Best used cars under £10,000
Did you know that £10,000 is no longer enough for Britain’s cheapest new car? In fact, you need to spend at least £11,000 to get behind the wheel of the cheapest Dacia Sandero.
That’s potentially bad news if you’ve got £10,000 to spend on a car. Fear not, though, because there are thousands of used cars available within your budget, many of which might be more appealing than a basic Sandero. Some will even be covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty.
It’s still a lot of money, so it’s important to do some homework before parting with your cash. Prepare a shortlist of must-have features, then select a few cars that look right for your needs. Once you have a list of candidates, shop around for the best deals.
To help you on your way, here are some of the best used cars under £10,000. We’ve included everything from city runabouts to a stylish two-seater convertible. Our chosen cars are no older than 2010 and have no more than 100,000 miles on the clock.
Best used cars under £10,000
|
.jpg?width=620)
Volkswagen Up
There’s no shortage of used city cars available for £10,000, but few are more appealing than the Volkswagen Up. It might be small on the outside, but it feels surprisingly spacious on the inside, with plenty of headroom for all occupants. We’d recommend the five-door Up for the best practicality, but all versions will be cheap to run and great to drive. Unlike some city cars, the Up doesn’t feel out of its depth on a motorway, especially if you opt for the 75PS version of the 1.0-litre engine. Strong residual values give the Up the edge over its Skoda Citigo and SEAT Mii siblings.
.jpg?width=620)
Hyundai i10
Yes, it’s another city car, but the Hyundai i10 offers something different to the Volkswagen Up. For a start, it’s covered by a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, which is transferable to the car’s next owner. A budget of £10,000 is enough for a 2019 model, so you’ll be covered until 2024. The i10 model we’ve selected was on sale from 2014 until 2019, so there are plenty to choose from. All versions are well equipped, but Premium SE trim feels positively lavish. The 1.0-litre engine is fine around town, but the 1.2-litre is recommended for life beyond the urban sprawl.
.jpg?width=620)
Kia Ceed
The Kia Ceed – officially the Cee’d – is a great value alternative to family hatchbacks like the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Golf. It’s not the most glamorous of cars, but the Ceed on sale from 2012 until 2018 offers exceptional value for money. You get plenty of equipment as standard, while the later 1.0 T-GDI petrol engine offers a terrific blend of performance and fuel economy. The Ceed stems from a time when Kia was really finding its feet, so you might be surprised by the Germanic-style interior and excellent build quality.
.JPG?width=620)
Ford Mondeo
Remember when the Ford Mondeo was the vehicle of choice for the nation’s sales reps? Those days have gone, but the Mondeo still makes a lot of sense for anyone who spends their days in the outside lanes of Britain’s motorway network. It’s a big car – only slightly shorter than the Jaguar XF – so you get a lot for your money. Our budget is enough for a 2017 Titanium model with a frugal 1.5 TDCi engine, which is arguably all the Mondeo you’ll ever need. A comfortable ride and a spacious interior are two of its strengths.
.jpg?width=620)
Skoda Yeti
The Skoda Yeti is one of the most distinctive small SUVs you can buy. This is especially true of cars built before the 2014 facelift, when the Yeti adopted a more corporate face. Buy a Yeti with four-wheel drive and you’ll discover that it’s surprisingly good off-road, but in all cases, the Yeti is excellent to drive. There is a wide range of engines to choose from, but our picks would be the frugal 1.6 TDI diesel and peppy 1.2 TSI petrol. The Yeti has a loyal following, so you’ll have little trouble moving it on when you decide to sell.
Suzuki Vitara
Three years on from naming it the best small suv at our 2019 Car of the Year awards, there’s still lots to like about the Suzuki Vitara. It bridges the gap between the smaller Nissan Juke and larger Nissan Qashqai, for example, and is therefore more practical than cars of a similar price point. It’s also great to drive and powered by a range of punchy and economical engines, including an excellent 1.0-litre Boosterjet petrol. If you can stretch your budget to a 2019 model, you’ll enjoy a much improved interior.
.jpg?width=620)
Mercedes-Benz SLK
We didn’t want you to think that buying a used car under £10,000 means you have to be sensible, so here’s a little something to spice up your life. The Mercedes-Benz SLK (2011-2016) features a folding metal roof, so you can enjoy the cosiness of a coupe in the winter and the thrill of a convertible in the summer. The SLK is more of a boulevard cruiser than a B-road blaster, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Its interior is a class act, while the four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines should deliver low running costs, even if your heart wants the six- and eight-cylinder versions.
.jpg?width=620)
Volvo V40
You could play it safe by opting for a BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 or Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Alternatively, you could play it safer by opting for a Volvo V40. We’re talking about the V40’s excellent safety credentials, of course, but there’s more to this desirable hatchback than a five-star Euro NCAP rating. A decade on from its launch, the styling still cuts a mean figure in a crowded market, while the interior, although dated in some ways, remains interesting and uniquely Swedish. The entry-level D2 engine is the best of the bunch, so you needn’t splash out on a more powerful unit.
.jpg?width=620)
Toyota RAV4
If you’re after the practicality of a small SUV and the running costs of a hatchback, and you’re not too fussed about brand or image, the Toyota RAV4 is the ideal car for you. On sale from 2013 until 2019, this generation of RAV4 comes with a range of engines, including an efficient 2.5-litre hybrid powertrain, with front- and four-wheel-drive versions available. Inside, there’s plenty of space for a growing family, while the boot should handle everything you throw at it. Just don’t expect much in the way of excitement; the RAV4 is great at being sensible and dependable.
.jpg?width=620)
Dacia Duster
The Dacia Duster arrived in 2012 and cemented itself as Britain’s cheapest family SUV. Using tried-and-tested Renault parts to great effect, the Duster majored on space, low running costs and extremely low prices. This means it represents even better value on the used car market, with a £10,000 budget enough to secure a late 2018 example. Avoid the entry-level Access model unless you enjoy the sound of your own singing voice and the whiff of smelly armpits: a radio and air-con weren’t included. That said, the Access 4x4 is a curiously appealing budget off-roader.
Should I buy a used car or opt for a new car on PCP?
Buying a new car on a personal contract purchase (PCP) finance plan might work out cheaper than spending £10,000 on a used car. Because you’re essentially paying for the depreciation over the course of the contract, the repayments are likely to be more affordable, possibly as low as £100 a month. You’re also covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. That said, you don’t own the car, so you could have nothing to show for it at the end of the contract.
Where’s the best place to buy used for £10,000?
A used car supermarket would be a good place to start, as these tend to focus on relatively new cars. Alternatively, look at the many manufacturer-approved used car schemes, as you’re likely to get a minimum one-year warranty and possibly free insurance and breakdown cover thrown in. Other options include buying from a private vendor or at an auction, both of which could be cheaper. Just be aware of the increased risks associated with these outlets.
Can I still buy a new car for £10,000?
With the likes of Kia and Hyundai pushing upmarket, it’s no longer possible to buy a new car for £10,000. The cheapest new car is now the Dacia Sandero Essential, which comes in at around £11,500. For the same price, you can buy a new Kia Picanto, while the most affordable Hyundai i10 is just shy of £13,500. The days of the £10,000 new car appear to be over, which is partly why so many people decide to buy used.
