Best used cars under £15,000
A budget of £15,000 doesn't go a long way when you're buying a new car. Indeed, your choices are extremely limited if you want anything other than a small car without any bells and whistles. Fortunately, there are significantly more cars to choose from on the secondhand market.
There are tens of thousands of used cars available, many of which will be covered by the original manufacturer's warranty. If it isn't, you could consider an aftermarket warranty to provide some peace of mind should something go wrong.
Not that this should come before doing your homework. Consult used car guides, drive a few examples of the cars you fancy and create a shortlist of needs and wants before you part with your cash. That way you'll end up with a used car that's right for you.
To get you started, here are some of the best used cars you can buy for less than £15,000. The cars on our list were sold new after 2010 and should have no more than 100,000 miles on the clock.
Best used cars under £15,000
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Nissan Qashqai
The Nissan Qashqai has been a big seller in the UK for years now, which means there are loads to choose from on the used market. A £15,000 budget will get you a really good example of the previous generation model, sold new until 2021. Finding one still under warranty will be a stretch, but there are plenty of examples a few years old with really lower mileage under 40,000 miles. It’s a solid choice – comfortable to drive with a range of decent engines.
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Volkswagen Golf GTI
Some will point to the Mk1 as the best Golf GTI, while others will say that honour belongs to the Mk5. We’re going to add to the debate by nominating the Mk7, which is as enjoyable to drive as its illustrious forebears, but with the bonuses of modern tech and safety equipment. No other hot hatch offers the same breadth of ability – it’s as at home on the daily commute as it is on a racetrack. Power is sourced from a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, with power steadily increasing over the car’s lifetime. A budget of £15,000 is enough for a 2017 example, which is likely to be more fun than the current Mk8 GTI.
Audi TT
The Audi TT is the car for you if you’re after a perfect blend of image, style, build quality and dynamic appeal. Launched in 2014, the third-generation TT comes with a range of petrol and diesel engines, front- and four-wheel-drive, plus the option of Coupe and Roadster body styles. Either way, this is a smart and sophisticated car that, while not as sharp to drive as a Porsche 718 Cayman or Boxster, turns every journey into an event. The interior is a particular highlight, especially as all models come with Audi’s excellent ‘Virtual Cockpit’ digital instrument panel.
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BMW i3
Although there's an increasingly wide range of used electric cars available for £15,000, the BMW i3 remains one of the best options. Launched in 2013, the BMW i3 was responsible for adding a touch of premium class to the EV sector and the styling still looks fresh today. For this budget, you can afford a model with a 42.2kWh battery, which offers an official 193 miles of range. Earlier cars with 22kWh and 33kWh batteries are cheaper and should deliver anything between 80 and 100 miles respectively, which could be fine if you spend most of your time in the city.
SEAT Ateca
The SEAT Ateca shares a platform with the popular Volkswagen Tiguan, but lower prices make it a more attractive used buy. Subjectively, we think it looks more stylish than the Tiguan, too. The design of the cabin, admittedly, is a little unadventurous, but it’s built to the same high standards as the Volkswagen. It’s also good to drive, especially if you opt for the excellent 1.4 TSI petrol engine. If you’ve got one eye on running costs, look no further than the frugal 1.6 TDI diesel, which could achieve as much as 50mpg if you take it steady.
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Jaguar XE
We understand why so many people flock to the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class, but the Jaguar XE is worthy of your attention. The sharp styling gives it an edge over its German rivals, while the driving experience is rivalled only by the 3 Series. It’s a little short of rear legroom and boot space, but you’ll have no complaints from the driver’s seat, especially if you’re at the wheel of a post-2019 car. The facelift tweaked the styling, improved the dashboard and modernised the in-car tech. A range of four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines deliver excellent performance and fuel economy.
Renault Zoe
The Renault Zoe has been a pioneer of electric driving in the UK, having first been launched back in 2013. That means there are lots to choose from on the used market, and many will cost you less than £15,000. We’ve found several with less than 25,000 miles and just a couple of years old. Later models are significantly better than the early cars, especially if you opt for a Zoe with a 40kWh or 52kWh battery. It's also worth noting that some earlier models won't include the cost of the battery lease, so factor this into any decisions you make. You can buy-out the lease, but it won't be cheap.
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Skoda Superb
The Skoda Superb was named best large car at our 2019 Car of the Year awards. Four years on, you can buy a 2020 Superb for less than £15,000, which makes it even more appealing. Superb by name, superb by nature, because few cars offer the same blend of space, refinement and equipment. Passengers in the back are treated to limo-like legroom, with a boot that’s a match for an estate car. Need even more space? Opt for the Superb Estate. Excellent build quality and a range of efficient engines make this one of the best used cars you can buy.
Hyundai Ioniq
Launched in 2016, the Hyundai Ioniq was the first car to be offered with a choice of three electrified powertrains in a single body style. There’s a hybrid for diesel-like fuel economy, a plug-in hybrid for enough electric range for a daily commute, and an all-electric version if you’re ready to join the EV revolution. It’s not an exciting car, but the Ioniq boasts a long list of standard equipment, will be very cheap to run and comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty. Not bad, especially when you consider that £15,000 is enough for an electric Ioniq registered in 2022.
Kia Sportage
Kia's seven-year warranty takes the guess work out of buying a used car, which means the Sportage is a family SUV you can buy with confidence. Our budget is enough for a Sportage registered in 2021, so you'll enjoy at least four years of cover before you start worrying about big bills. Just make sure you don't exceed the 100,000 miles cap. Highlights include a long list of standard equipment, space for five people, a large boot and efficient engines. Find a GT-Line S and you'll think you're driving an SUV with a premium badge.
Can I buy a new car for under £15,000?
You can buy a new car for under £15,000, but there aren’t many. The Kia Picanto can be yours from £13,655, the MG3 from £13,820 and both the Citroen C3 and the Dacia Sandero start from around £14,000. The Citroen Ami is less than £8000, but it’s not technically a car – it’s a quadricycle. Most people buy new cars on finance, so the monthly repayments are more important than the overall list price.
What should I look for when buying a used car?
It doesn’t matter if you're spending £500 or £15,000 on a used car, the same rules apply. Do your homework before parting with your cash, take a test drive and carry out the necessary checks to ensure the car wasn’t stolen or written-off. A full service history is preferable, but don’t worry about the odd mark on the bodywork or scuff on the alloy wheels. There are plenty of used cars available, so shop around for the best deals.
Should I use car finance or a personal loan?
It all comes down to the interest rate and how much you can afford to spend on the monthly repayments. Using car finance means the vehicle won’t be yours until you’ve made the final payment, but you might be able to negotiate a better deal via the salesperson. The car is yours when you use a personal loan, but in both cases the car is likely to be worth less when you’ve finished the contract.
Which used luxury cars are best?
