Best used car deals of the week

The Kia Sportage delivers on what families demand from a mid-sized SUV and then some.

Passengers of all sizes can fit comfortably in the front and back seats, plus the boot is vast and you can fold the back seats in a useful 40/20/40 split. The Sportage also has a lofty driving position for a grand view ahead.

There are fuel-sipping hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions available, but the entry-level (but still excellent) 1.6-litre petrol model is a terrific car too. It's good to drive, refined and comfortable to ride in. Build quality is good, and the Sportage in any form is well-equipped. 

Reliability is top-notch, and the Sportage comes from new with Kia's transferable seven-year warranty. Buy a Sportage that's less than 20 months old from a Kia dealer, and that warranty will automatically get topped up to seven years. 

"The Sportage managed to cater for my family of four and, what's more, I was left with space and practicality to spare." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor

The deal we found: 2022 Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 2, 40,000 miles, £14,500 

Read our full used Kia Sportage review

Search for a used Kia Sportage for sale

The Volvo XC40 mixes style, space and comfort with cutting-edge safety.

It's a highly desirable used choice, a car that oozes style both inside and out. It's a smooth and hushed performer, too, with a low level of wind and road noise, helping to make the interior a noticeably refined place in which to spend time.

When it comes to interior quality, the XC40 is exceptionally classy. All the surfaces feel suitably upmarket, thanks to plush, soft-faced materials, and everything feels robust, too.

Reliability is looking strong. Few family SUVs are such talented all-rounders.

"For a family SUV, I thought the XC40 felt like it had quite a low centre of gravity, helping it corner well but without the need for super stiff, ride-damaging suspension to control its body movements." – Stuart Milne, digital editor

The deal we found: 2022 Volvo XC40 T3 Momentum, 41,100 miles, £18,950

Read our used Volvo XC40 review

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The Honda Jazz is the small car to beat for passenger and luggage space, while its unique and incredibly flexible rear seating only adds to its practicality.

As a regular hybrid, there’s no need to plug the Jazz in and charge up, but that also means you can’t go very far on electric power alone. In its default Hybrid mode, it generally covers more electric miles in urban environments (especially if you drive with a light right foot), while it uses a combination of both petrol and electric power on faster roads. It switches between the two sources with tranquil ease, providing a quiet, refined and smooth driving experience most of the time.

Visibility is excellent, too, which helps make it easy to manoeuvre and park, while generous standard equipment, strong resale values and low running costs make it even more desirable.

On top of all that, it's good to drive and very reliable too. One of the best.

"An immensely strong and clever car with easy refinement and almost unequalled practicality. I have one of the old ones, and that one just keeps on running." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

The deal we found: 2022 Honda Jazz 1.5 i-MMD Hybrid SE, 28,000 miles, £12,500 

Read our used Honda Jazz review

Search for a used Honda Jazz for sale

The third-generation Toyota Yaris is smart, roomy and ultra-reliable and even has a hybrid option. 

You see, as a regular hybrid, the Yaris can run on petrol like a conventional car, but also has the ability to do short, low-speed stints on electricity alone. That's thanks to the way Toyota has managed to squeeze in a battery and motor as well as a petrol engine. That makes it a really economical car, one of the most frugal we've tested when we've put it through our real-world driving procedures. 

It's also a solidly built small car that's good to drive, if not quite as much fun as some of its rivals. It is decently quiet, though, and easily able to polish off longer journeys. 

The Yaris is one of the roomier cars in its class, too, with plenty of interior space for those in the back. The best news is its reliability record, which is stellar, with the Yaris often finishing up at the top of the small car class and the GR Yaris scoring a perfect 100% in our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey. 

All in, it's a neat package and a good used buy. Prices are highly competitive used. 

"The Yaris fails to beat out the competition in any area, but it's a comprehensively good package. If you can stretch to it, buy one of the later models for ultimate refinement. I'd buy one, but you'll need a little more than £10k." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor

The deal we found: 2021 Toyota Yaris 1.5 VVT-i Y20 Bi-tone, 36,252 miles, £10,200

Read our used Toyota Yaris review

Search for a used Toyota Yaris for sale

 

A strong combination of comfort, equipment and space have all combined to make the latest Skoda Octavia a real favourite with family car buyers.

It offers a vast boot and loads of room for rear-seat passengers. What’s more, it drives really well, with composed handling and a comfortable ride, and it’s great value.

Reliability is a bit mixed, alas, with problems reported with the infotainment and sat-nav systems. This seems to have improved with later models. Parts are readily available and the Octavia shouldn't cost a fortune to run. 

