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Best used cars 2024
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Used cars are big business right now because of limited new car supply, so if you want to bag a bargain you need to shop around. We've done the hard work for you with this list of the best used cars money can buy.
A pandemic, a war and other factors have left new car buyers waiting several months (even years) for their new car order. Many aren't prepared to wait, turning instead to the readily available supply of used cars. The problem is that's pushed up second hand car prices, so you need to shop around.
We've highlighted 10 of the best second hand car gems for 2024 that range in budget and car type. Whether you're in the market for a cheap and cheerful car for around town or something a bit larger to transport the family on longer trips, or looking for something fun, we've got the car from you.
There's a lot to be said when it comes to buying a used car, but the big appeal is getting a good deal and saving potentially huge amounts of cash over buying a new car. Why not check out heycar's list of dealer approved used cars for sale?
We've got everything from small city cars, all the way up to smart SUVs and electric cars. What links all these cars together though is that for the money, they represent excellent value and are our top second hand car picks. Read on to find out what we think are the best used cars on the market today.
ou can either buy your next used car through one of our trusted dealers or without the need to even leave your living room? Our complete online process makes searching, buying and collecting your next used car simply feel good.
If you're ready to buy we've got 1000s of Used Cars for Sale, while if you're looking to save money, check out our guide to the Best Car Deals.
Best used cars 2024
1. Ford Fiesta
Used prices from £5000
We couldn't have a list of the best used cars to buy without including the Ford Fiesta. It's been Britain's best-selling car for well over 10 years, and it's easy to see why. Not only is it cheap to run and easy to drive, it's perfect for everyday use. Whether you're a new driver or looking to downsize, the stylish Fiesta ticks an awful lot of boxes.
A Fiesta is also very well equipped for the price, while there's even enough space for four adults. Not a big deal if you're looking for a compact family car, but great news if you're looking to get your first car and you want some decent space for your mates.
You're spoilt for choice when it comes to picking out a good quality used Ford Fiesta. For under £5000 you're looking at a five-year-old car, and we'd recommend hunting one out with a 1.25-litre petrol engine (unless you're planning a lot of motorway miles). Double your budget and £10,000 will get you a nearly new Fiesta with a 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine. Available in 100PS, 125PS and 140PS power outputs, these punchy little engines make the Fiesta a rewarding drive.
2. Volkswagen Golf
Used prices from £9000
The Volkswagen Golf might be a bit more expensive than rivals like the Ford Focus or Skoda Octavia, but it's a perennial used car favourite. There's an all-new model, the Mark 8 Golf, but older models are still a great buy if you're after a comfortable family car with a premium feel.
It's not just comfy, but it's also a great handling family hatchback. Controls are light and the grippy front-wheel drive system works really well when you hit upon a windy B-road. You're not short on engine choice either, with 1.6 and 2.0-litre TDI diesel engines proving popular, while the 1.0 and 1.5-litre TSI petrol engines manage to be both efficient and pack a good performance.
A budget of around £9,000 will get you a seven-year-old diesel hatchback, while £15,000 gets you a car around two years newer with fewer miles. It also means you'll have a wider pick of engines and cars with lower miles.
3. BMW i3
Used prices from £15,000
There's a growing number of used electric car buys on the market, including the likes of the Kia e-Niro, Nissan Leaf and small electric cars like the Volkswagen e-Up and SEAT Mii Electric, but we think the BMW i3 is a brilliant choice if you're looking for something to turn heads.
Launched back in 2013, it looks fresher and more modern than many new cars, while the interior is just as impressive. There's a slick floating infotainment screen and enough space for four adults.
The BMW i3 initially launched with a small 22kWh battery that provided an 80-mile range between charges, while a Range Extender model benefitted from a tiny two-cylinder petrol engine that would add an extra 100 miles of range. BMW uprated the batteries over time, first with a 33kWh battery that saw a range of around 100 miles and then a 42kWh battery, boosting the electric range to 195 miles.
A budget of £15,000 will get you an early Range Extender i3, while just over £20,000 will get you a BMW i3 with the newer 42kWh battery.
4. Mazda MX-5
Used prices from £12,000
There's lots of sensible cars in this list so time for a bit of fun, and you can't have much more fun on the road than in a second hand Mazda MX-5. The latest generation model is now several years old now which means it's starting to get quite cheap.
£12,000 will get you either a 2015 1.5 SE model with just 18,500 miles on the clock, or a fully-loaded 2015 2.0-litre Sport Nav with 52,500 miles. That's not a lot of cash for something that'll put a bigger smile on your face at normal speeds than any six-figure performance car.
The stylish, simple Mazda MX-5 offers brilliantly agile and entertaining handling combined with willing engines and a surprisingly comfortable ride. It's also a convertible for those wind-in-the-hair journeys, with a simple and reliable manually folding roof.
Because it's so light and not too powerful it's even pretty cheap to run, while Mazda has a good reputation for reliability. The only drawback is it's pretty impractical, with two seats that don't offer much space for tall passengers and a tiny boot.
5. Skoda Octavia
Used prices from £8000
If you're looking for a great-value family car, then the Skoda Octavia should be at the top of your list. Skoda launched an all-new model in 2020, so there's limited supply of these on the used market at the moment, but the older-generation car is still worth your consideration, and you're spoilt for choice when it comes to used cars.
Available as either a versatile hatchback or an even more practical estate, the Skoda Octavia is a huge car. The hatchback has 590 litres of boot space, while the estate has 610 litres. The newer model has even more, while there's plenty of space in the front and back. There's a choice of petrol or diesel engines to suit your needs, while the Octavia comes with either a manual or automatic gearbox depending on engines.
