European Car Brands

Europe’s auto industry is the backbone of the EU economy. The turnover generated by the sector factors for 7% of the GDP of the European Union. Vehicles produced in Europe are reliable, sustainable, energy-efficient, and safest in the market. So much so that 80% of the growth of the automobile industry happens outside the Union. This article takes you through the various European brands from Germany, Italy, France, and United Kingdom, sports cars, and finally, the most reliable European cars.

Best European Car Brands

European cars have long been considered to be of high quality and a class above other countries. Even though vehicles from Asia and the US dominate the market, they have maintained their high status, thus becoming an important part of the World Car Heritage. They are the epitome of beauty, aesthetics, performance, and class. Here are the top car brands (in no particular order):

• Volkswagen
• Renault
• Peugeot
• Mercedes
• BMW

Major Car Brands from Germany

German automotive industry has given birth to many high-performance sports cars and still does. German designed cars have won some of the prestigious awards, including European Car of the year, the International car of the year, World car of the year, amongst many.

• Volkswagen – Mass Market

One of the largest car manufacturers globally, Volkswagen owns most of the big automobile names in the country. Founded in the year 1937, Volkswagen’s name amounted to more than half of its sales in 2018.

• Mercedes-Benz – Luxury

Mercedes-Benz the luxury car brand that has quietly revolutionized the German motoring industry in many ways. The brand is a collaboration between Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler from the Daimler Motor Company.

• Audi – Luxury

Audi, the luxury car manufacturer, is known for its innovative technologies(Audi’s Virtual Cockpit) and flawless interiors. The brand is recognizable for its emblem, the 4-rings.

• BMW – Luxury

Famous for its tagline “Ultimate Driving Machine,” BMW is one of the most diverse luxury car brands in just Germany and the continent. It prides itself on providing the best driving experience. Their emblem reflects the colors of Bavaria.

• Porsche – Luxury

Known for the legendary Porsche 911, the brand is known for its exclusivity and high performance. The vehicle is known for its classic styling and features that do not change much with each model.

Major Car Brands from the United Kingdom

Being the pioneers of the industrial revolution, some of the much-loved ultra-luxury cars and luxury sports cars are from the United Kingdom. Except for Rolls-Royce, all the vehicles are made in the United Kingdom.

• Aston Martin – Luxury

Long before its fame, the Aston Martin had a legion of fans in the United Kingdom, starting with James Bond. Their current portfolio includes Vantage and the upcoming Rapide.

• Bentley – Ultra-Luxury

Synonymous with luxury, Bentley was a fixture among the United Kingdom automobile organizations and pioneers for the 70’s saloon cars. It won the prestigious Le Mans race 5 times between the ’20s and the ’30s.

• Rolls Royce – Ultra-Luxury

Rolls Royce is the epitome of luxury. Their vehicles are huge, extravagant, and are tailored to the demands of the customers.

Major Car Brands from France

Though France has a long history of manufacturing cars, they were never much about mechanical engineering. But still, they have the most beautiful cars in the country.

• Peugeot – Mass-Market

The France vehicle manufacturers are the longest-standing car companies dating as far back as Napoleon Bonaparte. They come under the parent company PSA group which holds Citroën, Opel, Groupe PSA, ARAMIS SAS, and more under its umbrella.

• Renault – Mass-Market

Founded over 120 years ago, the France car company Renault has known for its racing cars as well as their family-oriented vehicles. It has a strategic partnership with Nissan and Mitsubishi, making it the world’s largest seller of light vehicles.

• Bugatti – Luxury Supercars

Bugatti has the reputation of being the oldest vehicle makers in Italy and the continent dating back to 1909. Its portfolio includes the Bugatti Veyron, the fastest production vehicle.

Major Car Brands from Italy

The racing world would not be the same without cars from Italy. They have a history of building some of the best sports cars.

• Fiat – Small Cars

Famous for its stylish looks and affordable prices, Fiat also has some sports cars, aka roadsters. Though they lost their place in the last few years, the launch of the Fiat 500 has taken it back to the top.

• Ferrari – Super Luxury Sports Cars

Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1939 Ferrari, the car manufacturers from Italy are an embodiment of style and nicknamed the Italian Stallion. They are well known for their sports cars and their F1 racing team.

