New Toyota Prius

Honda Civic

Audi A3

BMW 1 Series

Skoda Octavia

Ford Focus

Toyota Corolla

Skoda Scala

best-used-family-cars-for-less-than-pound10000

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">family car</a>&nbsp;is the answer to outgrowing the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small car</a>. No longer are you content or able to make do with just enough space for a few people and some bags:&nbsp;now you want something that'll handle four or five people with ease, plus a family's worth of&nbsp;shopping, luggage or maybe a pram in the boot.

Making this jump can be exciting, with a whole new&nbsp;size of car to explore, but it can also be costly. That's why we've put together this list of your top 10 used options for less than £10,000. Our recommendations offer great value for money, as well as the comfort and luxury&nbsp;you'd desire from an enjoyable daily driver.

Best used family cars for less than £10,000

Hatchback

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

CEED

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ceed/hatchback/review/n17863">Kia Ceed</a>&nbsp;may not be a class leader, but it's certainly not a bad car. It's a decent all-rounder, with smart interior, a generous&nbsp;list of equipment and some punchy yet economical engines. It should be impressively cheap to run in general, and it comes with the residue of its seven-years-from-new warranty. Oh, and it's proving reliable, too.

The main issue with the Ceed is the competition, because&nbsp;rivals outshine it in key areas.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus</a>&nbsp;handles better, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/review/n39">Skoda Octavia</a>&nbsp;is&nbsp;more practical and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW&nbsp;Golf</a>&nbsp;is more comfortable.

"Like the i30, the Ceed is a very good choice, but there are family cars I would choose over it."&nbsp;–&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2020&nbsp;Kia Ceed 1.0 T-GDi 2,&nbsp;51,834&nbsp;miles, £9600

10: Kia Ceed

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Well-equipped</li>
	<li>Well-built interior</li>
	<li>Decent sized boot</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Rivals are more practical</li>
	<li>Ford Focus is more fun to drive</li>
	<li>Unsettled ride over rough surfaces</li>
</ul>

Korean brand Hyundai is a rival to mainstream car makers such as Skoda, Toyota and Volkswagen. However, it's also increasingly taking on premium alternatives&nbsp;– particularly with its electric cars.

At the extremes of the Hyundai line-up you find the tiny i10 city car and the huge Ioniq 9 electric SUV. Meanwhile, other highlights of its line-up include two recent What Car? Awards winners: the seven-seat Santa fe SUV and the Ioniq 5 N hot hatch.

As a bonus, all Hyundais come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas many&nbsp;rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i30/hatchback/review/n36">Hyundai i30's</a>&nbsp;five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty from new isn't quite as long as the one from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/kia">Kia</a>.&nbsp;But next to the Kia Ceed, the i30 is&nbsp;similarly reliable, slightly&nbsp;cheaper&nbsp;to buy used and a slightly sharper driving machine, so it's actually the better deal.&nbsp;

The i30’s a good family car, too, with a spacious, robustly built interior, a comfortable ride and plenty of standard equipment from new.&nbsp;

"A good, safe choice, the i30 didn't blow me away, but, at the same time, it's devoid of any major dealbreakers."&nbsp;–&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2018&nbsp;Hyundai i30&nbsp;1.0T&nbsp;GDi&nbsp;SE Nav, 50,000 miles, £8750

9: Hyundai i30

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Long warranty</li>
	<li>Low prices</li>
	<li>Useful boot</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Sluggish performance</li>
	<li>Bland to drive</li>
	<li>Tight rear seat space</li>
</ul>

Honda is a company that doesn’t like to follow the crowd. So, while it competes in most of the traditional sectors of the car market, in each case it does something a little bit different.

The Jazz, for example, might look like just another rival to Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, but it’s actually much more practical than its rivals, with a flexible boot and Tardis-like interior.

The bigger Civic is also a practical choice, but it’s mainly distinguished by having eye-catching, love-it-or-hate-it styling, despite competing in a sector of the market that’s usually more conservative than a blue rosette.

And while it may not seem so radical now, Honda’s large SUV, the CR-V, was one of the first to forego any pretence of being an off-roader and instead focus on on-road driving dynamics.

HONDA

CIVIC

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Honda Civic's</a>&nbsp;sharp driving experience, good fuel economy and big boot makes&nbsp;it&nbsp;an enjoyable, affordable and capable family car. It's also reasonably&nbsp;spacious in the back, while up&nbsp;front&nbsp;the dashboard&nbsp;is clear and logically laid out, with&nbsp;controls that are pleasingly weighted.

Sure, it's not quite as polished as class leaders, as evident by its dated and unintuitive infotainment, as well as&nbsp;iffy overall refinement, but it still offers great value at its used price point.&nbsp;

"Through work, I ran a Honda Civic for a few months and loved it. It was fun to drive, good on fuel and practical."&nbsp;–&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2017&nbsp;Honda Civic&nbsp;1.0&nbsp;VTEC Turbo SE, 54,216&nbsp;miles, £9000

8: Honda Civic

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good to drive</li>
	<li>Lots of safety kit</li>
	<li>Big boot</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Woeful infotainment system</li>
	<li>Rear head room tight</li>
	<li>Noisy on motorways</li>
</ul>

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the M8&nbsp;grand tourer, which costs more than £120,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has ten in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM, plus the electric iX3 and iX.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

1 SERIES

Low, sleek and blessed with an upmarket interior, this generation of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n26">BMW 1 Series</a>&nbsp;was the hatchback of choice for aspiring family buyers for years. It's not quite as spacious and affordable to buy and run as its more functional rivals, but it's got punchy engines, entertaining handling and&nbsp;a fantastic infotainment system. Reliability has proven fantastic, too.&nbsp;

Our money buys a slightly older car, but there are plenty available on the used market for a good price.

