The Best Used Cars 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.

While you might not expect to find a reasonably modern Audi for under £10,000, the Q3 proves otherwise. It’s a compact SUV – essentially a raised-up version of the A3 hatchback – which has all of the premium features that you’d expect from a car with the four rings on the front but with a generally good level of practicality throughout.

It’s refined and quiet, so the Q3 makes for an excellent long-distance cruiser while even this age of Q3 still looks fresh from the outside thanks to sharply designed headlights. Just watch out for S Line versions as with their larger alloys they’re quite a bit firmer over potholes than ‘regular’ versions of the Q3.

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.

If you fancy a slightly quirkier SUV option, then head in the direction of the Suzuki Vitara. While the Vitara name has been around for decades, the most recent version introduced an altogether more modern appearance alongside a far more on-road focus than had been apparent with older Vitara models.

It’s spacious inside with a good level of head- and legroom for all occupants, while you’ll find many of the toys that would be left on the options list fitted as standard to the Vitara. While the majority of Vitara models are two-wheel-drive, there are four-wheel-drive options out there – called Allgrip – which is a great option if you’re after a little more traction from your next car.