Five cars struggling to sell in spain: january 2026's bottom five
A look at the automotive slowdown
As with any ranking, there are winners and losers. We've previously highlighted the top 10 best-selling cars in Spain for January 2026. Now, it's time to examine the other end of the spectrum – the five cars that managed to sell fewer than 10 units last month. To ensure a fairer comparison, we've excluded electric vehicles and high-end, luxurybrands, focusing on models from mainstream or semi-premium manufacturers all equipped with combustion engines. Let's dive in and see what's struggling to find buyers.
Alfa romeo giulia: a veteran in decline
The Alfa Romeo Giulia, with a mere 10 units sold, is a veteran in the Spanish market. Introduced in 2015, it competes in the competitive D-segment for mid-size sedans. It faces stiff competition from models like the Audi A5 (130 units), the BMW 3 Series (283 units), and the Mercedes C-Class (229 units), which are clearly selling much better. This has relegated the Giulia to achieving only residual sales. The imminent arrival of new generations of the Giulia and Stelvio, expected later in 2026 and early 2027, is further diminishing buyer interest in the current model. Still, the Giulia remains a solid choice for those seeking a sporty sedan with a well-tuned driving experience.
Citroën c5 x: a unique crossover that's missing the mark
The Citroën C5 X is another car struggling to gain traction. This crossover with a fastback body style – more akin to a raised sedan than a traditional SUV – only managed 3 sales in Spain in January 2026. This incredibly low number places it as the least-sold Citroën model. Sales of the C5 X plummeted by 72% in this first month of the year. In contrast, the Citroën C5 Aircross, its SUV-bodied counterpart, achieved 216 registrations, representing a 22% increase compared to the previous year. Citroën's overall sales also dipped by 11% in January.
Cupra ateca: an enduring holdover
Believe it or not, the Cupra Ateca is still available for sale in Spain. It's one of the few European markets where you can still purchase it, as it has been discontinued in many others. Despite this, the more extreme Ateca continues to survive with very low annual sales. In fact, sales were so low that only one unit was registered in January 2026. Like the Giulia, the Cupra Ateca is hampered by its age (10 years since the base Seat Ateca model’s release). The availability of alternatives within the Cupra brand, such as the Cupra Terramar, and its price (starting at €48,000) don't help either. Interestingly, Cupra's overall sales increased by a substantial 75% in the first month of 2026.
Ds 3: a premium struggle
The DS 3 is also experiencing a difficult start to the year. This small model from Stellantis’s premium brand closed January 2026 with a mere one registration in Spain. To put that in perspective, the DS 9 managed five registrations – more than the DS 3, despite being an electric vehicle with a significantly higher price tag. DS as a brand is also facing headwinds, with sales declining by 38% in the first month of the year. The DS 3 saw the largest drop in registrations, down 75% compared to the same month last year.
Suzuki s-cross: a significant setback
Rounding out the list is the Suzuki S-Cross. With just one car sold in Spain in January 2026, the S-Cross represents a significant stumble for the Japanese brand. It’s even their lowest-selling car, trailing behind the Suzuki Across (derived from the Toyota RAV4 and priced at €55,480). Partly due to the S-Cross's poor performance, Suzuki saw its sales decrease by 16% in the first month of 2026 compared to the same period last year.