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What are the best used cars you can buy in 2023? We’ve rounded up our favourites in each category, from cost-effective city cars to seven-seat SUVs.
Published: 4 January 2023
Used cars have never been more in demand, thanks to their excellent value and availability when compared with new cars. And whether you want something compact and budget-friendly, a luxurious seven-seater or a zero-emissions electric car, there’s a used car out there that’s just right for you.
To help you choose, we’ve selected what we think is the best used car in each of 15 key sectors.
Buying a small car doesn’t mean you have to compromise on comfort or on desirable features, as the Hyundai i10 proves. Despite being small enough to squeeze into all but the tiniest of parking spaces, the i10 gives you interior space for four adults and it feels solid and comfortable on the road.
It’s very cost-effective: it won’t cost much to buy or run, yet you get a decent amount of equipment for your money and every version of the latest model (on sale new since 2020) has air con, cruise control and lots of high-tech safety features.
You could also benefit from the balance of Hyundai’s longer-than-average manufacturer’s warranty, which covers the car for five years with no mileage limit.
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One thing is for certain: if you’re thinking of buying a used Ford Fiesta you’ll have many to choose from. That’s because it’s consistently been at – or near – the top of the charts for UK new-car sales for the past decade or so.
Whichever version you choose, you’re getting a car that’s more enjoyable to drive than most rivals, and which feels assured and comfortable at speed. You could spend hours studying the multitude of engine and trim combinations but you can’t go far wrong with big-selling options such as the 1.0 Ecoboost petrol engine in either Zetec or Titanium trim. That’ll give you low running costs, good performance and a good range of features as standard.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a car with a more universal appeal than the Volkswagen Golf, in part because there are so many versions to choose from and in part because it’s good at everything.
You’ll find two different versions of the Golf for sale at Cazoo – the latest model, which has been on sale new since 2020, and the previous version (pictured), which was sold new between 2013 and 2020. Both are excellent cars, giving you lots of desirable features, enough space for four adults and their luggage, a choice of efficient engines and a particularly smooth drive.
Size isn’t everything but a large boot is central to the appeal of an estate car and the Skoda Superb Estate’s boot is one of the biggest around. A capacity of 660 litres up to the load cover is more than double what you get in most compact cars and it translates into enough space for six large suitcases or two large dogs to lounge in comfort.
There’s more to the Superb than just a huge boot, though. It’s also comfortable and satisfying to drive and has a high-quality interior that has as much headroom and legroom as most luxury cars. Like most Skodas, the Superb is also excellent value for money and most versions give you very sensible running costs.
Another Skoda? Yep, and it shouldn’t be a surprise because Skoda’s cars tend to be more comfortable, more cost-effective and more practical than many of its rivals and those three things are key factors for a family car.
Although every Skoda model is family-friendly, none is quite as suited to family life as the Kodiaq. It’s a smart SUV that’s spacious, well equipped and available as a five-seater with a huge boot or a seven-seater with a pair of third-row seats that fold away when you don’t need them. It’s a pleasure to drive and feels built to last. What more could you want from a family car?
If you’re considering buying a compact SUV, you already know what makes them so appealing: a commanding driving position, tough looks and lots of interior space in a compact, easy-to-park package.
The latest Peugeot 2008 (sold new since 2019) gives you all that and more. It’s one of the most distinctive-looking cars of its type, for a start, with a futuristic design inside and out. It’s got a great range of engines, with a choice of petrol and diesel versions that are quiet and especially fuel-efficient. And if you want zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the potential for even lower running costs, there’s also the pure-electric version, called the e-2008.
Everyone has a different idea of what makes a great SUV but when it comes to ticking all the boxes, few do it as well as the Audi Q5. It has all the quality and high-tech features you expect of an Audi, wrapped up in a stylish SUV package that gives you a high driving position and lots of interior space.
Every version is smooth and enjoyable to drive and you have a wide range of models to choose from. The latest model (pictured), on sale new since 2017, has four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox as standard and it feels like a truly premium product.
If you want a seven-seater that gives you a sense of adventure every time you and your passengers get on board, the Land Rover Discovery could be right up your street (or off-road track). Whether you’re on the motorway, a city street, the middle of a field or trekking up a mountain, the Discovery is unflappable and lets you travel in quiet comfort.
