Best used small cars for less than £10,000

The Volkswagen Polo is a comprehensively neat, all-round package and the top of our tree here. 

For starters, it's good to drive in all its variants, and it has a supple ride. The small, turbocharged petrol engines are the ones to pick as they are smoother and quieter than the diesels.

The Polo is remarkably comfortable and has a nicely finished interior that mimics the larger Volkswagen Golf. There's a good amount of room for a couple of passengers in the rear, and the boot is impressive for a car of this size. The interior exudes class, and it all feels nicely put together. All versions are well-equipped, too. 

It's our number one here because it proved slightly more reliable than the Ford Fiesta in our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, scoring a terrific 98.5%.

"The Polo is a safe choice. I find it easy to recommend, because it ticks the average small car priorities list very well. It's spacious, refined and economical, just like a Golf." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2019 Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI EVO SE, 49,445 miles, £9295

Read our used VW Polo review

Search for a used VW Polo for sale

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

Our money buys one of the last models from this earlier generation, and what you'd be getting is a solidly built small car that's also good to drive, if not quite as much fun as some of its rivals. 

The Yaris is one of the roomier cars in its class, too, with plenty of interior space for those in the back. All in, it's a neat package and a good used buy. 

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

We found: 2020 Toyota Yaris 1.5 VVT-i Y20 Bi-tone, 66,252 miles, £9200

Read our used Toyota Yaris review

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The Ford Fiesta is a bestseller. 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.

Our budget buys a good 2021 car. Reliability is strong, too, with a good 95.2% score in our most recent reliability survey. However, there have been problems with the Fiesta's Ecoboost petrol engines with timing belt issues. 

"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

We found: 2021 Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost Trend, 43,000 miles, £9095

Read our used Ford Fiesta review

Search for a used Ford Fiesta for sale

The Renault Clio has always been a popular choice for all of those seeking a stylish, refined and grown-up small car, yet you can pick up this latest-gen model for very reasonable money.

You can save on fuel costs by choosing a hybrid version, too, although we reckon most people will be happy with the cheaper (and more reliable) 1.0-litre petrol engine. 

A major selling point is the Clio's interior, which looks and feels smart inside and comes loaded with goodies. Rear space isn't as good as some of its rivals here, but the boot is impressively large. 

More good news comes with the used car prices, which are highly competitive. Its reliability is similarly good, with an overall score of 93.5% in our survey. 

"The Clio has always been blessed with a bit of French flair. It's always caught my eye. I like the space inside and the driving experience, too" – Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 Renault Clio 1.0 TCe Iconic, 40,768 miles, £9499

Read our used Renault Clio review

Search for a used Renault Clio for sale

 

Small cars don’t come much more desirable than the Mini Hatch. It handles well, comes with a large range of engines and has a funky, high-quality interior. The automatic option is a good one, too, so progress is always smooth. 

True, you lose out on boot space and the rear seats are a little cramped, but if practicality isn’t so much of an issue, there’s no doubt the Mini is a car that appeals to the heart.

Reliability is excellent, with a terrific 99% score in our most recent reliability survey, but used prices are higher age-for-age than some rivals here. 

"There's no substitute for the Mini. I love them. If you could get a slightly newer one for our money, it'd be up the top of this chart." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2019 Mini Hatch 1.2 One auto, 60,000 miles, £9990

Read our full used Mini Hatch review

Find a used Mini Hatch for sale

 

We've always had a soft spot for the Honda Jazz, and this 2015-2020 generation is definitely worth a good look.

Interior space and practicality are two Honda Jazz fortes, because it feels MPV-like inside and has rear seats that can fold completely flat, plus the base of its rear bench can also fold up against the seatback to allow tall or wide items to be loaded widthways. Maximising useful interior space was Honda’s aim with this generation of Jazz, and it succeeded.

This model is also towards the top of the tree when it comes to reliability. It's also good to drive and comfortable to ride in. 

