British car buyers love used cars. Case in point: more than 7.6 million were sold last year, outperforming new models four to one.
The top 10 best-selling used cars form a failsafe selection, many of which ticking the most important boxes for most buyers. Key to their appeal is their genuine value for money and reasonable ownership costs. Indeed, this criteria will be high on the agenda for many prospective buyers, especially when new cars continue to rise in price.
Adding further complexity into the used car buying experience is the sheer amount of choice that is now available. Do you buy a BIK-busting plug-in hybrid or a long-range EV? Is it more sensible to buy a practical and versatile estate over an SUV? Will the keen drivers among us be satisfied with the performance of a hot hatch or is there a sports car offering better value for money?
We think the Volkswagen Golf Mk7 is the best used car available today. Its practical and spacious interior is formed of high-quality materials; its broad engine line-up means it can play the role of frugal high-miler or dynamic hot hatchback; and its ease of use and simplicity only makes it easier to recommend.
But which other used cars are worthy of investment? We’ve put together a list of the best, from 4x4s to convertible sports cars.
Best for: All-round ability
Volkswagen has cured many of the foibles that initially afflicted the Mk8 Golf, yet it’s still the Mk7 that makes for the better used buy.
Everything you would expect of a Golf, only a little bit better in all regards.Matt Saunders, Road test editor
With greater reliability, a smoother infotainment system and the refinement and polish of a far more expensive car, this Golf is a brilliant hatchback that can cater for a broad range of drivers.
The diesels are bombproof and good for those who cover big miles, but the sweet spots are efficient 1.4 and 1.5-litre petrols. Check that the adaptive cruise control works and the service history has no yawning gaps.
For those after more pace and athleticism, the Golf GTI is the ultimate everyday hot hatch. It's fast, acceptably efficient and as practical and versatile as its lower-powered range mates. Prices start from around £6000, but regular TSI and TDI models are cheaper.
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Best for: SUV buyers
Skoda's first large seven-seat SUV was a hit straight out of the box, and used it's a downright bargain. It does almost all of the important things well: practicality, usability, economy and driveability. But the Kodiaq also appeals for its quality, refinement and versatility.
Versatile, appealing, added-value motoring for the bigger family.Matt Saunders, Road test editor
Of course, it can’t match German rivals for luxury appeal and dynamic sophistication, but you will struggle to find an SUV as rounded as the Kodiaq for as little as £7000.
There’s a broad range of engines and trims to choose from, and some can be had with four-wheel drive. The 1.4-litre petrol is efficient and good for short hops, while the 2.0-litre diesel is best suited to high-milers.
The Kodiaq is a robust and well-built family SUV, hence there aren’t too many glaring issues. Suspension and electric issues (eg infotainment glitches) are more common, and make sure the DSG automatic gearbox is smooth and responsive if testing a high-mileage example.
Best for: Estate cars
With a comfortable ride, neat handling and an upmarket cabin, the seventh-generation BMW 3 Series Touring is one of the most polished and practical estate cars you can buy.
Powerful, classy and great to drive.Matt Saunders, Road test editor
With a healthy budget of £15,000, you will soon find a car with low owners and a good maintenance record. There’s a real duality to the way the Touring's dynamic character, which neatly blends agility with solid ride comfort.
At a cruise, it's comfortable and efficient. On a cross-country road it offers more incisive and communicative handling than its European counterparts.
The diesel 320d is a great all-rounder, but the 330e plug-in hybrid, which offers up to 37 miles of electric-only driving, is a solid alternative.
The four-wheel drive, six-cylinder M340d and petrol M340i are both brilliant too, if you’re after more performance and handling prowess.
Timing chain, DPF and EGR issues can afflict diesel models. The infotainment system is intuitive, but watch out for software glitches.
Best for: Off-roading
The Land Rover Defender is an impressively versatile 4x4 that makes heavy-duty off-roading look easy, while also offering good on road comfort and decent handling.
World-class capability. Brilliant on and off road – at a price.Matt Prior, Editor-at-large
While you can spend £35,000 on one, it's best to up your budget to around £50,000 to buy a 90 or 110 model with fewer miles under its belt.
