The Best Used Cars to Buy for Under £10,000

If you’re after a bit of style, then the MINI Countryman could be the car for you. It’s an SUV which captures some of the retro-inspired finish of the standard hatch but, of course, you get some extra space and versatility.

Perhaps you’ve fancied the standard Hatch but found it to be a little bit tight. Maybe you’d rather sit up a little bit higher. But whatever the reason, you’ll find the Countryman to be a great option for all different types of uses. It’s also well made inside and has loads of features, with many versions getting a compact screen located within the famously large central speedometer. We also like the variety of metal elements that help to make the Countryman feel a little more upmarket than its rivals.

If you’re after a car that won’t break the bank but still come jam-packed with features, then the Kia Picanto could be a great option. It’s a smaller car, of course, so it won’t suit bigger families, but it’s a perfect low-cost way of getting from A to B. Plus, if you live in the city and find parking a chore, then the Picanto’s dinky proportions will definitely come in handy.

You’ll be able to secure quite a late model for our £10,000 budget, too, and all Picantos come with some fuel-sipping engine choices. They’re all based around a 1.0-litre engine – either turbocharged or non-turbocharged – but you’ll find that whichever option you go for they’ll be cheap to buy, run and insure.

Fancying a bit of Italian chic from your used car for under £10,000? Enter the Fiat 500. It’s a car which has proven almost endlessly popular for Fiat and, as a result, there are boatloads of great options out there for our £10,000 budget.

Why has the Fiat 500 been such a hit? Well, it’s got that real pop of design that makes it stand out from the crowd, but it’s also really easy to drive and frugal, too. Many 500 models come with a dedicated ‘city’ button as well, which when pressed makes the steering even lighter – ideal for when you’re manoeuvring about town.

It’s compact, of course, but the 500’s packaging means you still get a reasonable boot and space for four – though taller passengers might feel a bit claustrophobic in the back.

If there was ever a car that really hit the nail on the head for a family car, it’s the Nissan Qashqai. Billed as the ‘original crossover’, it’s a car which has proven just as useful to families as it has to commuters and everyone in between.

We’re focusing on the second-generation Qashqai here. It’s well within our budget and should definitely be considered as one of the best used cars to buy for under £10,000. Why? Well, it’s got loads of space and a decent boot, but is also good to drive and remarkably quiet at higher speeds, so it’s great for motorway drivers too.

A facelifted Qashqai was introduced in 2017 bringing a sharper exterior design. However, even early versions will be a great fit and will be cheaper to buy, of course.

It’s not just great practical cars that you can get for under £10,000 – you can get a pretty superb convertible, too. The Mazda MX-5 is the car that a lot of people imagine right away when you think of drop-tops, with this very reliable two-seater being a great buy for people who want the wind in their hair but don’t want to pay too much.

We’re checking out the third generation here, which brings the best possible reliability and is more ‘modern’ to drive than earlier models. It’s also surprisingly refined, so won’t be tiring to drive for those longer road trips.

It’s got a really simple roof design as well. You simply unlatch the front and fold it back. It’s the reverse to put it back again and, thanks to this setup, it’s quite reliable.

The Sportage is one of the cars that showcased a modern, more premium Kia brand. It’s a large SUV which has loads of space and a really good level of build quality which makes it a great fit for family buyers. Plus, there are loads of great options available for under our £10,000 budget.

It’s the fourth-generation Sportage that we’re checking out here. Why? Well, it’s got that more modern styling which means it still looks fresh today, while inside the generous standard equipment means you get plenty of tech for your money. Plus – as we’ve found with the Picanto – you can still get some Sportage models with at least some of Kia’s seven-year warranty remaining.

After a car that’ll prove hassle-free for years while costing very little to run? It sounds like a job for the Toyota Prius. Loved by taxi drivers and private hire firms for its reliability and efficiency, there’s no reason why the Prius can’t make a fine vehicle for singular drivers and families too.

It’s a practical option, with a large boot and a low loading height means loading up your cargo is a breeze. It is, as is well known, a hybrid too which means it can travel on electric-only power at very low speeds, but this helps to drive down fuel bills in the process.

In 2012 a plug-in hybrid version of the Prius was introduced, bringing with it a 15-mile electric-only range. It’ll cost a bit more to buy, but could come in handy if regularly used for short journeys.

Though it might be quite tempting to head in the Volkswagen Golf’s direction if you’re after a reliable hatchback, it’s the Seat Leon which attracts our attention for this list. There are loads of third-generation models available for our £10,000 budget and, if you’re able to get one, you’ll be rewarded with a surprisingly characterful car.

This generation of Leon is, like so many others, based on the Volkswagen Golf of the same age but it brings just a little more character than its German cousin while adopting the same great build quality. The Leon is also really good to drive and just as handy at taking on long motorway journeys as it is darting along country roads. It’s got a good amount of space inside, too.

The Octavia has been a core part of Skoda’s range for decades, with this third-generation model pushing the brand into a more upmarket area than before.

It’s also superbly spacious and despite being based on the same platform as the Volkswagen Golf, offers a much larger boot and interior. For families, it’s a great option and there’s even an estate version for people who want a little extra room too. As with most Skoda models, all Octavias come with plenty of standard equipment, while higher-spec models gain cool touches like upgraded stereos and Alcantara trim.

It’s not often that you can think of a Mercedes as a great budget-friendly option, but the B-Class is the car to change that opinion. It’s a practical MPV with loads of space and some snazzy touches to help elevate it against its competition.

The second-generation car that we’re looking at brought a more upmarket feel than its predecessor, but carried over the practical features that made it such a good fit for families in the first place.

All versions got loads of equipment as standard, too, including high-end features like a reversing camera and parking sensors. You could even get it in AMG Line trim which brought a sporty exterior design and large alloy wheels – it’s a great choice for people who like to stand out from the crowd.