Used Volkswagen Cars for Sale

Looking to buy a used Volkswagen? Get a full car history check

Used Volkswagen cars overview

Volkswagen has, for decades, been a go-to car brand for family buyers, not least because of the Golf, a car that in its various forms can almost be all things to all people. VW trades on its image of quality and quiet classiness, but its reliability record isn’t quite as rosy as you might think.

Popular used Volkswagen models

Used Volkswagen Golf

The Golf, since the 1970s, has been the template for the family hatchback. Always classy, you can choose from frugal diesel and down-sized turbo petrol models, or properly sporty GTI and R versions. Beware of flaky software in the more recent Mk8 versions.

Used Volkswagen Tiguan

Actually a bigger seller for VW these days than the mighty Golf, the Tiguan is a solid medium-sized family SUV with plenty of space and high quality. Allspace version can be had with seven seats, and a 2020 update gave the Tiguan a higher-quality interior.

Used Volkswagen Polo

A Polo represents a perfect choice as a starter car, as they’re solidly safe and pretty reliable too. Not very exciting to drive, but the upside of a Polo is that it’s roomy and well-made inside, and has some very economical engine options.

Used Volkswagen T-Roc

The T-Roc is Volkswagen’s inbetween-y SUV, in that it’s not as big as a Tiguan, but equally not as tiny as a T-Roc. It’s kind of a tall Golf, and while it’s not thrill-a-minute to drive, it’s roomy and looks smart.

Used Volkswagen Up!

The Up! is one of the best cars VW has built in the past two decades. Tiny, easy to park, and runs on a sniff of petrol, it’s also roomier than you’d think inside, and feels grown-up enough for motorway runs. Cabins are basic and plain, but the Up! is a reliable car.

Volkswagen used cars FAQs

Is Volkswagen a reliable used car?

VW has a good reputation for reliability, but in recent years, VW has slipped down the Driver Power ratings when it comes to quality and solidity. Mechanically, they’re still pretty solid, but software problems have recently been common.

Which is the best cheap Volkswagen car?

It’s very hard to get away from a Golf with this answer. In fact, Golf is often the best answer to most motoring questions – it’s roomy enough, decent to drive, looks good, is reliable and economical, and can be picked up for pennies if you go for an older model. Hard to beat, really.

What is a good mileage for a used Volkswagen?

This doesn’t have a simple answer, as really it’s best to buy on the condition and history of a car, not the mileage. A low-mileage VW that hasn’t been properly cared for will always be a worse choice than one with high-miles but a full set of service stamps and receipts showing that someone has cared for it properly.

How many miles should a Volkswagen last?

Miles aren’t really the question here — it’s all about maintenance. There have been VWs which have passed the million-mile mark with proper maintenance, so the sky’s the limit really. Keep your VW properly serviced and looked after and it should do at least 200,000 miles.

What is the cheapest VW to maintain?

The Up! is the cheapest VW to run, as it was designed from the outset to be cheap to buy, cheap to fuel, and cheap to service. Its lack of cutting-edge tech means that there’s less to go wrong, and items like tyres for the tiny wheels are cheap too.