Cheap used cars 2024
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If it's been a while since you checked out the new car price lists, you might be surprised to discover that there's not a lot of choice for £15,000. Indeed, you'll need to find close to £14,000 to buy a Dacia Sandero or MG 3, two of Britain's cheapest new cars.
Which might explain why you're here looking for cheap used cars. You can choose from hundreds of thousands of cars, all of which are available now, so there's no need to wait for delivery. Better still, somebody else has taken the depreciation hit, with most cars losing a significant chunk of their value in the first year.
Because the car is pre-owned, you might have to put up with a few scrapes on the bodywork or a bit of wear on the inside, but at least you can use these as bargaining tools to bag yourself an even better deal. What's more, some manufacturers offer five-year and even seven-year warranties, so you could find that the used car is backed by a proper guarantee.
Here, we've selected some of the best used cars, including city roundabouts and small hatchbacks. There's even room for an SUV and a seven-seat MPV. We've set a budget of £5000, a maximum age of 10 years and a mileage cap of 100,000.
Cheap used cars
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Ford Fiesta
It might sound obvious, but the Ford Fiesta is one of the best cheap used cars you can buy. As Britain’s most popular new car for most of the past decade, you can be sure there are plenty to choose from. It therefore won’t be hard to find the engine and trim level that’s right for you. Parts are in plentiful supply, while a good network of Ford specialists ensures that maintenance won’t break the bank. Bonuses include the fact that the Fiesta is great to drive, cheap to run and easy to sell. Our £5,000 budget is enough for a 2016 example.
Fiat 500
Fancy a cheap used car that you can still buy new today? The cute and stylish Fiat 500 has been around for a while now, but it’s popular enough to still be on sale alongside it’s all-electric successor. But while a new 500 will cost you north of £16,800, there are lots of used examples for sale at less than £5,000. You might miss out on a couple of upgrades that have been introduced in recent years, but it’s still fundamentally the same car with all the same appeal and road presence.
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Volkswagen Polo
Many people search for Volkswagens when looking for cheap used cars, which serves only to maintain high resale values. You’ll get more for your money if you opt for something like a Renault Clio, Vauxhall Corsa or Peugeot 208. The thing is, few small cars offer the same blend of quality and image, which is why the Polo gets the nod here over the larger Golf. The interior is hard-wearing and hides its age, while the car’s robustness and reliability will provide peace of mind if you’re buying a Polo for your son or daughter. It’s a good car, but don’t pay a mint.
Toyota Aygo
The old Aygo shares a platform with the Peugeot 108 and Citroen C1, but Toyota’s excellent reputation for reliability gives the Aygo the edge over its city car siblings. Its angular styling is also the most interesting of the trio, while the interior is both youthful and well made. All versions are powered by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine, but don’t be fooled by the official fuel economy of 68.9mpg. Our Real MPG data suggests a figure of 56.4mpg is more realistic, which is still an impressive result. You get plenty of equipment as standard, but look out for some of the special editions.
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Dacia Duster
If you thought our list of cheap cars was going to be a stream of small cars and forgettable hatchbacks, think again, because here’s a family SUV. Indeed, the Dacia Duster is Britain’s cheapest SUV, which means it represents a bargain on the used car market. You’ll have to avoid the entry-level Access model if you want a radio and air conditioning, but the Duster is a spacious and practical workhorse that should be cheap to run. Some of the interior plastics were of substandard quality in 2012, so you might have to accept a bit of wear and tear in the cabin.
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Citroen Grand C4 Picasso
Seven-seaters with a sensible mileage are hard to come by at this end of the market, but there’s a good supply of Citroen Grand C4 Picassos. You’re unlikely to find the most recent version – introduced in 2014 and later renamed Grand C4 SpaceTourer – for this budget, but there’s a lot to like about this big Citroen. It’s good to drive and offers a commanding view of the road ahead, while the flexible seating arrangement is great for growing families. You even get three Isofix child seat mounting points along the middle row. Watch out for problems with the EGS automated manual transmission.
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Kia Picanto
The Kia Picanto isn’t the most exciting city car you can buy, but if you’re after excitement, you could always treat yourself to a box of fireworks. It’s here because it comes with a seven-year warranty, so even a 2016 example will be covered by Kia’s original guarantee. Just remember that the warranty is limited to 100,000 miles, although this will rarely be a problem on a city car. Avoid the basic model and the Picanto offers a generous level of equipment, plus it comes with the convenience of five doors. The boot is large enough for many boxes of fireworks.
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Skoda Fabia
We like to think of the Skoda Fabia as a 'Tesco Value' Volkswagen Polo. It shares a platform and many of its parts with its Volkswagen sibling, but because the Skoda badge is less likely to impress your neighbours, you'll save yourself a packet by opting for the Fabia. Few cars offer such a compelling blend of value, practicality and comfort, while those in search of more space can choose the incredibly spacious Fabia Estate. Standard equipment isn't brilliant, so make sure the Fabia you're looking at has the toys you desire.
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Nissan Qashqai
Meet Britain’s most popular small SUV. Since arriving in 2007, the Nissan Qashqai has cemented itself as the default car of choice for families across the land, as well as inspiring a legion of copycats. Whisper this, as it’s not the best family crossover on the market, but it’s here because there are so many to choose from. A high driving position and low running costs are central to its appeal, with the Renault-sourced diesel engines proving to be particularly economical. Look out for the Qashqai+2, which comes with a third row of seats for carrying up to seven people.
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Hyundai i30
The Hyundai i30 is a sensible and dependable alternative to family hatchbacks likes the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra. Launched in 2012, and facelifted in 2015, this generation of i30 offers nothing to get excited about, but few reasons to avoid it. That said, we'd choose the practical five-door hatchback over the more stylish three-door version, although an i30 Tourer is available if you're after even more space. All versions come with a long list of standard equipment, while Hyundai's reputation for reliability should provide some peace of mind.
What should I look out for when buying a cheap used car?
While your expectations should shift a little when you’re buying a car at the bottom end of the market, the basic rules still apply. Check for accident damage and signs of neglect and poor maintenance. Use the free services at your disposal, such as the government’s online MOT history checker. Don’t be put off by dents, scratches and car park dings – a bit of wear and tear is to be expected on a cheap car. It’s also a good idea to look at owners’ forums online, and see if there are any common issues that could prove costly – if there are, make sure they’ve already been sorted on the car you’re looking at.
Are some cheap cars more reliable than others?
In a word, yes. It’s no coincidence that some manufacturers do very well in customer satisfaction surveys, so while buying a Kia, Hyundai, Subaru, Toyota, Honda or Lexus is no guarantee of perfection, you stand a great chance of bagging a solid used car. Don’t be blinkered by the lure of a premium brand, because manufacturers like Land Rover, Mercedes and BMW don’t always perform well in customer and dealer surveys. If in doubt, opt for something from Japan or South Korea.
What is depreciation and how can it help me?
In the vast majority of cases, a new car will lose a chunk of its value the moment you drive it out of a showroom. This is called depreciation and it’s particularly severe in the first two or three years of a car’s life. Bad news for new car buyers, but great news if you’re buying used. It’s worth noting that many people today buy cars on a three- or four-year PCP finance deal, so look out for these cars when they hit the used market.
Can you recommend a used car for £4,500?
