Superminis and small cars
Volkswagen Polo depreciation in the UK (2026)
How much value does a used Volkswagen Polo lose? We analysed 438 Volkswagen Polo cars advertised by UK dealers in October 2026 to measure how the asking price falls with age and with mileage.
By Juan Pedro Nguema · Updated
- Cars analysed
- 438
- Median asking price
- £16,149
- Middle 80% of prices
- £11,999 – £19,085
- Model years
- 2017–2026
- Value lost per year
- 3.2%
- Value lost per 10,000 miles
- 4.2%
- Automatic premium
- +17.4%
- Automatic share
- 28%
Fuel mix: petrol 100%.
How the Volkswagen Polo compares with the market
Holding mileage, fuel and gearbox constant, each extra year of age takes about 3.2% off the asking price of a used Volkswagen Polo. That is better than the market, which loses about 5–6% a year, and ranks 1st of the 15 most-listed models in our study (1st loses the least).
Each extra 10,000 miles takes about 4.2% off, which is less sensitive to mileage than the market (about 5% per 10,000 miles); that ranks 1st of 15 for mileage. Overall, the Volkswagen Polo holds its value better than the typical used car.
Volkswagen Polo asking prices by year
The oldest model year in the table, 2018 (13 cars), has a median asking price of £10,399 with 50,658 miles. The newest, 2026, sits at £17,199 with 3,614 miles. The biggest jump between consecutive years is from 2024 (£15,449) to 2025 (£18,374), partly because the newer cars have fewer miles (6,775 against 15,703).
| Year | Cars | Median price | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 13 | £10,399 | 50,658 |
| 2019 | 28 | £11,899 | 38,703 |
| 2020 | 31 | £12,499 | 40,831 |
| 2021 | 22 | £13,174 | 34,029 |
| 2022 | 41 | £14,499 | 27,600 |
| 2023 | 60 | £15,799 | 20,603 |
| 2024 | 69 | £15,449 | 15,703 |
| 2025 | 66 | £18,374 | 6,775 |
| 2026 | 105 | £17,199 | 3,614 |
Medians mix trims, engines and fuel types, so a single year's figure can move up or down with the mix of cars on sale. The per-year and per-mile rates above come from a regression that controls for fuel and gearbox.
What this means if you're selling your Volkswagen Polo
The Polo is the slowest-depreciating model of the 15 we studied: 3.2% per year of age and 4.2% per 10,000 miles. An older Polo therefore keeps a larger share of its value than most small cars, which supports a confident asking price.
Every Polo in the sample is petrol, and 28% are automatic. An automatic adds about 17.4%, so a DSG car is worth highlighting; a manual competes with the large majority of listings.
What this means if you're buying a used Volkswagen Polo
The slow depreciation cuts both ways: you will pay more for an older Polo than for a rival of the same age. A 2020 car is advertised at a median £12,499 with 40,831 miles.
Interestingly, the 2026 median (£17,199) is below the 2025 median (£18,374). That reflects the trim mix of cars on sale rather than newer cars being worth less, so compare specification, not just year.
Worked example
A 2024 Volkswagen Polo with 15,703 miles is advertised at about £15,449. One more year of age takes off roughly £490; 10,000 more miles takes off roughly £650. A year in which you also drive 10,000 miles would cost around £1,140 in lost value, before fuel, tax, insurance and servicing.
Buying a used Volkswagen Polo? Check its history first
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