It won't set your pace racing on a twisty road (unless you go for the fun Skoda Octavia vRS hot hatch or estate) but the Octavia is competent, safe and comfortable.
A £8000 budget will get you a seven-year-old car with a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine, while £12,000 gets you a newer estate with a 1.6 or 2.0-litre diesel.
6. Kia Sportage
Used prices from £7500
You're not going to go wrong with a Kia Sportage if you're looking for an affordable family SUV that won't break the bank. Blending a modern design, fuss-free handling, decent interior and cheap running costs, you can see why it's a popular choice.
Inside you'll find a comprehensive infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while there's plenty of room for four adults. The rear seats also have ISOFIX anchor points for child seats and there's a large boot.
If you've got £8500 to spend, you'll get the previous-generation Kia Sportage with a 2.0-litre diesel engine and mileage north of 70,000. A £12,000 budget will get the newer shape Sportage with Kia’s economical 1.7-litre 115PS diesel engine, while just under £15,000 will get you a nice low mileage car.
7. Audi Q5
Used prices from £17,000
The Audi Q5 manages to pull off that rare trick of selling ridiculously well, while also somehow feeling exclusive. The reason? Because it’s a very good car, indeed. So for the latest incarnation of its family SUV, Audi have adopted the philosophy of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’
This means the styling is a gentle evolution of previous models, while the car itself is a touch bigger to give occupants more leg and headroom. The ride quality is excellent, and it’s quiet on the move with minimal engine and road noise.
So it’s not exciting, but it is big and - thanks to the smart and slick virtual cockpit - the Q5 is definitely clever. It also comes with four-wheel drive while power is supplied by either a petrol or diesel version of the 2.0-litre engine. If you want a comfortable and high quality SUV, look no further.
Prices start at around £17,000, and that will get you a previous-generation car that's about 7-years-old. The design still looks fresh and easily mistaken for a newer model, while a budget of over £26,000 will get you into a latest-generation car.
8. Kia Picanto
Used prices from £5000
There are a stack of great city cars out there, but a second hand Kia Picanto offers great value for money. It's not just the price that appeals, as the Picanto is nice and easy to drive, looks good and comes backed by Kia's impressive 7-year warranty.
You're not going to be short on features either, with mid-spec '2' versions of the Picanto coming with air con, electric windows and a leather multi-function steering wheel. If you can stretch your budget, then a '3' Picanto enjoys a 7.0-inch touchscreen, reversing camera and climate control.
If you're just going to be taking the Picanto on short trips round town or city, then the three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine is perfect, while the larger four-cylinder 1.25-litre petrol is worth searching out if you're planning to do longer journeys regularly.
A budget of just under £5000 will get you a six-year-old car with around 40,000 miles on the clock, while just over £8000 will put you behind the wheel of a two-year-old car with around 10-20,000 miles covered.
9. Vauxhall Corsa Electric
Used prices from £12,500
Vauxhall’s famous small hatch has been offered in a full electric guise for several years, and it’s a great option for anyone looking for a little run-around which won’t break the bank or kick out a load of CO2.
The Corsa Electric’s official range is 209 miles, making it one of the better cars in its class for travelling further between recharges of the 50kWh battery. In the real world, you can expect around 160 miles between recharges, which is plenty for trips around town or the daily commute.
Vauxhall has kept the electric Corsa as close to the standard petrol-powered car as possible, with an instantly recognisable design and the practicality you’d expect from the popular supermini.
Thanks to the fact the electric Corsa has been around for a number of years, there’s a wide selection of secondhand models available from as low as £10,000. That’s a highly accessible entry-point for an EV, and on a two year finance deal you could be paying as little as £150 per month.
If you’re familiar with the Corsa you’ll feel right at home with the Corsa Electric and be happy in the knowledge you’re reducing your carbon footprint.
10. Volkswagen Touareg
Used prices from £29,000
The Volkswagen Touareg is a highly capable and well equipped SUV which can roll up its sleeves and get muddy if needs must. There’s plenty of space for five people and their luggage on the inside, while the infotainment system is one of the best around with heaps of functionality. We’d recommend stretching to a higher-grade trim (SEL Tech, R-Line Teck or Black Edition) to get treated to the excellent Innovision system.
It’s quiet inside the cabin too, with the Touareg offering good levels of sound insulation making for a comfortable ride - especially if you opt for a model with the air suspension. You’ll find petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains, and you’ll get bags of grip and traction with any of them.
A new Touareg will set you back at least £68,000, while solid secondhand models roughly three years old and with under 40,000 miles on the clock can be had for almost half that - and we’re taking SEL and R-Line spec, not the entry-level trim.
Best Used Car FAQs
Written by
John McCann
When looking for your next car, do your research. You want to get a good buy, so check prices of a variety of similar cars to gauge if the one you're looking at is good value.
For the ultimate convenience you can buy a car completely online and have it delivered to your door, but sometimes we want to try something out before we buy. A test drive is a perfect opportunity to get behind the wheel of the car you're looking at and try it out. Not only do you get to see if it's mechanically sound, but you also get to find out if it meets your needs. This includes the driving position, interior comfort, boot space and anything else you can think off.
If the car you're looking at is over three-years-old, it's worth checking out the MOT history - you just need the registration number to do this. This will highlight any potential issues, especially with older cars. A full service history and garage bills are also very important, as it chronicles the car's maintenance history and essential work that's been carried out. Modern cars are great, but they still need to be looked after.
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