A 110 is more practical and the pick of the line-up. But if you’re a keen off-roader, the shorter wheelbase of the 90 makes it more versatile off the beaten track. You can also get the vast 130 variant, but we would only suggest this if you need a huge boot and more seats.
Avoid the early Ingenium engines if you can: a clogged DPF is common, as are turbocharger failures. Issues with the air suspension and software glitches are also widely reported. Find a later D250 or D350 six-cylinder diesel, as these are more reliable and suit the Defender’s go-anywhere character.
Best for: Value
The current Toyota Corolla makes a brilliant family car.
Very pleasant, cheap to run, stress-free and even mildly entertaining if the mood takes you.Illya Verpraet, Road Tester
You can have a 1.2-litre turbo petrol or a petrol-electric hybrid system with either a 1.8-litre or a 2.0-litre engine.
You will easily get more than 50mpg from a hybrid model, and in all environments the Corolla is easy to drive, offering good handling balance and ride comfort.
The interior is comfortable and large switches and knobs make it a very easy car to operate on the move.
You can have the Corolla in hatchback, saloon, estate and even commercial van form, with hatches the most widely availalble.
Prices for older high-milers start from around £8500.
In the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the Corolla came sixth out of 26 cars in the family car class, with an impressive overall rating of 96.4%.
Best for: Electric car buyers
Practical, efficient and offering good everyday practicality, the Tesla Model 3 is still an impressive electric car.
There’s a real sense of agility and body roll is controlled well, so the Model 3 exhibits an alert keenness to its handling.Matt Saunders, Road test editor
Older examples with clear signs of hard use start from less than £10,000, but for around £15,000 you can snap up a much cleaner example with fairer miles and a good history.
Standard Range models are cheaper and are ideal for those who like the idea of an EV for shorter hops around town. Performance models offer whip-crack acceleration, the dual-motor powertrain making 449bhp for a 3.2sec sprint to 60mph.
If range is key, the dual-motor Long Range model is the standout choice. In real world driving conditions it will easily manage 300 miles on a charge, if not more.
Plus you have access to Tesla’s unrivalled Supercharger network, which makes boosting the battery on the move a seamless process.
Be sure to check panel fit and finish before buying, though, and be wary of infotainment and sensor glitches.
Best for: Luxury
Suave, lavishly appointed and supremely refined, the sixth-generation S-Class set the standard for luxury cars when it arrived in 2013.
The S-Class's hushed, cosseting ride is exemplary.Matt Saunders, Road test editor
You would have paid well in excess of £75,000 for an S-Class when it was new, but today you can buy one for as little as £10,000.
While you can have the S-Class in short-wheelbase form, it's the longer version that you want, for its greater leg room in the back and sublime ride quality.
The S400d diesel is a solid choice, while the petrol models showcase the S-Class’s remarkable agility and the V8-engined AMG S63 and V12-engined AMG S65 are nothing short of mind-blowing in terms of performance and dynamism.
This S-Class’s reliability record is also strong. Airbag malfunctions and gearbox issues are well documented. Turbocharger oil leaks and engine oil leaks can occur if the cam chain tension fails.
Best for: Performance
When it was new, the M2 was the most affordable M car on sale, but today you can snap up this brawny, old-school baby M3 for the same money as a Mk7 Volkswagen Golf R.
Smallest M car is also the best. Rapid, brawny and very nearly brilliant.Matt Prior, Editor-at-large
Under the bonnet sits a tuned version of the N55 engine from the M135i, with the revised lump making 365bhp and 369lb ft.
The eight-speed automatic gearbox is slick, but we would opt for the six-speed manual. It’s not the most tactile ‘box, but for sheer engagement it suits the M2’s character.
Fast, poised and agile, the M2 is brimming with driver appeal – and with so much grunt at its disposal, it's more than happy to loosen its rear end on track.
The N55 is a highly strung engine, so watch for oil and coolant leaks. Ignition coil failure can lead to misfires.
If 365bhp isn't enough for you, the 404bhp M2 Competition, which gets has blue-blooded S55 straight six from its bigger M siblings, is an excellent alternative.
