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  "path": "/lifestyle/cars/drivers-warned-most-popular-cars-ford-vw-toyota",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-23T05:00:02.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Ford announces new European car plans after huge £14billion electric vehicle write-off",
    "Blue Badge parking approvals surge for 'hidden disabilities' including ADHD and anxiety",
    "Rachel Reeves set to axe fuel duty hike soon after protests from petrol and diesel drivers",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nSome of the most popular first cars for drivers could be disappearing from roads in the near future as new data shows dwindling numbers of once-loved vehicles.\n\nThe likes of the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and Toyota Yaris have fallen in popularity, despite being synonymous with the first vehicles purchased after passing a practical driving test.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nData shows that the UK's most popular first cars now total 4.64 million vehicles in 2025, a three per cent year-on-year fall.\n\nHowever, it has seen an even bigger drop of 12 per cent since peaking in 2016, marking the lowest level in over a decade.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe Ford Fiesta in particular has fallen to just under 1.3 million vehicles on the road, marking the fewest models on the road since 2012.\n\nWhile Ford ceased production of the Fiesta in 2023, numbers have dropped by 216,000 from UK roads since 2016.\n\nSimilarly, the Vauxhall Corsa has seen a dramatic 23 per cent drop between 2025 and 2016, with 274,000 fewer models on the road.\n\nLouis Maxwell, motoring expert at Gumtree, highlighted how the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and Renault Clio were popular among first-time drivers.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe noted that \"almost every new driver\" started in one of these vehicles a decade ago, thanks to cheap running costs and affordable upfront costs.\n\nMr Maxwell continued, saying: \"What the data now shows is that those traditional first cars are gradually disappearing from UK roads.\n\n\"The challenge for younger drivers is that demand for affordable used cars remains extremely strong, while supply continues to shrink.\n\n\"Production delays during COVID reduced the number of new cars entering the market, and manufacturers are now discontinuing iconic petrol models as they transition towards electric and hybrid vehicles.\"\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Ford announces new European car plans after huge £14billion electric vehicle write-off\n  * Blue Badge parking approvals surge for 'hidden disabilities' including ADHD and anxiety\n  * Rachel Reeves set to axe fuel duty hike soon after protests from petrol and diesel drivers\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe warned that this is creating a \"squeeze\" in the entry-level market, meaning younger drivers will likely end up paying more for an older vehicle than previous generations.\n\nWhile many popular vehicles have dropped in popularity, a handful of small city cars have seen their presence on UK roads increase.\n\nThe Peugeot 208 has seen staggering growth of 70 per cent compared to a decade ago, with 233,734 models on the road.\n\nOther popular vehicles bucking the trend include the Hyundai i10 (52 per cent rise), Kia Picanto (48 per cent) and the Fiat 500 (37 per cent).\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n### The 10 most popular first cars by number of registrations in 2016 and 2025\n\nFord Fiesta - Fallen 14 per cent from 1,505,974 to 1,289,335\n\nVauxhall Corsa - Fallen by 23 per cent from 1,179,480 to 905,288\n\nVolkswagen Polo - Risen by five per cent from 654,292 to 685,260\n\nFiat 500 - Risen by 37 per cent from 287,635 to 395,224\n\nToyota Yaris - Fallen by 26 per cent from 427,823 to 315,475\n\nRenault Clio - Fallen by 43 per cent from 537,856 to 307,809\n\nHyundai i10 - Risen by 52 per cent from 185,550 to 282,805\n\nPeugeot 208 - Risen by 70 per cent from 137,568 to 233,734\n\nNissan Micra - Fallen by 41 per cent from 380,053 to 225,751\n\nKia Picanto - Risen by 48 per cent from 148,597 to 220,081\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Drivers warned as most popular first cars disappearing from roads - Ford, VW, Toyota and more"
}