Best cars for £10,000 or less

In the not too distant past, £10,000 could have bagged you a brand-new budget motor in the shape of an MG3 or Dacia Sandero. Rising prices mean this is sadly no longer the case, but on the plus side, the used car market still offers plenty of choice for £10k or less. 

Our experts have trawled through the classifieds to find the best cars for £10,000 or less on today’s market. From entertaining hot hatchbacks to luxury SUVs, there should be something for just about everybody.

For this budget, you should be able to find some low-mileage and relatively new examples, but no matter how good a used car looks, it’s important to take the right precautions to avoid losing any hard-earned money. Carrying out an MoT history check beforehand and taking the car for a thorough test drive are both highly recommended, as these should help highlight any hidden or potential issues. A full service history is also a very reasonable requirement for this sort of money. Asking a professional to do a full mechanical inspection will also offer peace of mind, while preventing any surprise bills or breakdowns later on.

Ford Fiesta ST 

• Price new: £19,065  
• Price now: £6,495
• Powertrain: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder petrol, FWD  
• Power: 180bhp  
• 0-62mph: 6.9 seconds

Almost every modern Ford Fiesta is great fun to drive, even when powered by the lowliest engine. But there is always something extra special about a fast Ford, and the Mk7 Fiesta ST will some day be seen as one of the all-time greats. The good news is that you can now buy one for less than £6,500, and it should be cheap to run.

The ST uses a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine to produce 180bhp, giving the little Ford a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds. That is quick enough, but isn’t going to win any Top Trumps battles these days. Where the ST really shines, though, is in the way it handles, with its light weight and well judged chassis meaning it inspires confidence on B-roads and is great fun.

The ST200 special edition in 2016 had slightly more supple suspension, which also made its way to the rest of the ST range. So look for one of those, especially if it's been cherished by its owner, because many STs will have been driven hard and run on a shoestring.

See our used Ford Fiesta ST deals

Mazda MX-5

• Price new: £19,660
• Price now: £8,950
• Powertrain: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol, RWD
• Power: 129bhp  
• 0-62mph: 8.3 seconds

The current-generation Mazda MX-5 has been around since 2016, which means the earliest models are still looking modern while also being temptingly good value. A well kept 1.5 SE-L Nav with 70,000 miles will be comfortably within our budget, and thanks to the legendary Japanese reliability, it shouldn’t cost too much to maintain.

Mazda’s 1.5-litre engine delivers all the performance you’re likely to need, and is arguably more responsive and fun than the bigger 2.0-litre. It also delivers remarkable fuel economy, because the Skyactiv tech – plus the little roadster's light weight – means 60mpg is a realistic return.

The MX-5 will also reward you on every journey, with precise steering, a perfectly balanced chassis and exploitable handling. Even the gearchange is engineered to make driving fun.

See our used Mazda MX-5 deals

Mercedes C-Class Estate

• Price new: £34,200  
• Price now: £9,650
• Powertrain: 2.1-litre 4-cylinder diesel, RWD
• Power: 168bhp  
• 0-62mph: 7.6 seconds

The Mercedes C-Class often has to live in the shadow of its arch-rival, the BMW 3 Series, but the generation built from 2015 onwards deserves its place in the limelight – especially as a used buy. The styling inside and out is interesting enough to make an Audi from the same era look boring, while the dynamics are much improved over older models, too. The handsome Estate is fairly practical too, with a 490-litre boot.

There’s the usual wide array of engines, but it’s the 168bhp 2.1-litre diesel that catches our eye most. This C 220 BlueTec has official fuel economy of 64.2mpg, giving it low VED road tax and 700-plus miles between fill-ups. It’s Euro-6 compatible too, so there’s no need to worry about low-emission zones. Look for one with the 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox.

See our used Mercedes C-Class deals

MINI Cooper

• Price new: £17,125
• Price now: £8,500
• Powertrain: 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol, FWD
• Power: 134bhp  
• 0-62mph: 7.6 seconds

While there are much cheaper and more practical second-hand small cars, none has the charm and quality of a MINI Cooper. It's huge fun to drive and there is plenty of choice across  the price range, so you’re likely to find one that matches your personality.

All MINIs have a high-end interior design and there’s plenty of tech. Many buyers will also have splashed out on the upgrade packs when the car was new, so check the spec.

The five-door version adds a little practicality but doesn’t have the charm of the standard hatch, while the fun Convertible compromises boot and passenger space. Cooper S models have genuine hot-hatch appeal, but our recommendation is the 134bhp 1.5-litre Cooper with its characterful three-cylinder engine.

See our used MINI Cooper deals

Range Rover

• Price new: £69,125
• Price now: £9,500
• Powertrain: 4.4-litre V8 diesel, AWD
• Power: 313bhp  
• 0-62mph: 7.8 seconds

Are we really recommending a 15-year-old Range Rover as a used car? Absolutely, as long as you go into the experience with your eyes wide open. Buyers are realising what the late Queen and certain celebrity farmers have known for years – that these end-of-line third-generation versions of Land Rover’s iconic flagship are fantastic feel-good luxury cars that will also keep you moving when the going gets tough.

While a used L322 Range Rover can be bought for the price of a Fiesta, don’t expect the same running costs. The 4.4-litre V8 diesel is capable of 30mpg, but the maintenance costs will soon add up, especially if something goes wrong.

The best way to prevent this is to find one that has had the big-ticket repairs done by the previous owners, especially the turbos, which tend to go at around 100,000 miles.

See our used Range Rover deals

Skoda Octavia

• Price new: £24,815  
• Price now: £9,995
• Powertrain: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder diesel, FWD
• Power: 148bhp  
• 0-62mph: 8.8 seconds

Skoda’s trophy cabinet is crammed full of Auto Express awards for the Octavia. Like the brand’s loyal buyers, we know it offers almost everything a family-car owner could want at a price that is lower than most of the opposition. It’s also a little bigger than many of its obvious rivals, which is especially useful when opting for the more practical Estate. But that doesn't fall within our budget, so we are going to have to settle for a hatch here.

The cheapest petrol option is a 1.0-litre turbo, which is much more capable than it sounds. But we found a 2.0-litre TDI with 95,000 miles for £9,995. If you aren’t comfortable with that many miles, then £10,000 will pretty much give you the pick of the previous-gen Octavias.

See our used Skoda Octavia deals

Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express? We’ll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too.