It makes a brilliant family car thanks to its hugely spacious interior, and the ability to fold all or some of the five rear seats up or down as necessary. Every version comes with lots of features as standard – all but the earliest entry-level cars have electric front seat adjustment, sat-nav, leather trim and front and rear parking sensors. High-spec models are true luxury cars, yet they’re still capable as off-roaders.
Whoever said that a roomy, seven-seat MPV had to be dull to drive, or dull to look at? The Ford S-Max is the opposite of both, yet it’s also an incredibly practical car that has all the space and versatility most families will ever need.
Compared with most MPVs the S-Max’s design is sleek and sporty and it gives you a driving experience to match, with the responsive, well-balanced feel you’d expect of a much smaller hatchback. The seven-seat interior is perfect for outings with friends or family and you can fold away any – or all – of the second- and third-row seats in seconds to cater for all kinds of large loads.
If you want a seven-seater that’s spacious, stylish, safe and available with low-emission hybrid power then look no further than the Volvo XC90. This large SUV makes an outstanding family car and its luxurious, high-tech interior is a great place to spend time. Each of the seven seats is supremely comfortable and it’s easy to fold away the third row, leaving you with a huge boot space.
All versions have four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox. As well as petrol or diesel models, you can choose a plug-in hybrid version (initially labelled T8 Twin Engine and later changed to Recharge) that gives very low CO2 emissions and an official average of more than 130mpg.
Think ‘hybrid’ and Toyota may well be the car brand that springs to mind. All of the brand’s hybrid know-how was channelled into CH-R – a sporty-looking compact SUV that’s practical, well equipped and as good to drive as it is to look at.
You can choose from versions that combine either a 1.8-litre or a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor. Both have an automatic gearbox as standard and feel responsive and agile on the road. Official average fuel consumption is about 55mpg for the 1.8 and 50mpg for the 2.0, the trade-off being that the 2.0 is a bit quicker. Whichever CH-R you go for you don’t need to plug it in because it’s a conventional hybrid, or what Toyota calls a ‘self-charging hybrid’.
You can buy hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric versions of the previous-generation Kia Niro (on sale new until 2022) and the plug-in is one of the most appealing cars of its type. As with every Niro it gives you a smooth drive and even the most cost-effective versions are very well equipped, with sat nav, a reversing camera and support for Apple Carplay and Android Auto as standard.
While it’s quite compact on the outside, the Niro is impressively roomy on the inside and has a usefully large boot. It’s easy to see out of, too, and makes a great family car. The official electric-only range is 38 miles, which may be enough for your daily commute.
The Tesla Model 3 is the brand’s most affordable model, yet it gives you the key benefits of its larger, more expensive models: excellent battery range, remarkable performance and sleek styling inside and out. You also, of course, get access to the Tesla Supercharger network.
Although it’s a saloon, the Model 3 is a practical family car with a large boot and extra storage space under the bonnet. According to official figures, most models give you more than 300 miles of battery range. On sale new since 2019, the Model 3 is still one of the most advanced electric cars around and it’s brilliant as a used buy.
If your idea of a coupe is a car that's stylish, elegant and feels like a bit of an indulgence then the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe could be the one for you. It's a large, beautifully built two-door model that gives you a super-smooth ride, all the high-tech features you could think of and enough space for four adults and their luggage.
There are some powerful engine options to choose from, and every one comes with an automatic gearbox that adds to the E-Class's effortless, relaxed character.
While some convertible cars force you to choose between a sporty drive and four-seat practicality, and others require a trade-off between high-tech luxury and sensible running costs, the BMW 4 Series Convertible allows you to pretty much have it all. That's the case whether you choose the latest model (on sale since 2021) or the previous model (pictured), which is our pick thanks to its excellent value for money.
First and foremost, it’s a very satisfying car to drive – responsive and well controlled through corners yet smooth and relaxing on the motorway. There are lots of engines to choose from, including some very powerful diesel and petrol options. Most versions you’ll find have an automatic gearbox and some have four-wheel drive for extra reassurance when driving conditions are poor. The roof folds away quickly when you (and up to three passengers) want the full wind-in-your-hair experience.
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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