Best used cars under £15,000
A budget of £15,000 doesn't go a long way when you're buying a new car. Indeed, your choices are extremely limited if you want anything other than a small car without any bells and whistles. Fortunately, there are significantly more cars to choose from on the secondhand market.
There are tens of thousands of used cars available, many of which will be covered by the original manufacturer's warranty. If it isn't, you could consider an aftermarket warranty to provide some peace of mind should something go wrong.
Not that this should come before doing your homework. Consult used car guides, drive a few examples of the cars you fancy and create a shortlist of needs and wants before you part with your cash. That way you'll end up with a used car that's right for you.
To get you started, here are some of the best used cars you can buy for less than £15,000. To make life simple we've chosen models that should be Euro 6 compliant for clean air zones regardless of fuel type, and readily available with less than 100,000 miles.
Best used cars under £15,000 |
Suzuki Swace (2021-on)
- Bargain-priced Toyota hybrid in disguise
- Secondhand Swace still qualifies for Suzuki 10-year warranty
- Cheaper than a comparable Corolla Touring Sports
We consider Toyota's service-activated 10-year warranty a big reason to put the Japanese brand's cars first when looking at this sort of budget, but sometimes you can buy a Toyota without a Toyota badge. Suzuki's mainstream hybrid cars are Toyotas in disguise and they bring the service activated warranty with them.
Suzuki's relatively low profile means that for around £13,000 you can find a Suzuki Swace with 40,000 miles and a clean history. The equivalent Toyota Corolla Touring Sports is around £2000 more with a higher proportion of damaged-repaired examples at the cheaper end of the market. Specification-wise there's not much between them – the only significant difference is the availability of the 2.0-litre Toyota Corolla, but those are holding their value and for now, only drop below £15,000 at very high mileage or with questionable history.
The Suzuki Swace is an excellent compromise of space, economy and driver enjoyment, with surprisingly precise and rewarding handling despite the best efforts of comfortable suspension and the inevitable CVT gearbox. The hybrid is economical and refined at speed, but coarse when driven enthusiastically as it hunts for the best performance ratio.
A large load area with the seats raised, despite the low roof and small footprint, makes the Suzuki Swace a very practical family car, while Toyota engineering and that long warranty mean it's one you can depend on as well.
Ford Puma (2020-on)
- Clever small SUV with hot-hatch handling
- Charming, good looking and affordable to run
- Puma ST is quick, comfortable and full of character
Any model of Ford Puma will be an enjoyable car to drive, but the short-lived original Ford Puma ST offered from 2021 to 2023 is one you'll remember for years after you've moved on – the 1.5-litre turbo engine produces 200PS and gives the well-proportioned small SUV truly hot-hatch style performance. Yet it's very easy to live with as a daily driver and not at all high-strung. While the ST continues, it's now a 170PS 1.0-litre automatic.
You might think £15,000 is a lot for a five-year old example of Ford's smallest car after the sad demise of the Ford Fiesta, but with new prices starting at over £26,000 it's quite a substantial saving. You will find low mileage approved-used examples in this budget. The Ford Puma ST is likely to be nearer 50,000 miles and older. However, it's unlikely there will be a car remotely like it again as new designs focus on electric power.
All Ford Pumas are remarkably practical given their compact dimensions, with just the right balance of robust but well-assembled trim and a large underfloor storage system in the boot which can be used for muddy boots or even as an icebox. With the lower-power models look out for ex driving school models, as they're popular for learners.
BMW i3 S (2019-2022)
- Final edition of the BMW i3 has bigger battery
- Innovative engineering yet to be matched by newer EVs
- Low mileage, top-spec BMW i3 S is within the budget
Although there's an increasingly wide range of used electric cars available for £15,000, the BMW i3 remains one of the best options. Launched in 2013, the BMW i3 was responsible for adding a touch of premium class to the EV market. The distinctive styling wraps one of the few truly bespoke electric car designs offered in the first wave of EVs.
Despite the high-tech carbon fibre and aluminium body, a £15,000 budget is plenty to secure one of the last off the line BMW i3 S models with a low mileage. The 42.2kWh battery offers an official 193 miles of range, and the S specification is hot-hatch quick with engaging handling as well.
If you want to save money, you can get earlier cars with 22kWh and 33kWh batteries from around £5000. These should deliver anything between 80 and 100 miles respectively making them ideal for city commuting, though there is also the BMW i3 REX model with a small scooter engine generator that offers the option of quick refuelling. Don't mistake it for a long-distance hybrid, though - the tiny petrol tank is intended to help you reach the next charging point, not Land's End to John O'Groats.
