UK’s best-selling used cars revealed… as supermini snapped up by 306k Brits beats out rivals for THIRD year in a row
THE Ford Fiesta has been named the UK's best-selling used car for the third year in a row.
In 2024, a whopping 306,207 second-hand Fiestas were sold, according to new figures by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The motor smoked its closest rival, the Vauxhall Corsa, by 50,000 units.
Ford has sold 4.8million Fiestas in 46 years and it had 12 consecutive years as the No1 biggest seller from 2009 to 2020.
Ford discontinued the Fiesta in 2023, confirming there were no plans to create an eclectic version ahead of the 2023 ban on new petrol and diesel sales.
The next most popular Ford was the Cortina, with 4.3million sales from 1962 to 1982.
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Sales of Fiestas could continue to boom as there has been a 43.3 percent increase in drivers selling their used electric vehicles in 2024, according to SMMT.
The society believes the upcoming introduction of road tax on EVs this April is one of the main reasons for trading.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief, said: "Record sales of second hand EVs also demonstrates strong appetite for these cutting-edge cars at lower price points.
"Ensuring ongoing growth, however, means maintaining that affordability, along with supply, which requires meaningful fiscal incentives to stimulate consumer demand for new EVs and removing the VED expensive car tax disincentive that risks dragging down used EV affordability for years to come."
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Motor experts from online marketplace revealed their picks for the top bargain rides in Britain today, including a "perfect city car".
A 2014 Fiesta with 92,000 miles on the clock would set drivers back around £3,800.
Carwow's John Rawlings described it as a "great car to drive" and said that it offers more of a spacious layout than many of its rivals.
In January 2025 Auto Trader revealed the fastest-selling used cars of 2024, with Mercedes and Peugeot topping the list.
The Mercedes-Benz GLB Class, which took an average of just 16 days to sell last year.
The German marque also secured the second-place spot with its A-Class SUV, which takes 16 days and 12 hours on average to be sold.
TOP 10 BEST-SELLING USED CARS IN THE UK
Thinking of picking up a new used car? These are the top 10 most popular in the UK
1. Ford Fiesta - 306,207
2. Vauxhall Corsa - 252,761
3. Volkswagen Golf - 231,440
4. Ford Focus - 228,220
5. Mini - 160,516
6. Vauxhall Astra - 159,495
7. BMW 3 Series - 158,674
8. Volkwagen Polo - 151,786
9. Nissan Qashqai - 138,810
10. BMW 1 Series - 125,440
Indeed, SUVs make up eight of the 10 fastest-selling vehicles, while the other two are hatchbacks.
EVs are also the overwhelming favourite model type, taking a median of just 29 days to sell, compared to 30 and 31 days for petrol and diesel vehicles, respectively.
Vehicles aged between three and five years old were sold at an even greater pace, with EVs flying off forecourts in just 23 days.
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The data also found that Mercedes models sold almost two weeks faster than the average used car at 30 days.
Other popular models to make the list include the Peugeot 3008 and the Dacia Duster, while MG, like Mercedes, has two models inside the top 10.
