5-star cars for less than £20,000
These five-star models are all proof that you don't need to shell out a fortune to get a fantastic car, whether you're shopping for a family hatchback, an SUV or even a sports car...
If you buy a car that achieved our top five-star rating, then you can be certain that you're getting one of the best cars on the market today.
You might think that you'll be forced to pay through the nose for the privilege of owning one of these cars. However, there's actually a variety of five-star cars available for less than £20,000, and one that you can pick up for less than half that. From city cars to SUVs, there's something for everybody.
Here's our round-up of five-star cars that you can buy right now for less than £20,000.
Five-star cars to buy for less than £20,000
Renault Zoe
Price from: £14,245 (after the Government's £4500 electric vehicle grant)
The Renault Zoe is one of the best electric cars around – in fact, we named it as our Electric Car of the Year at the 2017 What Car? Awards. It's quiet and easy to drive, has plenty of range and its low running costs make it very easy to recommend. Our favourite Dynamique Nav model comes with everything you're likely to want, including a 7.0in infotainment touchscreen, sat-nav, rear parking sensors and keyless entry.
If driving fun is a high priority for your next car, then the Mazda MX-5 should be at the very top of your list. Not only is it great fun on the open road, it's also got a quality interior and a refined and fairly economical range of petrol engines. It's also the only new two-seat sports car you can buy at this price level - its closest competitor would be the Toyota GT86, and that's more than £8000 more expensive.
The i10 is our favourite city car of 2017. It's cheap to buy and run, and is ideal for use around town, where its tight turning circle, light steering and small dimensions make practical sense. Rivals such as the Volkswagen Up have classier interiors, and entry-level versions of the i10 don't get important kit, such as air conditioning, but the i10's charm is hard to ignore. Opt for our recommended Premium SE version and you'll also get a heated steering wheel and a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system.
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