Toyota C-HR (2017-2023)
- Economical petrol and hybrid sporty SUV
- Excellent reputation overall, long warranty
- Some rivals are more practical, few match it for overall value
When it comes to buying a used car in a five-figure budget, your first consideration is likely how long you have before any repair bills become your problem. The easiest way of avoiding them is to get a car with a long warranty and low miles. And Toyota's 10-year 100,000 mile scheme means any five-year old, less than 50,000 mile used Lexus or Toyota already has a massive advantage over any other car you'll consider.
Of the range, the Toyota C-HR is the best blend of cost, typical mileage and age. You'll find 21-plate 40,000 mile examples within reach from private sales (just take the car for a service at a dealer to reactivate the warranty) and trade sales at rather higher mileages. You'll still have the same three years of warranty many new cars have after all.
Watch out for damaged-repaired Cat S or N examples as they may not qualify for extended cover. We'd go for a private sale with good documentation and an independent history check over a dealer with a 'bargain' repaired write off.
Watch out for early models with the panoramic glazed roof, as they have been known to suffer cracked windscreens after pothole incidents. At this price, you're looking at the peak of first-generation Toyota C-HR popularity with a wide range of colours and specifications to choose from, including the 1.2-litre non-hybrid CVT auto all-wheel drive version. Take your time and view several before buying.
Audi A3 e-tron and 40 TFSIe
- The ideal sensible hatchback for school runs
- Zero-emissions capable, if you plug in
- Economical and quick even if you don't
Compared with the mechanically similar VW Golf GTE the plug-in hybrid Audi e-Tron model is cheaper and easier to find secondhand. You'd be hard pressed to find any objective reason to want the Volkswagen over the Audi, particularly when you can get a 2022 40 TFSIe with 13kWh battery for £15,000.
Go for late 2016-on for better tech overall (look for sharper cutouts in the headlights) and you can pick up below-average miles, full-history examples for around £11,000.
This A3 is best suited if you often do short drives, as it offers a 20-30 mile range on electric power alone if plugged in. When you need to go further, it is quite capable of exceeding 50mpg in the real world when using its 1.4-litre petrol engine alongside the motor and battery.
Since the Audi's hybrid technology is shared across several Volkswagen Group models it's well understood by specialists. Once the approved-used warranty expires there are lots of independent garages that can help keep the car maintained and running costs low. As with other plug-in hybrids, it's likely that the engine and related parts will have done half the work for a given mileage, too – so a proactively-maintained 50,000 mile example should easily give you a decade of use without unexpected bills.
Skoda Octavia (2020-on)
- Versatile estate and hatchback with proven technology
- TSi iV plug-in hybrid is excellent value on the used market
- Recent facelift means prices have dipped slightly
If you liked the sound of the Audi A3 e-tron but need more space, there's good news. Skoda added plug-in hybrid options when it launched the fourth-generation Skoda Octavia and you can pick up hatchback or estate TSi iV models with low-to-average mileage for less than £15,000.
There's a broad range of engines available, but It's the 1.4-litre TSi IV that stands out as a great used buy. If you can plug in and charge at home or work then the 13kWh battery is enough for most commutes and school runs without ever touching the fuel tank. Combined, the electric motor and 1.4-litre engine produce 204PS, making the Skoda Octavia surprisingly quick when needed.
If you need more space, the same engine set-up can be found in the Skoda Superb Estate, but you'll need to spend a little more than £15,000 to get one. Go for an approved-used Skoda Octavia TSi iV Estate and you'll probably want to keep it for the long-term, so take your time choosing a colour and spec you love. If you're considering a fleet-spec 1.0-litre SE and financing your car, check new deals first – they're often very competitively priced for drivers who like to pay monthly and want the reassurance of a manufacturer warranty.
Kia Sportage (2016-2022)
- Popular family SUV is backed by a long warranty
- On finance it may be better value to get a new one
- For cash buyers, £15,000 can get a car with three years of cover
With new car prices rising and interest rates on finance still high, the popular Kia Sportage is worth looking at at four years old – if you can find one with low enough mileage to let you do the next three years without reaching 100,000 miles. That figure is important, because the remaining three years of Kia's seven-year warranty has a mileage cap. These are the last of the previous generation Kia Sportage so be firm on your price and spec targets.
Evolving into a refined, user-friendly family SUV means the fourth-generation Kia Sportage rarely has the off-road skills to match the first generation – most are front wheel drive. Instead it has a good balance of quality and economy, high levels of kit and a strong dealer network.
Even so, at £15,000 the Kia Sportage is a used deal best taken by cash buyers or finance with cheap, unsecured general loans rather than HP or used-car PCP deals. There are often good deals for leasing a brand new Kia Sportage, so check your deposit, monthly payments and interest rate before signing on the dotted line for used car finance. There is a choice of petrol, mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid and diesel models, but most at this price are front-wheel drive petrol models.
