Three of the best used cars for less than £20,000 – plus one to avoid

Buying a used car is a great way to get a lot more for your money, and a budget of £20,000 goes a long way. Whether you’re looking for an EV, something hugely practical or a fun weekend toy, here are three of the best second-hand cars for less than £20,000, as well as one which is best avoided.

Skoda Octavia vRS Estate: the jack of all trades

• We found: 2020 Octavia vRS Estate with 40,000 miles
• Saving over new: £10,000

The Skoda Octavia is simply one of the best all-rounders you can buy, especially in estate form. This vRS version throws in a powerful 245hp petrol engine and some sporty styling upgrades to make the overall package even more desirable.

It may not be quite as fun to drive as something like a BMW 3 Series, but the Octavia is hugely practical, comfortable to drive and well-equipped. It’ll also do 0-60mph in just 6.8 seconds, which is quick enough to worry most hot hatches.

Tesla Model 3 Performance: a blisteringly quick EV

• We found: 2020 Model 3 Performance with 62,000 miles
• Saving over new: £36,500

Used Teslas are getting seriously cheap these days, making them a very tempting choice if you’re looking to switch to an EV. The Model 3 is comfortable and packed with tech, and the Performance model offers a mind-bending turn of speed, with 0-60mph dealt with in just 3.1 seconds.

It may not be as well-built as some of the German alternatives, and the total lack of buttons won’t be to everyone’s taste. But the Model 3 is still very spacious inside and you get access to Tesla’s excellent Supercharger network.

Mazda MX-5: top-down fun

• We found: 2018 MX-5 2.0 Z-Sport with 30,000 miles
• Saving over new: £8,500

Cars don’t get much more fun than the Mazda MX-5, and you can get one for well under our £20,000 budget. We found a limited-edition Z-Sport model with the more powerful 2.0-litre engine for just £16,500.

Obviously there are some compromises to be made when buying a small two-seater. The boot is pretty tiny, and the cabin is a bit cramped for taller adults. Despite this though, the MX-5 is fantastic to drive and it can serve as an everyday car provided you don’t need to carry more than one passenger. It’ll put a huge smile on your face every time you pop to the shops.

Fisker Ocean: Looks tempting but stay away

• We found: 2023 Hyper-range Extreme with 8,600 miles
• Saving over new: £40,000

The Fisker Ocean looked like a promising electric SUV when it first hit showrooms back in 2023, but things soon went south when the company went bust a few months later. As a result the people who bought an Ocean are now stuck with no customer support.

As a result, nearly-new Oceans are popping up for under £20,000, and this may seem hugely tempting for a stylish, spacious and tech-filled SUV. However, when we tested the car back in 2023 we found a whole host of software glitches, and these are unlikely to have been fixed since the company ceased to exist.

Insurance will also be an issue thanks to a lack of parts availability, and with the car being so heavily reliant on software to run you’re just one error away from having a very big and expensive driveway ornament. You’re probably better off spending your £20,000 on a used Skoda Enyaq if you want a great-value, spacious electric SUV.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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