"I have had a couple of Octavias as long-term cars, and they both impressed me deeply over six months. Nothing was more spacious and abstemious on a long run we made in one of them to Cornwall. " - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

The deal we found: 2022 Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI SE L, 42,000 miles, £10,995

Read our used Skoda Octavia review

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Launched in 2019, the Tesla Model 3 has been a runaway worldwide sales success. That means there are loads to choose from on the used car forecourts. 

It has state-of-the-art tech, great performance and an excellent range all wrapped up in a relatively affordable package. Of earlier models, the Standard Range Plus is WLTP-certified for 254 miles of claimed range and the Long Range steps that up to 348 miles. The Performance officially does 329 miles.

All Model 3s come with plenty of luxuries, and the best news of all is that used prices now start at just £12,000.  Tesla's reliability has been a bit mixed over the years, but the Model 3 has always done well in our reliability survey. 

"The Model 3 has – and continues to be – a bit of a no-brainer for many electric car buyers and I can certainly see why. You get lots of range, lots of tech and that Tesla Supercharger network takes away a lot of the hassle of electric car charging." – Will Nightingale, reviews editor

The deal we found: 2021 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, 30,000 miles, £14,900 

Read our full used Tesla Model 3 review

Search for a used Tesla Model 3 for sale

The Volkswagen Golf is a fantastic all-rounder, combining excellent comfort, enjoyable handling, enough space for most families, a high-quality interior and quiet road manners.

Of course, the smart styling and VW badge make it a desirable car, and it's now possible to find used versions of this latest Mk8 car at a very reasonable price.

Reliability is only average, though; otherwise, it might have finished even higher. Issues mostly relate to the non-engine electrics and the infotainment system. 

"I ran a Golf as a long-term car a few years ago and found it delightful, just right for a family and decently refined. It's a really classy product." - George Hill, used cars writer

The deal we found: 2023 Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI Evo Life, 15,000 miles, £14,995

Read our used Volkswagen Golf review

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Speaking of good used deals, the ever-popular Nissan Qashqai has always been a favourite on the used car forecourts, and it's not hard to see why. 

For starters, it's good to drive, smooth and refined, and it can embarrass much smaller cars when it comes to efficiency.

In this generation, it even feels quite plush inside. Mid-range Acenta models are the ones to go for because they offer dual-zone climate control, cruise control, auto lights and wipers, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Reliability can be an issue, though. In our most recent reliability survey, it did well, coming in 17th out of 76 cars in the family SUV class and earning a good overall score of 95.9%. 

"The one that started the trend for family SUVs and still a good car today. This model I ran as a long-termer and found it spacious and comfortable for my family." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2021 Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi Acenta, 38,000 miles, £10,799

Read our full used Nissan Qashqai review

Search for a used Nissan Qashqai for sale

 

The BMW 3 Series is great to drive and available with a wide selection of superb engines that are extremely efficient. It's supremely competent and wonderfully classy. What’s more, it’s spacious enough for the average family and most versions are comfortable and reliable. 

Our favourite engine, if it fits into your lifestyle, is the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 330e. It offers great performance (0-60mph is achievable in just 5.9sec), yet it also has the potential for huge savings in fuel bills, provided you can charge it up regularly and the majority of your journeys are short.

Mid-range Sport comes with all the equipment you’d need and allows you to avoid the overly firm suspension of M Sport.

"A terrific car,  just beaten for value by the Tesla Model 3 maybe, but if anything even better to drive. I'd happily have one on my driveway." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

The deal we found: 2023 BMW 3 Series 330e Sport Pro, 61,780 miles, £25,995

Read our full used BMW 3 Series review

Search for a used BMW 3 Series for sale 

The Ford Fiesta is a bestseller and one of the favourites here for good reason.

Ford knows how to do small cars well, and the Fiesta has always been the prime example. Its forte is its excellent driving experience, featuring a composed ride and fun handling. It's a decently comfortable and practical car, too.

Admittedly, the infotainment system isn't quite on a par with the best in the class, but the rest of the package is so good that it’s hardly a deal-breaker.

Reliability is good, and parts and servicing should be relatively inexpensive. 

"Ford could've played it safe with the Fiesta's handling, but I'm very glad it didn't. The Fiesta is an overachiever in this sense and you can tell it was crafted by true car enthusiasts." – George Hill, used cars writer

The deal we found: 2021 Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost Trend, 43,000 miles, £7500

Read our used Ford Fiesta review

Search for a used Ford Fiesta for sale