10 cool used cars for the same price as a Dacia Sandero – including a Bentley or a Tesla

New cars can be pretty pricey but Dacia has always been a brand trying to push against that notion – its Sandero is the cheapest new car in the UK but still offers loads of space, decent equipment and modern performance.

But if you want something that looks a bit more up-to-date, has a plusher interior or a better safety score you’ll need to spend more money – right? Well, not if you’re willing to trawl the used market.

The Sandero starts from £13,795 for an ‘Essential’ model, rising to £18,245 for a Journey version with optional automatic gearbox and spare tyre. Plumb that price range into your favourite used car buying site and you’ll be amazed at what the used market has to offer.

We’ve rounded up ten cool used cars on the second-hand market, with a budget of up to £18,000. Are any of them direct alternatives to the Dacia Sandero? Well, not really. Are some of them a bit silly? Definitely. All, however, show the incredible value you can get buying used if you’re willing to shop around.

1. BMW 530e
2. Bentley Continental GT
3. Kia e-Niro
4. Mazda MX-5
5. Peugeot 508
6. Range Rover Evoque
7. Volkswagen Golf GTI
8. TVR Chimaera
9. Abarth 595C
10. Tesla Model S

1. BMW 530e

Kicking the list off strongly, who wouldn’t want a high-performance plug-in BMW for the price of a small petrol hatchback? The BMW 5 Series has always been one of the best family saloon cars out there, and this model ramps things up a bit by promising rock-bottom running costs as well as impressive performance.

Thanks to a battery pack under the boot floor you get enough electric range to complete your morning commute without burning any petrol at all – but with the freedom of being able to longer journeys with no range anxiety. Add that engine to one of the finest-driving chassis around and you’ve got a great recipe for an executive cruiser with both style and substance.

2. Bentley Continental

Yep, you read correctly – you can get yourself a slice of hand-built British excellence for the cost of a small Romanian hatchback. Granted, the fuel consumption of the Bentley Continental’s massive 6.0-litre W12 engine is liable to eat up the cost of a whole extra Dacia Sandero every time you nip to the shops, and maintenance won’t be cheap either.

But is it worth it for the sense of unparalleled imperiousness? There are quite a few choices of Continental around this price, too, so you’ll be able to shop around.

3. Kia e-Niro

Going electric is so expensive and comes with so many compromises. Well, that can be true if you’re buying new, but head onto the used market and you can find all manner of barely-used electric vehicles for peanuts.

The e-Niro is a particular favourite among minicab drivers for its practical interior and 200+ mile range. Going for a 2021 model means you get a better interior than early cars, too, with a bigger touchscreen infotainment system – it’s superbly easy to use.

4. Mazda MX-5

The Sandero’s very worthy, but it’s definitely not exciting or glamorous. Not like a two-seater convertible is, anyway. Enter the Mazda MX-5, which you can grab in great condition for the price of a mid-spec Sandero.

MX-5s are at their best when they’re simple, so this model gets a 1.5-litre engine and a manual gearbox without too much extra kit. You do get heated seats, though, essential for those roof-down jaunts on a cold day.

5. Peugeot 508

Family cars don’t come much better-looking than the Peugeot 508 – it’s eye-catching yet surprisingly practical thanks to its big hatchback boot, so long as you don’t expect to carry tall people in the back seats.

This model is the 225hp GT version, so it’s surprisingly quick too – 0-62mph is covered in around eight seconds and it’s very comfortable on a cruise. You get all the equipment you could want too – LED headlights, massaging leather seats, climate control and smartphone connectivity.

6. Range Rover Evoque

If you want a car that screams ‘fashion’ from every pore, even the priciest Dacia won’t do. What you want is a Range Rover Evoque. This is a 2018 model, which means it’s the last year of the first-generation Evoque – so you get much more for your money than you do trying to buy the latest model.

With a plush interior, powerful diesel engine and an automatic gearbox, the Evoque makes a great companion whether you’re pootling round the city or doing longer trips – and it’s so classy it stands up whether you’re taking it on a trip to Tescos or slumming it in the overflow car park at the races.

7. Volkswagen Golf GTI

A slice of hot hatch royalty, for the same price as a bargain-basement supermini? The Golf GTI has been around for a long time but this Mk7 model was one of the greatest of the lot – it looks classy, drives brilliantly and is just the right blend between great daily driver and thrilling hot hatch.

Just one look at the evocative tartan upholstery or golf-ball gearknob (attached to a proper manual gearbox, no less) and you’ll be smitten.

8. TVR Chimaera

If you want one of the most visceral, analogue driving experiences available, then the TVR Chimaera is your best option this side of a proper racing car. Dacia may be criticised for leaving modern safety systems off its cars – well, TVR didn’t even fit the Chimaera with ABS.

The Chimaera’s 3.5-litre V8 engine meant you had plenty of power to get you into trouble, too, so skilled drivers are best applying for this one. Everyone can appreciate how good it looks, though.

9. Abarth 595C

If everything so far has been a bit too big and flashy for you, why not consider a car that’s even smaller than the Sandero? Okay, an Abarth isn’t exactly going to blend into the crowd, but it’s so small that you’ll be able to squeeze it into any parking space.

This is no ordinary Abarth, either – this one’s a Turismo, so it gets 165hp (which is a lot in such a tiny package). It’s also a convertible, so you can get the wind in your hair.

10. Tesla Model S

You can of course get hold of a Tesla Model 3 within our budget, but if you’re willing to buy something slightly older and a bit less conventional, you can get hold of its bigger brother – the Model S.

You get a bigger, comfier car with loads more space, and if you’re lucky you can even find a model with free Supercharging at Tesla stations – reducing your running costs even further.

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