• Maserati – Super Luxury Sports Cars

Though primarily associated with luxury cars, Maserati makes luxury vehicles in executive saloons and grand tourers (SUVs) models.

• Lamborghini – Super Luxury Sports Cars

Designed by Ferruccio Lamborghini, Lamborghini is relatively new in 1963. Synonymous to supercars, the Italian car companies are the pioneers for the concept of a hyperloop.

Which Is Better: Mercedes Benz, BMW or Audi?

To start with, all three are premium luxury brands based out of Germany. Of the three, Benz has a safety record and is known for being reliable. The other two brands not so much with Audi ranking the lowest but has superior features and technology. BMW, on the other hand, is sporty and offers a superior driving experience.

Which Is Faster: Audi or BMW?

BMW is faster due to its edgy and sporty design. On the other hand, Audi tends to be more conservative. Comparing the speeds of the two vehicles of similar configuration, the former is the fastest.

Biggest Car Manufacturer in Europe

Volkswagen group from Germany has long been the biggest European vehicle manufacturers. It is also the parent company for Porsche, Audi, Škoda, SEAT, Bugatti, Bentley, and Lamborghini.

Top-Selling European Car in 2020

Volkswagen Golf is the top-selling car on the continent. Manufactured by VW German carmakers, they sold 312,000 models in the European continent in 2020 alone.

Sports Cars in Europe

Sports cars may be anything from a two-seater to a track car or even a front-engined grand touring coupé. Here’s a list of the best European sports cars:

• Porsche Boxster
• Jaguar F-Type
• Mercedes SLS AMG
• Audi R8
• Ferrari 458 Italia
• Lamborghini Aventador
• BMW Z4

Most Popular European Car Brands in the US

As of 2020, Volkswagen was first among the best-selling European car brands in the United States. It was closely followed by Mercedes Benz and BMW, all of which are from Germany.

Top 10 Luxury Car Brands from Europe

Luxury cars are known for their powerful engines and impeccable interiors. Whether it is the speed or the performance, luxury vehicles are a class above the rest.

• Aston Martin
• Lotus
• Bentley
• Bugatti
• Ferrari
• Lamborghini
• Maserati
• Mercedes-Benz
• Porsche
• Rolls-Royce

Are European Cars Reliable?

European cars are the most dependable and mainly reliable through their innovation, technological advancements, styling, and, most importantly, their interiors’ quality.

Most Reliable European Car Brand

The most reliable European car brand is Mercedes Benz, with its quality build and dependability. Their s-class has earned a reputation for being one the safest cars. Another expected brand in the list is Porsche with its 911. But keep in mind that both these cars rely primarily on technologies and hence would require regular maintenance. The unexpected entry in the list is Peugeot with its new launch, Peugeot 3008.

Why Are European Cars So Expensive?

European cars, particularly those from Germany, are among the most expensive cars. But they are rightly so and for the below factors:

• Excellent quality of the materials
• Expensive and exhaustive engineering
• Valuable brand name
• Labor costs
• Exchange rates

Conclusion

There is no doubt that European cars are some of the most beautiful, stylish, and technologically advanced on this side of the continent. The vehicles listed above are not just the peak of beauty but also luxury in most cases. Moreover, driving such beauties gives you an experience matched by nothing else. However, the countries will also have homegrown brands that are not presented in this article. For over 45 years, Little Germany is a certified Service Center that specializes in full service and repair services for German-made cars. Contact Little Germany for all your auto repair needs (After-Hours form).

American Cars vs European Cars

American Cars vs European Cars

While Europe and the U.S. see eye to eye on various things, cars aren’t one of them. Europeans use them to get around, while for Americans, it is a way of life. Hence there are some glaring differences in terms of performance, quality, and design.

American automotive industry is a mixed bag of vehicles from Europe, Asia (Japan and Korea), and indigenous. It is challenging to gauge which vehicle trumps over the other one since the features vary depending on the region.

Our article brings you the ultimate guide, comparing European, American and Japanese vehicles.

Are European Cars Better than American Cars?

European cars are better than their American counterparts.

