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There are lots of brilliant used cars that are comparatively cheap to buy. Here are our 10 favourites.
Published: 20 October 2023
Finding an affordable used car in 2023 may be easier than you think. While new cars are increasingly expensive there are some great used cars that are relatively cheap to buy and could be just what you’re looking for, whether you’re after a city runabout or a family-friendly cruiser.
Here, we’ve rounded up 10 excellent used cars that could be yours for less than £10,000.
The BMW 1 Series is a premium-brand hatchback that’s fun to drive and has a top-quality interior yet is affordable to buy and run. We’re focusing on the previous-generation 1 Series, which was sold new between 2011 and 2019 and represents great value for money.
Models like the 118i petrol and 116d diesel will give you enough oomph for overtaking or pulling out of junctions safely yet they’re very fuel-efficient. Although it’s not as practical as some hatchbacks, the 1 Series has enough space for four adults and every version is enjoyable to drive, feeling balanced and controlled through corners and reassuringly solid on the motorway.
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The Renault Zoe is a stylish pure-electric car that has good battery range and can be bought for less than £10,000. It’s one of the earliest mainstream electric cars and has been on sale for more than a decade, which means there are lots of used examples at very attractive prices.
The electric motors and battery ranges have been upgraded over the years, which adds to the choice for drivers on different budgets. Just note that some were originally sold with a monthly battery leasing charge, so watch out for that potential extra cost. You don’t have to worry about that on cars sold new after 2019 and you may be able to find Zoes from that era for less than £10,000.
The Dacia Duster was celebrated for being an absolute bargain when it was brand new, and used examples are even more of a bargain. For less than £10k you can buy a proper, spacious family SUV dating from as recently as 2019, and if you don’t mind going slightly older, you’ll find lots of models with very low mileage.
Your budget should give you a choice between the newer Duster, sold new from 2018, and the older model, which is still a great car to drive and packs in lots of features for the price. You could even stretch to a four-wheel-drive model, for the full SUV experience.
The Volkswagen Up proves that good things sometimes come in small packages. First released in 2012, the Up is tiny on the outside but it’s remarkably roomy on the inside and it feels sturdy and comfortable for such a small car at speed.
Compact dimensions make it very easy to park and fuel and insurance costs should be very low. The interior is fairly basic but it’s stylish, easy to use and has the solid, well-built feel you expect of a Volkswagen. The Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo are worth a mention here, too – these cars are all-but-identical to the Up apart from the brand logos and a few design details and are similarly affordable.
The previous-generation Vauxhall Corsa, sold new between 2014 and 2019, has been one of Britain’s favourite cars, which means there are loads of used examples to choose from. You can find a wide range of cheap Corsas for less than £10k in a range of trims and with petrol and diesel engine options.
We’re big fans of the Corsa – it’s comfortable, quiet and deceptively spacious inside for a small hatchback. It was well-equipped for the price when new, so it’s even better value as a used car.
The Volkswagen Polo is a very classy small hatchback that’s a more premium alternative to cars like the Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa. We're looking at the previous-generation model, sold between 2009 and 2017; for £10,000 you should be able to find a mid-range model that gives you a decent amount of standard features.
The Polo feels like a very well-built car and has an impressive amount of interior space considering its size. It’s sensible and comfortable to drive rather than exciting, but that matches its stylish yet understated looks.
The Skoda Fabia has always been exceptional value and the previous-generation model (sold new between 2015 and 2021) gives you a lot of car for little money. As little as £7,000 or so will get you a 1.0 S model, which is fairly basic, but for less than £10,000 you can get a more feature-packed SE or SE L model with less than 50,000 miles on the clock.
Whichever version you go for, you’ll end up with a brilliant hatchback that has more interior and boot space than many rival cars and is good to drive, especially around town. The engines give excellent fuel economy. and if you need extra practicality you could opt for the estate version, which has a massive boot.
The Ford Focus has long been one of Britain’s most popular cars, which means there are lots of used models, and many are well below our £10,000 mark. It’s not just cheap though – the Focus is a genuinely brilliant car that’s packed with features, drives really well and represents great value for money.
While a new Focus was released in 2018, the previous-generation model, sold new between 2011 and 2018, is more affordable. There are loads of efficient petrol and diesel engines to choose from, and a variety of trim levels, too. For the money, family cars don’t get much better than this.
The Peugeot 208 is another great little hatchback and older models can be picked up for surprisingly little money. You’ll get the best deals on the previous-generation 208, which was sold new from 2012 to 2019 and has sharp styling that still looks good today.
It’s comfortable to drive and has a very appealing look and feel inside. A budget of £10,000 should easily get you a relatively low-mileage model with a petrol or a diesel engine, and if you’re after something truly exciting you should even be able to find the fun-to-drive GTi performance model.
The Smart Forfour is one of the most recognisable city cars, and is available for surprisingly little money. With prices starting at about £7,000 for a 2018 model with less than 50,000 miles on the clock, it’s a lot of car in a small package.
Capable of seating four people (hence the name) and super easy to nip around town in, its running costs are low to match its purchase price. If you don’t often have back-seat passengers, it’s got another selling point – drop the back seats down and you get a huge 975-litre boot space. And if that’s not enough, you can also drop the front passenger seat flat, meaning it’s a remarkably practical car for something so small.
You’ll find lots of great-value used cars to choose from at Cazoo – check out our deals page for big savings on a wide selection of cars. Simply find the one you love then buy or finance it online. You can choose to have it delivered to your door, or you can collect it from your nearest Cazoo Customer Centre.
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