These 5 Popular Cars May Be Gone by 2027

4. Volkswagen Polo — Europe’s Favourite Small Car Faces the Axe

This one will shock many. The Volkswagen Polo has been a cornerstone of the European small car market for nearly 50 years. In the UK, it has long served as a premium alternative to the Ford Fiesta — better built, more refined, and carrying the prestigious VW badge that still carries real weight with UK buyers concerned about vehicle reliability and long-term costs.

Yet Volkswagen is in crisis. The company has faced significant financial pressure, announcing factory closures in Germany and undertaking a dramatic cost-reduction programme. Small, low-margin cars are the most vulnerable in any restructuring — and the Polo sits squarely in that firing line. VW’s ID. range of electric cars is where the investment is going, and the current Polo platform cannot be electrified cost-effectively.

Reports from within the automotive industry suggest the current Polo generation — already facelifted — may be the last. A true successor seems unlikely given VW’s strategic direction. For UK drivers who use the Polo as an accessible entry point into German premium motoring, the implications for car market trends and resale values are significant.

What replaces the Polo — if anything — remains one of the most pressing questions in the automotive industry right now. Don’t be surprised if the answer turns out to be nothing at all.

To find out which car is number 5, press number 6 below.