The six best used cars for only £5,000 – and one to avoid

If you have £5,000 saved to spend on a car, don’t fritter it away on a deposit for a PCP finance deal on a new model; why not consider spending it on a cheaper used vehicle that you’ll own outright? You might be surprised to see just how many good-quality used cars are still available for that figure, despite a recent rise in prices.

As an example, here are six cracking second-hand cars that you can get for the same price as that PCP deposit. All are highly recommended, useful, reliable and comfortable.

But not everything is good value, so I’ve included one slightly surprising used buy that you can steer clear of.

Best urban runaround

Hyundai i10 (2014-2020)

Compact on the outside, roomy on the inside and with an interior that’s far classier than a city car has any right to be: it’s no wonder we love the Hyundai i10. And its excellent reputation for reliability, smooth ride quality and decent handling only add to the reasons why you should choose it.  If you’re in the market for a small car, it’s a cast-iron contender.

Price to pay: from £3,000

We found: 2014 i10 Premium, 68,000 miles, full-service history, £4,999

Watch out for: notchy gearshifts, sticking handbrakes, defunct air-conditioning

Best for families

Skoda Octavia (2004-2013)

This second-generation Octavia offers everything a Volkswagen Golf can, given they’re based on the same mechanicals – plus a little bit more. You get the same range of engines, – which combine gutsy performance with impressive fuel economy – and the same combination of ride comfort and crisp handling. Inside, it’s almost as well made, with comfortable seating – but the Octavia’s trump card is the amount of space in the back seats and boot.

Price to pay: from £1,500

We found: 2010 Octavia 1.4 TSI Elegance, 48,500 miles, full-service history, £4,990

Watch out for: Dodgy DSG semi-auto gearboxes, failed climate control, ABS (anti-lock braking) warning lights, water build-up inside doors

Best for dogs

Honda CR-V (2006-2012)

The incredibly useful CR-V combines an excellent reputation for reliability from tried and tested mechanicals with loads of space and a boot large enough for any canine companion (not to mention a sliding rear seat, so that you can increase space further). What’s more, its four-wheel drive system will help you out on muddy back lanes and rutted countryside car parks, if you decide to take your pampered pooch well off the beaten track.

Price to pay: from £3,500

We found: 2011 CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC ES, 79,000 miles, full-service history, £4,850

Watch out for:  Air-conditioning not blowing cold, draining batteries, condensation in rear lights, flaking door handle paint

Best for fun in the sun

Mini Convertible (2009-2015)

You probably assumed we’d suggest the Mazda MX-5… That’s understandable, as it’s hard to split them, but the Mini just edges it because £5,000 only gets you an early, slightly rusty example of the least desirable MX-5. By contrast, a Mini Convertible is almost as engaging to drive, much more pleasant to sit in and has two extra seats. What’s not to like?

Price to pay: from £1,500

We found: 2011 1.6 Cooper, 77,400 miles, full service history, £4,990

Watch out for: Electrical niggles, rattling flywheels on diesel, weak starter motors, blown stereo speakers

Best for low running costs

Toyota Auris Hybrid (2010-2012)

For only £5,000 you don’t have to try too hard to get your money’s worth of more than 60mpg and a tax rate of £0 a year in a car fuelled by petrol (which is cheaper than diesel). Countless tiny hatchbacks will do that. But to get all of that in a larger car that’s capable of carrying a family with ease – and one whose reliability record is beyond compare? For that, you’ll have to opt for the Auris Hybrid, which is rather dull to drive and a bit tacky inside, but almost certainly offers the best cost-to-space ratio for any car this side of £5,000.

Price to pay: from £4,500

We found: 2011 Auris 1.8 VVT-h T Spirit, 95,532 miles, full-service history, £4,995

Watch out for: Water ingress in boot, jerky transmissions, hybrid system issues

Best with seven seats

Ford S-Max (2006-2014)

If you’re after a seven-seater at this price, don’t buy an SUV – there are countless MPVs (or people carriers) on the market for bargain prices since relatively few people want them. They do a far better job of carrying seven people than an SUV as their lower floors afford greater interior space. The best of the bunch is probably the S-Max, which has a game stab at an involving driving experience and looks like good value, although you might have to wade through a few abused, neglected examples to find a good one.

Price to pay: from £2,000

We found: 2012 S-Max 2.0 TDCi Titanium, 88,522 miles, full-service history, £4,995

Watch out for: Patchy service records, beaten-up interiors, electrical niggles, damp carpets, noisy power steering

Best for style

Audi TT (2006-2014)

Are you the kind of person who’s after a champagne lifestyle on beer money? In that case, you’ll love the second-generation TT, which manages to look remarkably fresh and modern given its age. So much so that those who aren’t in the know will reckon it costs vastly more than it actually does.  Rest assured, this will impress your mates at the pub. But it isn’t just a pretty face; under the skin, this TT is much better to drive than its predecessor, with a gutsy 2.0-litre turbo nicked from the Golf GTI.

Price to pay: from £2,500

We found: 2007 TT 2.0 TFSI, 65,000 miles, full-service history, £4,995

Watch out for: High oil consumption, rattling timing chains, dodgy electric windows, saggy seat bases, condensation in headlights, ticking or knocking sounds from engine

…and the £5,000 used car to avoid

BMW 1 Series (2004-2011)

Its premium badge might tempt you, but the first-generation 1 Series is tricky to buy well, given that many of its engines suffer from serious flaws. That would be bad enough on its own, but even if you get a reliable example, the original 1 Series is cramped in the back, harsh-riding and has a joylessly dark and dismal interior, with some cheap materials smattered about the place. It’s best avoided.