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. 

Used prices start at around £15,000, which is a useful saving on the price of a new one. Check out the prices on our used car classifieds site. 

"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 Volkswagen Tiguan has regularly been one of the most popular family SUVs around. In fact, for years, it was one of Volkswagen's top-selling models.

This second-generation version is beautifully made and finished, and is also a solid performer, with punchy engines that have no trouble carrying a car-load of people around (or towing a caravan).

There's a good choice of efficient engines, handsomely equipped trims, and all in the Tiguan is one of the most family-friendly and refined SUVs of them all.

Prices on the whole are slightly higher than many of its rivals, but there are plenty of well-kept examples on the second-hand forecourts. Reliability is good, too. You'll need around £10,000 to get inside one of the Tiguans of this generation. We'd spend around £15,000 on a good 2021 car, or, if you can stretch to it, £18,000 on a 2023 model. 

"I find the Tiguan an easy recommendation, because it's comfy, well-built and well executed in general. Driving it is always a pleasure." – Oliver Young, reviewer

We found: 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan 1.5 TSI 150 Life, 37,000 miles, £18,350

Read our used VW Tiguan review

Search for a used VW Tiguan 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

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, starting now at under £10,000. Check them out on our used car classifieds site. 

"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

 

The Mazda CX-5 is a terrific all-rounder. If you’re after a used SUV to transport your family around in it’s almost unbeatable, being good to drive, decently practical and, above all, superb value for money.

Enthusiastic drivers will love it for its surprisingly agile handling, and families will love it for its practical, spacious and exceptionally high-quality interior. The CX-5 is also handsomely equipped and exceptionally well screwed together, with a good reliability record. 

It's larger than most of the cars on our list here, and also unfortunately a fraction more expensive; otherwise, it might have finished even higher. 

Prices for this generation of CX-5 start at around £10,000 for a good example from 2017 or 2018 with an average mileage for the year. We'd look for a slightly newer car, say a 2021 or 2022 car, for around £16,000 to £18,000. 

"The CX-5 is great to drive, especially if you don't mind an old-school driving experience like I do – for instance, the petrol engines need plenty of revs to really get going." – George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2022 Mazda CX-5 2.0 SE-L, 4.5,402 miles, £18,450

Read our used Mazda CX-5 review

Search for a used Mazda CX-5 for sale

 

Fancy the quality, image and exciting driving style of a BMW but in a family hatchback package? That’s where this third-generation version of the BMW 1 Series comes in.

It's based on BMW's own Mini, and if it isn’t quite as spacious as some rivals the payback is a high level of driver involvement combined with all the quality and kudos of a BMW.

It's extremely reliable, too, more so than most of its rivals in this class, and used prices are really competitive. 

"There's something really appealing about this 1 Series. I think it's sharp to look at and to drive. That infotainment system's really good, too." - George Hill, used cars writer

The deal we found 2022 BMW 1 Series 118i Sport, 28,000 miles, £20,000

Read our used BMW 1 Series review

Search for a used BMW 1 Series 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.

Used prices start at just £10,000, although we'd go newer and spend £15,000 on a good 2023 car. Check them all out on our used car classifieds site. 

"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

Search for a used Volkswagen Golf for sale

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

The deal 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

 

Family SUVs are the automotive equivalent of the Swiss Army knife in that they have to be spacious, comfortable, good to drive and classy inside, all at a reasonable cost.

Well, we think none of them do it as well as the Hyundai Tucson. Four tall adults will have plenty of room, five at a pinch, and the boot is absolutely cavernous, easily able to cope with a small family and all its clutter.

Its interior quality impresses, too. Few cars in this price range feel so plush inside. It's smart-looking, handles well, and it should come with the residue of its generous five-year-from-new warranty. Not that you should need it, hopefully, because its reliability record is very good. 

The Tucson can now be had easily within our budget, too, such that you should pick up a 2024 car for £20,000. That's cheaper age-for-age than nearly every car here, and especially its closely related sibling, the Kia Sportage. 

"The Tucson feels quite classy inside – the recent facelift has made the interior noticeably more modern – and you can't argue with the space on offer. I like the looks and I like driving it. " – Oliver Young, reviewer

The deal we found 2024 Hyundai Tucson 1.6 GDi SE Connect, 16,000 miles, £19,950

Read our used Hyundai Tucson review

Search for a used Hyundai Tucson for sale

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.

Used prices aren't as low as some, but the Jazz will pay you back handsomely with its good residual values and strong reliability. 

"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