Used Car of the Year 2008 - Overall winner

Used car of the Year: Ford Focus 1.6 (115) Zetec Climate 5dr
Year: '05/05
Price: £5280

The Focus is all the car you'll ever need, pure and simple. It's impossible to argue against it when you see exactly how much you get for not much cash.

Yes, it's not as refined as a BMW 5 Series, nor as spacious as a Ford Mondeo, but in every other way it's the king of the used car hill.

Why it's a winner
The massive number of models on the used market means that prices are temptingly low, and just £5200 will get you a Focus that's great to drive, practical, reliable and cheap to run.

As soon as you drive this Focus you find out what all the fuss is about. The Zetec's ride is firm but never uncomfortable, and it has great poise through bends.

There's also plenty of grip, allowing you to tackle twisty roads with confidence and meaning that every journey is a lot less taxing that it might be in a less-capable rival.

Inside, the build quality is almost a match for higher-priced rivals such as the Golf, and the materials feel durable and solid. A family of four should have no problem getting comfortable, while five can fit in at a pinch.

If you want a little peace of mind, you could spent roughly £400 more and get a car that's a year younger with a year's warranty left on it.

Or, you could take out an independent warranty to cover any unforeseen problems – not that the Focus has a reputation for unreliability. Ford dealers are easy to find and are rarely expensive, but non-franchised garages are also capable of carrying out work.

2nd place: BMW 5 Series 520d SE
Year: '05/55
Price: £14,125
Our judges were so impressed with the 5 Series that it came within a whisker of winning the overall title.

When you're talking about a car of this calibre, £14,000 isn't much money and, because this 5 Series is still in production, you won't feel like you're buying an out-of-date model.

You don't have to worry about paying franchised dealer prices, either. Car supermarkets and independents have a healthy supply of vehicles due to its popularity with company car drivers and car fleet managers.

3rd place: Ford Mondeo 1.8i 16v LX 5dr
Year: '05/55
Price: £4580
The Ford Mondeo gets the bronze medal here. With room for five inside, the practicality of a hatchback and a spacious boot, it should suit most people down to the ground.

It even makes sense as an alternative to smaller MPVs. Steep depreciation makes buying a new Mondeo potentially expensive but, for this age of car, prices should hold steady, losing you less money in the long run. To cap it all, it's also great value.