10 best second-hand and used cars for under £5,000

If your budget can’t quite stretch to a brand-new car, or if you simply like the idea of a savvy used buy, you’re in luck – there are some fantastic bargains out there.

We’ve put together this list to help you out, with some brilliant used cars available at a budget of £5,000 or less. All are reliable, practical and safe, and we’ve included everything from a luxury executive saloon to a two-seat roadster to a variety of practical family hatchbacks.

As long as you take care during the buying process, and choose your potential car carefully, a used model can give you years of trouble-free motoring at minimum cost. Check out our handy guide on what to look for in a used car for more information.

Top 10 used cars for under £5000

1. Ford Fiesta
2. Mazda 6 Tourer
3. Honda CR-V
4. Toyota Auris
5. Skoda Yeti
6. Jaguar XF
7. Skoda Citigo
8. Suzuki Swift Sport
9. Volkswagen Touran
10. Mazda MX-5

1. Ford Fiesta

Our £5,000 budget opens up some examples of the latest (and last) Fiesta introduced in 2017 – but we reckon your money’s better placed going a little bit older and opting for a really great example of the 2013-2017 Fiesta instead. Our budget will get you one with low mileage and a full service history.

Avoid automatic models if you can – not only are they unreliable, but an automatic gearbox spoils the point of the Fiesta, which is that it’s incredibly good fun to drive. Opt for one of the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrols – badged as ‘EcoBoost’ and you’ll have a car that’s reasonably efficient, plenty quick enough and really engaging on those all-too-rare occasions you get out of the city and find yourself on a nice road.

2. Mazda 6 Tourer

Sadly discontinued now, but for a decade the Mazda 6 proved itself a more than credible alternative to the likes of the Ford Mondeo. Used, it’s just as compelling a choice – it’s good-looking, great to drive, reliable and practical.

The 2.2-litre diesel engine is what you’ll find most examples equipped with, and it’s well up to the task of pulling this big estate car along at a fair lick. A 2.0-litre petrol was also available, which is rather less punchy but very smooth and refined. Keep a watchful eye for rust and poorly repaired panel damage.

3. Honda CR-V

Six generations of the Honda CR-V have cemented its position as one of the most dependable SUVs around. Our budget gets you a third- or fourth-generation model, either with the 2.2-litre i-DTEC diesel or the 2.0-litre i-VTEC petrol. Both are brilliantly reliable engines.

The CR-V’s packed with clever touches too – it has a massive boot, loads of space in the back seats and smart interior storage options. On four-wheel drive cars, check that the system functions as it should with a quick start on a loose surface.

4. Toyota Auris

Our budget will stretch to an Auris Hybrid, which is fantastic news. This combination of 1.8-litre petrol engine, electric motor and battery pack has also been used to great effect in the Prius, achieving ubiquity and truly interstellar mileages as taxis in cities around the world.

No, it’s not fast or exciting to drive, with the CVT gearbox sapping any sense of driver engagement. But if you want a car to get you from A to B as efficiently and as reliably as possible, the Auris Hybrid is the car for you. If you want a slightly newer Auris, non-hybrid versions of the last generation car are also available within our budget.

5. Skoda Yeti

Even Skoda didn’t really know how good the Yeti was when it was launched. Owners absolutely love their cars – and a star turn on Top Gear didn’t hurt when it came to getting this boxy SUV into the public eye.

The Yeti’s superbly practical, and if you get one of the versions with four-wheel drive it’s even fairly capable on the rough stuff. Or, find an early model with the 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol for a surprisingly fast family SUV.

6. Jaguar XF

Suggesting a British luxury executive car as a sound used purchase might give you cause to doubt our sanity. But the Jaguar XF bucks tradition – it’s proved itself a very dependable and sound car, given proper maintenance, and a well-sourced example makes a cracking used buy.

The 3.0-litre diesel is the best engine, and being a Jag all models get plenty of equipment including climate control, cruise control, leather upholstery and parking sensors. The poshest Portfolio models are true mini-limos. The XF had several recalls over its life so ensure these have all been taken care of before purchase.

7. Skoda Citigo

The Citigo was one of the finest small cars you could buy from introduction in 2012 right up until it was discontinued in 2019. The same can be said of its sister cars, the SEAT Mii and Volkswagen Up, which were mechanically identical – any one of the three makes a great used purchase, though we find the Skodas tend to be cheaper, albeit with slightly plainer styling and more drab interior trim.

The base 60hp engine is pretty slow but it’s peppy enough for city driving, and the car’s supple suspension and good refinement mean it’s not half bad at undertaking longer trips. Avoid automatic models, and opt for at least an SE model for essential kit like air-con and remote central locking.

8. Suzuki Swift Sport

£5000 doesn’t get you a lot in the world of hot hatchbacks but it does get you a second-generation Suzuki Swift Sport, one of the most underrated small cars out there. Though it lacks the pace of alternatives like the Ford Fiesta ST, its featherweight construction and dinky dimensions make it an absolute hoot to drive.

Sports were always well-equipped with niceties such as Bluetooth and climate control, plus that light weight means they’re very efficient too. Service intervals were quite short, so look out for evidence that any potential buy has been well looked-after, and keep an eye out for clutch juddering that would indicate the need for a replacement.

9. Volkswagen Touran

The second-generation Volkswagen Touran has been on sale for nearly a decade, showing the enduring appeal of what’s one of the last ‘proper’ MPVs on sale. Seven seats and a square body with tons of storage mean it’s as practical as family cars get, though it’s probably best to reserve the third row for small children or bendy teenagers.

Most examples will be diesel, but the 1.4-litre petrol engine is a fine match for even a fully-loaded Touran. The less equipment you have, the less there is to go wrong – mechanically the Touran is quite sound but complaints mostly centre around extra kit like the panoramic sunroof.

10. Mazda MX-5

You might not think £5,000 is enough to get you behind the wheel of a proper convertible sports car, but the Mazda MX-5 begs to differ. You can get a really sound example of the third-generation MX-5 for our budget, and you’ll find it a shockingly livable prospect as a daily driver – provided you don’t need four seats.

Unlike older MX-5s, the third-gen model doesn’t really suffer with rust, but look carefully for moisture on the inside that would indicate a failure of the convertible roof or blocked drains. Any water ingress can lead to electrical gremlins later on.

Save money on your next car

View the latest carwow offers on our car deals page or head over to our PCP calculator to get a better idea of how much your next car could cost per month. Read our handy used car buying guide or head over to our car chooser if you’re not sure which car is for you.