It's faster, delivers more incisive handling and is ultimately the more polished M car. Prices start from £25,000, but make sure you find a car with a full service history and check brake and tyre life.
Best for: Driver engagement
The 1.5-litre Mk4 MX-5 starts from as little as £8000, but it's the more potent 2.0-litre version that you should plump for.
An outstanding and usable sports car.Matt Prior, Editor-at-large
Early examples only made 158bhp, so we would opt for the upgraded 181bhp four-cylinder engine that arrived in late 2018.
Cars with that start at a hair over £15,000, but it’s well worth the extra outlay. And 2.0-litre models also benefit from stiffer dampers and a limited slip differential.
The MX-5’s main drawcards have always been agility, lightness and engagement and the Mk4 is no exception. Be it on track or a mountain road, its balanced chassis, punchy engine and scalpel-sharp manual box make it a fine sports car that’s enjoyable at any speeds.
Reliability is generally good. Early manuals can suffer from shiting problems and any grinding noises from the gearbox could suggest it’s on its way out. Make sure you check the roof for tears and take a good look underneath the car for any signs of corrosion.
Best for: Hot hatch buyers
There aren’t many hot hatchbacks that can match the athleticism and all-round driver appeal of the Mk8 Ford Fiesta ST.
Handling is ever-stable under power, becoming livelier on a trailing throttle if you disable the electronic aids.Matt Saunders, Road test editor
Its turbocharged triple delivers plenty of punch, the gearbox is slick and precise and the slippy diff on the front axle paired with stiff rear suspension setup endows the ST with superb cornering balance.
The ST-2 can be had for less than £9000, but the ST-3 version is our pick for its volcanic seat warmers and automatic headlights. You can snap-up a clean car with reasonable miles for around £12,000.
Investigate the exterior for body repairers and make sure the Ecoboost engine has been regularly serviced as it is a highly strung lump. Fiesta STs are popular track toys, so also be sure to inspect the car's brakes and tyres for wear.
When buying a used car there are a number of factors you need to consider beyond just price and mileage.
Here’s what you need to do in order to find the best used car:
Budget
Why it matters: Having a clear budget will help narrow your search and could save you money.
Research
Why it matters: This gives you a clear understanding of the car you’re going to buy and is essential to learning about running costs and common problems.
Private seller or dealership
Why it matters: You might be able to save some money by buying privately, but it can be a smoother process when going through a dealership.
History
Why it matters: Buying a car with a good history record is essential and gives you a clear understanding of its condition and how it has been maintained by the previous owner.
Inspection
Why it matters: Checking the car’s exterior and interior will help you spot any problems which you can bring into the negotiation process.
Test drive
Why it matters: This will give you a feel for the car to see if you like driving it and allow you to spot any other problems.
Negotiation
Why it matters: You could be able to save money by negotiating on price.
The cars in this list have been chosen by our team of expert journalists who have collectively driven, assessed and scrutinised every car from the last 20 years.
When selecting the best used cars, we set out to find the best examples from several different categories, including SUVs, estates and performance cars.
We also tried to focus on models which offered good reliability, strong value for money, sensible running costs and genuine driver appeal.
Value for money
While value for money is largely subjective and varies depending on the type, age and mileage of the used car you’re hoping to buy, it is perhaps the most important factors to consider. We assessed each car’s value for money depending on which segement it fell into, taking into account age, reliability, running costs, equipment, space, practicality and, in specific cases, performance, ride and handling.
Running costs
When compiling our list, we reviewed the running costs of different used cars such as fuel expenses, insurance, tax and servicing and maintenance.
Performance and handling
All cars in this list we evaluated for ride comfort, body control, performance and steering response. The cars in this list have all been put through our intensive road test, with some models achieving an impressive four-and-half star rating.
Reliability
We used owner’s forums and specialist websites to understand the specific issues that affect the cars in this list. Most cars suffer from software issues and infotainment glitches. We also looked at different brands and their reliability record as a whole.
Comfort and durability
We assessed each car’s interior quality, inspecting the materials used, overall fit and finish and resistance to wear.
