,815 742,941 Decrease -6%
Source [9][10] [11][12] [13][14] [15][16] [17][18] [6] [7] [19]

Notes:

Jump in segment total sales after 2019. year is because premium cars are included.

From 2014 to 2018 premium cars are not included in total segment sales.

Premium brands and models are marked italic.

Electric cars are included in D-segment from 2019. year.

Market share in Europe

2019 - After years of decline, the midsized car segment is actually up 1% in 2019 to 1.05 million sales, maintaining a 6.7% share of the overall car market. [6]

2020 - The midsized car segment is down 25% in 2020 to just under 790,000 sales, as its share of the European car market drops to 6.6%, slightly down from 6.7% last year. And luxury brands have now officially taken over control of this class, improving their share to 62.3% from 60.5% last year and claiming four of the top-5 positions. The top-3 players all gain share, outperforming not only the class but also the overall market. [7]

Historic models

Main pages: Category:Euro NCAP large family cars and Category:Mid-size cars

Note: this list includes cars from these decades which carried a different nameplate or numeric designation to the modern day equivalent, and in some cases there is no modern day direct equivalent

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

See also

References

  1. ^ "Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 - Merger Procedure" (PDF). www.europa.eu. exact market definition was left open .. boundaries between segments are blurred by factors other than the size or length of cars
  2. ^ "Impact on the Competitiveness of the European Automotive Industry of Potential FTA with India and ASEAN" (PDF). www.europa.eu. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Latest Safety Ratings". www.euroncap.com. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  4. ^ "2019 Nissan Altima Proves Midsize Sedans Aren't Dead Yet". www.wardsauto.com. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  5. ^ "America's D-Segment Flab". www.thetruthaboutcars.com. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "European sales 2019 Midsized cars". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "European sales 2020 Midsized cars". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  8. ^ "European sales 2020 Midsized cars". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  9. ^ "European sales 2014 Midsize segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  10. ^ "European sales 2014 Premium Midsize segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  11. ^ "European sales 2015 Midsize segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  12. ^ "European sales 2015 Premium Midsize segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  13. ^ "European sales 2016 Midsized car segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  14. ^ "European sales 2016 Premium Midsize segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  15. ^ "European sales 2017 Midsized car segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  16. ^ "European sales 2017 Premium Midsize segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  17. ^ "European sales 2018 Midsized car segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  18. ^ "European sales 2018 Premium Midsize segment". www.carsalesbase.com. March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  19. ^ "European sales 2021 Midsized cars". www.carsalesbase.com. May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
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