BMW 2 Series ActiveTourer (2014-2021)
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- Family-friendly plug-in hybrid 4x4 – the BMW 225xe
- Older low-mileage examples are surprisingly affordable
- Diesel may suit long-distance drivers – but get a warranty
When you think of BMW, you probably don't think of a car that offers better value for families than, say, a Renault Scenic. Yet the BMW 2 Series ActiveTourer appears to do exactly that. You can get relatively low mileage late examples for less than £15,000, with most on offer being the 218d diesel. A fair number are 225xe versions if you don't mind something around six years old and just over 50,000 miles.
Bear in mind that a plug-in hybrid car may have less than half the real mileage on the engine itself. If used correctly and maintained well it should be capable of delivering another decade of commuting and family trips. Suddenly the BMW 225xe starts to make the often short-lived diesel Renaults look like an expensive alternative.
BMW's attitude to spares and service is generally better for long-term ownership as well. If not cheap, you'll at least be more likely to be able to get parts when the car's nearing 20 years old – a worthy consideration when new car sales are heading to electric only and there's little sign of infrastructure catching up.
The final benefit found in the spacious five-seater MPV is the rear-motor assist all-wheel drive. Removing the wear and maintenance demands of Haldex, the BMW 225xe should be four-wheel drive for all its working life, rather than a sad 'propshaft removed for economy' warning in the classified ads.
Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet (2016-2023)
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- Pre-2018 models are well below £15,000
- E-Class is almost as affordable if you need more space
- Petrol is best bet for lower maintenance costs
Of all the convertibles on the market at this age and price point, the Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet offers the best combination of space, refinement and longevity. That's assuming you avoid the diesel models, which can be prone to problems with the emissions system relating to AdBlue levels and NOx sensors. Go for the petrol versions - particularly larger engine models - and the overall experience should be painless.
Where the Mercedes C-Class stands apart from rivals is in the upmarket, scaled-down S-Class style. Externally, it's subtle and delicately detailed while inside there's plenty of room for driver and front passenger. Rear space is quite good, but at the expense of boot space. An E-Class Cabriolet is better for families but it feels like a much bigger, less agile car to drive.
Most Mercedes C-Class Cabriolets in this budget will be available within the approved-used network, and if you are tempted by the powerful and economical diesel then a warranty will at least make any issues just one of inconvenience rather than expense.
Jaguar XF Sportbrake (2017-2024)
- Rear-wheel drive estate with Jaguar's handling and ride prowess
- AWD models are available, but not quite in this budget yet
- Avoid early diesel models and choose colour carefully
There are many good options for a used estate car, such as the Skoda Superb or Mazda 6 Tourer, but premium estate cars are scarce in this budget and mileage. You'll struggle to find a Volvo V90 or BMW 5 Series Touring, for example.
The exception is the second-generation Jaguar XF Sportbrake. This stylish load carrier is rear-wheel drive, with excellent handling and ride. Although diesel models were offered, the majority on the market are the generally reliable 2.0-litre petrol. Likewise the AWD option is rare. The 2012-2016 XF Sportbrake looks very similar, but has a wider range of usually diesel engines that can be quite demanding to maintain.
Unlike the Jaguar X-Type estate and the first-generation Jaguar XF, the second-generation Jaguar XF is made using aluminium. This means rust should not be the problem it has been on those earlier cars. The Jaguar XF Sportbrake is likely to get cheaper as Jaguar is reinvented, but catching a low mileage example now means you get to enjoy it while parts are still readily available and before it's been run into the ground. As posh family cars go, you'll struggle to find anything that feels as special.
Can I buy a new car for under £15,000?
Only just – though there are often many ex-demo or nearly-new examples of budget models that still come in below this threshold, only a handful of new cars are available for such a low price. For a new electric car the Dacia Spring fits the budget, though pre-registered deals mean getting a better spec. The petrol Sandero also offers a budget option.
What should I look for when buying a used car?
It doesn’t matter if you're spending £500 or £15,000 on a used car, the same rules apply. Do your homework before parting with your cash, take a test drive and carry out the necessary checks to ensure the car wasn’t stolen or written-off. A full service history is preferable, but don’t worry about the odd mark on the bodywork or scuff on the alloy wheels. There are plenty of used cars available, so shop around for the best deals.
Should I use car finance or a personal loan?
It all comes down to the interest rate and how much you can afford to spend on the monthly repayments. Using car finance means the vehicle won’t be yours until you’ve made the final payment, but you might be able to negotiate a better deal via the salesperson. The car is yours when you use a personal loan, but in both cases the car is likely to be worth less when you’ve finished the contract.
There is one advantage to choosing hire purchase on an older car - if the vehicle develops a major fault or your circumstances change, the option for voluntary termination exists where you can hand the car back without penalty once 50% of the loan amount has been repaid. While this applies to PCP schemes as well, usually a large amount of the loan value remains outstanding until the final payment.