Here are a few reasons why you should go for a European car:

• They have better fuel efficiency owing to higher gas costs.
• European cars are technologically advanced.
• They are aesthetically appealing and have attractive and smooth exteriors.
• They can last for a long period of time hence has a good resale value.
• European cars are known for their comfort and pleasant driving experience.

Why Do European Vehicles Look Different?

There are some fundamental differences between the cars from the two continents.

Here are a few basics:

• European vehicles are built smaller than Americans due to their smaller roads.
• American cars are stylish and contemporary, and more utility-based. But, those from Europe are more sophisticated. They focus on styling, aesthetics, and overall design.
• Even though Americans love power, it is the European vehicles that shine at high speeds.
• Americans prefer automatic vehicles while Europeans the manual stick variant.

Why Does European Car Have a Small Engine?

A smaller engine is more fuel-efficient and lighter. More than performance, Europeans are more concerned about being energy efficient, which is the case with the engines.

Besides, cars in Europe are compact; hence the small engines make more sense.

Which Is the Best European Car?

Cars from Europe are more famous since they are more reliable and give a good value in terms of safety and price.

Here are the top vehicles of 2020:

• Volkswagen Arteon SE
• Audi A4 Technik 2.0 TFSi
• Jaguar XE P300
• Volkswagen Jetta GLi
• BMW 740i

Can the U.S. Adopt Europe’s Fuel-Efficient Vehicles?

No! It’s not possible for the US to adopt Europe’s fuel-efficient vehicles since certain aspects of the European models would not work in the US.

• Price: Vehicles in Europe are expensive
• Power: The average European vehicle doesn’t pack as much power

Are Foreign Vehicles More Expensive to Maintain?

Yes! Foreign vehicles are more expensive to maintain. If your car is foreign made and imported to the US, its spare parts have to arrive from its place of origin. Moreover, not all mechanics would have the skills to tackle the issue. You need specially trained mechanics with high labor charges.

For foreign automakers established in the US, spares should not be a problem since they would be available with dealerships and certified mechanics.

Why Does Europe Drive Small Cars?

Generally, Europe has narrow, winding roads, especially in the historical cities, five-seven hundred years old. In few places, medieval streets still exist, making it difficult for vehicles. Hence cars across Europe are small to make driving in these lanes easier.

Also, they have stringent policies when it comes to energy-efficient cars.

Why Aren’t European Cars Big Sellers in America?

The expectation of an average American is quite different from that in Europe. They love the bigger vehicles like large trucks, crossovers, and family cars.

Here are some of the reasons why European models aren’t a big hit.

• Dual government regulations
• They love big vehicles.
• Thirst for power
• More expensive than homegrown models
• Value for money

What Is the Cheapest Foreign Car to Maintain?

Foreign cars are expensive to maintain. The high price comes down to the spare parts and qualified mechanics. With that in mind, the cheapest foreign cars to maintain are from Japan.

• Nissan Pathfinder 2014
• Kia Soul 2016
• Toyota Corolla 2013
• Honda Accord 2016
• Toyota Camry 2015

What Is the Most Popular European Car Brand?

Volkswagen Group seems to be the most popular European brand recently, followed by Renault, Ford, and Peugeot.

Who Is the Biggest Car Manufacturer in Europe?

Volkswagen Group seems to be the largest car manufacturer in Europe in terms of raw unit volume. However, it has to be noted that most of their plants are located outside Europe in Asia, Brazil, and the US.

Brands like Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, Seat, Porsche, and a few more come under the Volkswagen Groups umbrella.

What’s Better a Lexus or Mercedes?

Both Lexus and Mercedes Benz offer opulent and robust vehicles that are rich in features as well. Comparing the both, Mercedes edges out Lexus by just a tiny margin.

If you are looking for pure opulence and luxury, Mercedes is the brand for you. For an affordable upscale quality car, Lexus is the automaker for you.

Which Car Is 100 Percent Made in America?

Determining the origin of a car is a much-complicated process since the supply chain can exist anywhere in the world. Here’s a list of top vehicles whose parts are more or less made in the US.

• Ford Ranger
• Jeep Cherokee
• Tesla Model S
• Tesla Model 3

What American Car Holds its Value the Best?

One of the most important factors influencing an average American when buying a new car is the resale value. When you pool $30,000 for a vehicle, you want something worth a few years on.

Here are a few reliable cars that hold the most value.

