Used cars of the week: executive cars for less than 20k

* Great value executive saloons * Real-world examples * What Car?'s Approved Used scheme offers peace of mind...

Used cars of the week: executive cars for less than 20k

The Infiniti Q50 has just gone on sale in the UK. It's aimed squarely at the traditional executive saloons: the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Prices start at a competitive £27,950 for the Q50, but what if you're not in the market for a new car? We've taken a look through our Approved Used classified pages and come up with a selection of larger executive cars that come in at under £20k. That's a lot of car for your money.

Here's what we found.

Audi A6 2.0 TDI 177 SE

Audi's classy A6 is a refined and comfortable executive saloon that is also surprisingly economical. This 2.0 TDI 177 SE version, with the optional CVT gearbox, averages 56.5mpg and emits just 132g/km of CO2. It is our pick of the range and comes fully loaded with equipment including sat-nav, leather seats, dual-zone climate control and front and rear parking sensors. At less than £19,400, this '11/61 A6 with 26,000 miles on the clock is a good buy.

Audi A6 2.0 TDI S Line Special Edition

The previous-generation A6 is a popular used buy, thanks to its bullet-proof build quality. This 2.0 TDI S Line Special Edition model is fully loaded - it even has a Bose sound system - and has done just 28,000 miles. It's on sale for £17,479 and is a great way to transport four adults in comfort and style.

BMW 520d M Sport Business Edition

BMW's 5 Series is one of our favourite used buys, and this one is a bargain at £15,495. The 2.0-litre diesel engine offers a great blend of performance and low running costs, while the M Sport Business Edition trim comes with sat-nav, climate control and other toys. A great car with a desirable image.

Mercedes-Benz E350 CDI Blue Efficiency Avantgarde

The E-Class is an example of what Mercedes does best. It's a comfortable cruiser that is relaxing to drive and easy to live with. This E350 CDI Bluefficiency Avantgarde is our pick of the range and comes with sat-nav, electric everything and front and rear parking sensors. It's a '10/60 model that's done less than 25,400 miles. You can pick it up for £19,790.

The Approved Used Scheme in conjunction with Trusted Dealers offers real peace of mind, thanks to our '10 Points of Difference'. Every car sold through the scheme comes with checks to make sure it hasn't been stolen or written-off, and that all finance has been settled. It also includes a mechanical inspection, a mileage confirmation, a minimum of three months' MoT, the option of a test drive, finance offers, a full valet and a warranty.

Visit our Approved Used Cars finder to uncover hundreds of other choices from Trusted Dealers.