Even if you’re on a relatively low budget, there’s a great range of used cars available to suit a wide variety of needs. For less than £10,000 you have a choice of pretty much any type of car you could want, from a small city car to a family-friendly SUV, or just about anything in between. Here are our top 10.
Buying guides
Best cars under £10k
There are lots of great cars available for less than £10,000. Here are our 10 favourites.
1. Ford Fiesta
If you want a small hatchback, you can’t really go wrong with a Ford Fiesta. That’s because it does everything that a car of this type needs to do, and it does it very well. It’s stylish, comfortable and easy to park. It’s also well equipped, costs little to run and is available with a wide range of engines and trim levels.
You get less interior space with the Fiesta than in some rivals, but there’s enough for four adults and the boot will hold a week’s worth of food shopping. What really sets the Fiesta apart though is how good it feels to drive. It’s just so much fun – responsive and reassuring in a way that few cars of this type can match.
2. Toyota Aygo
Small, cost-effective cars don't have to be boring, as the Toyota Aygo proves. Its edgy looks stand out from the crowd, especially if you choose one of the many bold colour combinations available.
It's similarly stylish inside, with a minimalist design that makes it very easy to use. It's more practical than you might expect with space for four adults and a boot large enough for a few bags of shopping.
You won’t find many cars that cost less to run than an Aygo. It’s very fuel-efficient and inexpensive to insure, even if you’re a first-time driver. Most Aygos are well equipped with features including smartphone connectivity and a reversing camera. Maintenance costs are likely to be low too because Toyota's reputation for reliability is excellent.
3. Fiat 500
With its chic styling and cheeky character, the Fiat 500 is one of the most fun cars you can get for less than £10,000. But there’s more to it than that, because it’s a really good city car. It’s nippy and easy to park – and with its high front seats, you’ll find that getting in and out repeatedly is easier than with some rivals.
All the engines use relatively little fuel and the more powerful options are easily up to the task of motorway driving. High-spec models have useful features like smartphone connectivity and some, like the Riva special edition, even feel rather luxurious.
4. Suzuki Baleno
The Suzuki Baleno may only be the size of a Ford Fiesta, but it gives you as much interior and boot space as many bigger family cars. There’s enough room for four tall passengers to get comfortable on a long journey and the boot can easily handle a couple of pushchairs. If you need a family car that fits into a small parking space, this could be ideal.
The interior feels solid and it’s packed with features, so the Baleno is great value for money. You’ll find it’s good to drive, too, with strong engines that make it feel nippy in town and make motorway driving easy.
5. Hyundai i10
It might be a tiny city runabout, but the Hyundai i10 has the feel of a bigger car. That’s because it has a high-quality interior and it feels solid when driving at motorway speeds. It could be ideal if you want a small car to drive around town during the week that can handle long trips at the weekend.
There’s more space than you might expect – the interior has room for four adults and the boot will easily hold a few days’ worth of holiday luggage. Running costs are very low and most models have lots of equipment – heated seats for those cold winter mornings, anyone?
6. Vauxhall Astra
The Vauxhall Astra is a car that slots effortlessly into your life. It’s compact yet has room for four long-legged passengers and a big boot (especially in the estate version), so it’s an ideal family car. It’s also enjoyable to drive, whatever type of road your journey takes you down.
You can choose from a huge range of engines and well-equipped trim levels, so there should be a model that suits your needs. And it’s very fuel-efficient, with some diesel models capable of giving you more than 80mpg, according to official average figures. Whatever you need from a car, chances are that the Astra has it covered.
7. Mini Hatch
If you want a small car that's fun to drive and feels like a real premium product, look no further than the Mini Hatch. It looks like no other car on sale and there are so many different colour combinations that barely any two are alike.
The interior is just as distinctive and although it's compact there's space for four adults and a couple of bags of luggage, with a bit more of both (and easier access) with the five-door model (pictured).
What makes the Mini really special is the way it drives. It's more fun than a small hatchback has any right to be, with lively performance and great handling. All versions are well equipped, and you can find used Minis with all kinds of high-tech and luxury features that give it a big-car feel despite its diminutive size.
8. Ford Mondeo
A £10,000 budget doesn’t mean you need to stick to small cars, because that budget will get you the larger Ford Mondeo too. It’s a great family car, with lots of back seat space for the kids and a big boot that’ll easily hold all the family essentials, especially in the estate version. It’s enjoyable to drive, feeling more nimble than its size would suggest, which helps when driving in town. It also feels rock-solid on motorways, which makes long journeys comfortable and relaxing.
There are lots of trim levels to choose from, all generously equipped, and a range of efficient petrol and diesel engines. There’s even a hybrid, though you may have to spend a bit more than our £10,000 to get one.
9. Citroen C4 Cactus
If you like a car that’s a bit quirky and full of character, you should consider the Citroen C4 Cactus. Models sold from 2014 to 2018 look particularly distinctive with their rubber side panels (Citroen calls them ‘Air Bumps’) designed to absorb knocks from doors and trolleys in car parks. The interior is similarly bold, especially in cars with bright colour schemes.
You can find more spacious family cars but the C4’s back seat has enough room for smaller children and you’ll be able to fit a pushchair in the boot. You’ll find the Cactus feels comfortable and relaxing to drive and the petrol and diesel engines give you excellent fuel economy.
10. Nissan Qashqai
Not a fan of low-slung hatchbacks and estates? If you prefer a high-riding SUV, then check out the popular Nissan Qashqai. It’s a convenient size – about the same length as a Ford Focus – but you get the higher seating position of an SUV and a better view of the road.
The high seats also make getting in and out easier, especially if you need to lift kids into child seats. There’s room for adults in the back of the Qashqai and space in the boot for a family’s holiday luggage. It drives well and it’s excellent value, so it’s easy to see why the Qashqai is so popular.
There are lots of high-quality used cars to choose from at Cazoo. You can also get the latest models with a Cazoo subscription. For a flat monthly payment you get a new car, insurance, maintenance, servicing and tax included. All you need to do is add fuel.
Find the car you love, then simply decide on the length of your contract and choose either home delivery or collection from your nearest Cazoo Customer Centre.
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