What Car? Used Car of the Year - And the winner is...

Mazda 6 2.0 TS
Price from £6500 Year '03/03

The Mazda 6 was the clear winner of our Used Car of the Year title, scooping more than half of the votes from our judges. Or, to put it another way, there were more votes cast for the Mazda 6 than for all the other cars put together.

Its combination of value for money, reliability, desirability and fine handling proved too much for the competition.

It's not the first time that the Mazda 6 has taken our used-car crown. It was also the winner in 2005, and missed out last year only because of a shortage of cars on sale.

12 months is a long time in the used-car business, though, and there are now plenty of Mazda 6s with dealers, independent garages, car supermarkets and even private sellers.

The price is right
What's more, family-car prices have been under pressure recently, with MPVs and 4x4s becoming the fashionable way to transport four or more people.

That's good news for the canny used buyer, and one of the reasons why a car as good as our champion this year can be yours for as little as £6500.

You're certainly not short-changed, either. The Mazda can cope with five people and their luggage, and still feel comfortable, while extras like climate control, a CD player and alloy wheels only sweeten the deal.

There are other 6 models - older and newer - that you might want to consider, but we think the 2.0-litre TS on an 03 plate represents the best value.

Looking good
True, our winner isn't the face-lifted model that's currently on sale, but we think it still looks modern and fresh, and a million miles away from its more commonplace rivals such as the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra.

Last, but not least, its slow rate of depreciation also means that you'll lose less money when you come to sell it on.

Runners-up
Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec Climate 5dr '05/05 £8500
The Focus may finish as a runner-up, but don't let that put you off. This is the first year this version of the car has been included in these awards, and it easily beat its class rivals.

The old Focus was brilliant, but this new model improves on it, with great build quality, reliability and refinement.

One of the reasons it's such good value is that there are so many used cars on the market. Competition is stiff between dealers and supermarkets, so you can find great deals.

VW Golf GTI '05/05 £15,000
The Golf GTI is that rarest of things - a practical performance car. It puts a smile on your face every time you tackle a twisty road, yet it's equally at home in the city or a supermarket car park.

The previous GTI was a disappointment, but this one is a return to form: agile, fast and full of character.

You could spend a lot more on a performance car that would be much less rewarding. If you're really into the ethos of a GTI, hunt down one in Candy White for a retro look.