• Nissan Frontier
• GMC Canyon
• Dodge Challenger
• Subaru WRX
• Toyota 4Runner

Are American Cars More Expensive in Europe?

No! American vehicles are not as expensive as their counterparts in Europe. European car manufacturers ensure that their vehicles are dependable in terms of:

• Design
• Styling
• Quality
• Performance
• Engineering

And above all, is the brands. Brand name plays a vital role in influencing the buyers.

Why Is Dodge So Unreliable?

Dodge has ranked at 25 (way closer to the bottom) in 2014 consumer reports regarding reliability. The American automakers have since then vastly improved and are now ranked quite high at 8th position.

It is currently one of the most reliable American brands. The Dodge Challenger and Grand Caravan received above-average ratings.

Why Are American Cars Not Sold in Europe?

American cars are not sold in Europe since they are not as popular as their domestic vehicles.

Here are a few reasons why:

• American cars have an appetite for fuel.
• Europe prefers energy-efficient vehicles.
• Import duty is 10% rather than the 2.5% that the US charges.

Why are American Cars Considered Less Reliable?

America’s love for cars and their need for speed doesn’t translate well to homegrown brands.

• Vehicles made in America have a high recall rate.
• The build quality is not as good since they compete to race ahead of their European counterparts.
• European vehicles are innovative when it comes to styling, which their American counterparts are still to catch up.
• American vehicles are neither known for their fuel efficiency nor do they make an effort to increase efficiency.

Why Do American Cars Have a Bad Reputation?

Even though it isn’t the case with all the vehicles, American automakers have obtained a bad reputation for the below reasons:

• American cars are cheap, which translates to low quality. They also have a rep for poor handling. Their parts are cheaply made and put together in an assembly line.
• American vehicles are bigger than those in European and Asian markets. This also meant that they are also gas guzzlers and not incredibly energy-efficient.

What American Made Car Gets the Best Gas Mileage?

As fuel prices continue to rise, consumers continue to buy vehicles that save gas and are reliable.

Here are a few top vehicles that seem to have hit the nail.

• Ford Fiesta
• Chevy Spark
• Ford Focus
• Chevy Sonic
• Chevy Cruze
• Ford Fusion Hybrid

Why Are Pickup Trucks in the U.S. So Large?

While American cars have long been hated in Europe, it is a mixed bag with pickup trucks. Since most pickup trucks are utilitarian, in the U.S. it is more luxurious.

• Better than the European models in terms of size and design.
• Though not as fuel-efficient, they make sense to buy due to the tax breaks.
• The size works better for work-related purposes.

Are Japanese Cars Better than German Cars?

Yes! Japanese cars are considered to be the best among the two when compared.

Japanese automakers are known for:

• They are built to last long.
• Reliability
• Affordability

However, if you prefer features like comfort, speed, performance, and power in your car, you should look for the latter.

Are Japanese Cars Popular in Europe?

Not particularly! Europeans have a remarkably different taste, which translates into vehicles as well. So homegrown vehicles dominate in that region.

However, more and more people prefer Japanese vehicles nowadays.

Are European Cars Safer than Japanese Cars?

Yes! European cars tend to be safer than Japanese cars. They are built to be sturdy with a smooth, controlled ride as well as have shorter braking distances.

Japanese vehicles also have lesser airbags when compared to their European counterparts.

Is it Better to Buy Japanese Vehicles or European Vehicles?

Japanese vehicles are famous for their quality, reliability, and easy maintenance. But European vehicles, on the other hand, offer you power and acceleration.

If you are looking for a new vehicle that won’t breakdown, go for Japanese cars. But, for power, safety, and performance, go for a European make.

Conclusion

Americans love their bigger, spacious vehicles while Europe small vehicles with even smaller engines. Japan, on the other hand, preaches reliability and safety. These traits generally come from the region they originate.

If you compare the three, Europeans easily win with their fuel-efficient, quality cars. American automakers seem to be racing to catch up with their counterparts, sometimes with disastrous results.

But if you wish to have a vehicle that lasts for many years to come, Japanese may be your choice.

For over 45 years, Little Germany is a certified Service Center that specializes in full service and repair services for German-made cars. Contact Little Germany for all your auto repair needs (After-Hours form).