However, the Jazz would have finished higher in this top 10 list if it hadn't been for its CVT gearbox sometimes being a little unrefined under acceleration, and the intrusion of a little more road noise than some of its rivals produce. 

"The Jazz is a great car. Practical and reliable, and so, so spacious. I don't mind the CVT gearbox as much as some, so this would definitely be one of the ones I'd buy here." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2019 Honda Jazz 1.3 S CVT, 56,132 miles, £9800

Read our full used Honda Jazz review

Find a used Honda Jazz for sale

 

Fun to drive, very fuel efficient and generously equipped, the Suzuki Swift is a fine choice for those in the market for a well-priced small car. 

It offers the choice of a 1.2-litre petrol engine with 89bhp or a 109bhp, turbocharged, three-cylinder 1.0-litre – with or without hybrid assistance. 

Behind the wheel, you’ll instantly notice that the Swift feels light on its feet. It's decently practical, too, and wonderfully cheap to buy used.

Top-notch reliability, too. 

"Weighing in at less than a tonne, the Swift is lighter than many rivals and that yields advantages in the fields of ride, handling and fuel economy. That said, I found this previous-gen model just a bit too coarse and unrefined for my liking, hence there are rivals I'd choose over it if you like a quieter life." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 Suzuki Swift 1.2 Dualjet SHVS SZ5, 59,000 miles, £8990

Read our used Suzuki Swift review

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You'll have to go a little older (than most cars on this list) if you want an Audi A1 within budget, say a 2017 example, but that's the price you pay for luxury.

Both regarding interior quality and driving refinement, the A1 is, well, A1. It's about as plush as small cars get, and that's a key reason why it was our overall What Car? Car of the Year way back in 2011.

On top of that, it offered a good range of engines, though we'd stick to the petrol-powered cars, a smooth ride and tidy handling. It was relatively quiet, too, and although the rear room is a little tight, it makes up for it by being dinky in its exterior dimensions, meaning it's a doddle to drive and easy to park. 

Meanwhile, its reliability is also good, with a strong score of 97.5% in our most recent survey. 

"Blimey, this is classy. A great and typically Audi interior. I love it. Put me down for one." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2017 Audi A1 1.0 TFSI Sport S tronic, 47,741 miles, £9999

Read our full used Audi A1 review

Find a used Audi A1 for sale

 

It may have been replaced by the newer 2021-onwards Skoda Fabia, but don't let that put you off: this previous-gen model is fantastic.

It's mechanically based on the VW Polo, and it's cheaper. It was our Car of the Year in 2015 and Used Small Car of the Year in our 2020 and 2021 awards. It's well equipped, has lots of interior space and a comfortable ride. The smooth dual-clutch automatic gearbox completes what is already a very cool, calm and collected machine.

Only a mixed result in our most recent reliability survey counts against it here, and is the reason it doesn't finish higher up our top 10. 

"The Fabia was number one on this chart until its reliability score was revealed this year. A great car, but others will be more dependable, it seems." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2019 Skoda Fabia 1.0 TSI DSG SE, 28,655 miles, £9960

Read our full used Skoda Fabia review

Find a used Skoda Fabia for sale

 

Previous generations of the Seat Ibiza were popular, but they never competed right at the top of the small car class. All this changed when Seat launched this excellent fifth-generation car in 2017.

It's distinctively styled and there's loads of interior room. It rides and handles well, even edging out the Fiesta, and it's comfortable and practical.

Our favourite 1.0-litre version in well-equipped SE trim looks like a bit of a bargain.

Only poor reports in our latest reliability survey let it down. 

"Less playful than a Fiesta but still impressively sharp, the Ibiza is great to drive. I was particularly taken back by the ride. I haven't driven another small car that floats down a country road with such poise, composure and compliance." – George Hill, used cars writer 

We found: 2020 Seat Ibiza 1.0 TSI SE Technology, 46,000 miles, £9000

Read our used Seat Ibiza review

Search for a used Seat Ibiza for sale

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