Despite a notable drop in registrations last month, Renault still managed to place five models among the top ten best-sellers in France, outpacing Peugeot with four and Citroën with just one. The Renault Clio once again led the way, while the highly anticipated R5 was absent from the rankings.
In May, the French passenger car market continued its decline, with registrations falling by 12% compared to May 2024. Renault’s performance lagged behind the overall trend, suffering a sharper decrease of 15.2%. In contrast, Dacia saw a positive shift, recording a 12.4% increase in registrations, largely thanks to strong sales of the Duster.
No foreign models managed to enter the top 10, with the Toyota Yaris and Yaris Cross falling just short. Electric vehicles also struggled to make a mark—Citroën’s ë-C3 was the best-performing EV, with just 1,500 units registered. Below is the list of the ten most-registered cars in France in May 2025.
1. Renault Clio – 9,737 units
The Clio once again secured the top spot by a wide margin, with 9,737 registrations. It has now reached a total of 42,671 units since the start of the year, extending its lead at the top of the rankings.
2. Peugeot 208 – 6,061 units
Peugeot’s 208 maintained its usual second-place position, continuing its head-to-head competition with the Clio. Although it lost further ground to Renault’s flagship, it did manage to stay ahead of the Dacia Sandero.
3. Dacia Sandero – 5,741 units
The Sandero came close to overtaking the 208, falling behind by only about 300 units. More importantly, it remains the best-selling model among private buyers in France this year and ranks third overall.
4. Peugeot 2008 – 4,885 units
The 2008 continued to outperform Renault’s Captur with 4,885 registrations. While this is a strong showing for Peugeot’s compact SUV, Renault remains dominant in the B-SUV segment with a combined 5,600 units sold between the Captur and Symbioz.
5. Dacia Duster – 3,279 units
Dacia’s Duster held fifth position for the month and overall since January. It also leads its segment in private sales, significantly outperforming its predecessor and confirming its broad appeal.
6. Peugeot 3008 – 3,229 units
The Peugeot 3008 once again topped the C-SUV segment, easily outpacing Renault’s Austral, which failed to break into the top 10 with just 1,360 units.
7. Renault Symbioz – 2,855 units
After a surprising debut last year, the Symbioz continues to gain traction. In May, it narrowly surpassed the Captur in registrations, reinforcing its growing popularity.
8. Renault Captur – 2,827 units
Though slightly edged out by the Symbioz, the Captur remains a strong contender. Together, the two models solidify Renault’s clear dominance in the B-SUV segment.
9. Citroën C3 – 2,585 units
Citroën’s compact C3 trailed behind the Clio, 208 and Sandero. With 2,585 registrations, it barely outperformed the electric ë-C3 (1,500 units), which is counted separately—unlike the combined total for the Peugeot 208 and its electric variant.
10. Peugeot 308 – 2,439 units
Rounding off the top 10, the Peugeot 308 registered 2,439 units in May, maintaining a steady but unremarkable presence in the competitive landscape.
Despite overall market challenges, French automakers continue to dominate the domestic leaderboard, with the Clio reinforcing its position as the nation’s favourite. However, the absence of the R5 from the top tier raises questions about its current momentum.