"Rear-wheel drive is rare in the family car class, but the 1 Series has exactly that. As such, the model&nbsp;(particularly six-cylinder versions) almost feels like a sports car to me."&nbsp;–&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2017&nbsp;BMW 1 Series 118i&nbsp;Sport, 44,221 miles, £8650

7: BMW 1 Series

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Strong performance with a wide range of efficient engines</li>
	<li>Economy in diesel versions</li>
	<li>Class-leading infotainment system</li>
	<li>Terrific reliability</li>
	<li>Premium feel with high build quality</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Rear room a little tight for taller passengers</li>
	<li>Not as well equipped as some</li>
	<li>Limited boot space compared with some of its rivals</li>
</ul>

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

FOCUS

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus</a>&nbsp;falls short of class leaders&nbsp;in a few areas: the Octavia is more spacious, the Golf is more comfortable and the A3 is much classier inside. However, the Focus stands above all of those cars in regards to handling, even besting the Leon.&nbsp;

It's sharp, agile, engaging&nbsp;and fun to drive. If you're a keen driver, this is the family car for you – or&nbsp;better yet, check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n141">Ford Focus ST</a>&nbsp;hot hatch.&nbsp;

That said, the driving experience isn't the only thing going for the Focus, because buying and running costs are very reasonable – aided by great fuel economy. You can pick up a good 2020 model within our budget.&nbsp;

"If you really enjoy and value the driving experience, you'll likely warm to the Focus much more than you will any other family car. It's&nbsp;one of my favourite cars in the class, if not my top choice." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/george-hill/n23609">George Hill, Used Cars Writer</a>

We found:<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/ford/focus/ford-focus-1.0-ecoboost-125-zetec-edition-5dr/ford-focus-2018-10-ecoboost-125-zetec-edition-5dr-301166fa">&nbsp;</a>2019&nbsp;Ford Focus&nbsp;1.0T Ecoboost Titanium, 54,144 miles, £9900

6: Ford Focus

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Fun to drive</li>
	<li>Punchy yet economical petrol engines</li>
	<li>Roomy interior</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Sub-par interior quality</li>
	<li>Ride firmer than those of rivals (more so ST-Line)</li>
	<li>The Skoda Octavia has an even bigger boot</li>
</ul>

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

GOLF

We’re huge fans of the seventh-gen&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW&nbsp;Golf</a>, but, like the A3,&nbsp;it is a bit expensive.&nbsp;As a result, for this price, you’ll probably have to put up with a slightly older and/or higher mileage example than some of its rivals here. Nevertheless, if you can live with that age, you do get some great benefits: a classy interior (that's only second to the A3's), a comfortable ride, sharp handling, a spacious interior and impressive safety standards.

Few cars are as well rounded as the Golf, hence it's been a popular model for decades now.&nbsp;

"In my opinion, the great thing about the Golf is that it never loses sight of what it is, that being&nbsp;a practical, comfortable, well-built family car. Even the fast versions, those being the GTI and R models, can be described as such." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2015&nbsp;Volkswagen Golf&nbsp;1.4&nbsp;TSI Bluemotion Tech Match&nbsp;5dr, 54,358&nbsp;miles, £9095

5: Volkswagen Golf

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Smooth ride</li>
	<li>Enjoyable to drive</li>
	<li>Upmarket interior</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Not as cheap as some of its rivals</li>
	<li>Could be more spacious</li>
	<li>Reliability only average</li>
</ul>

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

SCALA

It may not handle like the Leon or have a flash interior like the A3;&nbsp;it's not quite as spacious as its Octavia sibling&nbsp;either,&nbsp;but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/scala/hatchback/review/n19190">Skoda Scala</a>&nbsp;is still plenty practical, plus it has a smooth ride, punchy engines and affordable prices.&nbsp;

Despite it being one of the more recent generations on this list, having first arrived in 2019, you can fairly easily&nbsp;pick up one within our budget – mileages are surprisingly&nbsp;low, too.&nbsp;

"The Scala isn't exactly a class leader like our top pick, the Octavia, is. However, it does look and feel&nbsp;more modern and stylish to me." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2019&nbsp;Skoda Scala 1.0&nbsp;TSI SE, 35,168&nbsp;miles, £9990

4: Skoda Scala

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Comfortable ride and tidy handling</li>
	<li>Spacious rear seats and a big boot</li>
	<li>Inexpensive to run</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Interior feels a little cheap in places</li>
	<li>Noisier at speed than the quietest rivals</li>
	<li>Sat-nav only available on higher trims</li>
</ul>

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV are all common - yet upmarket - sights on UK roads.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n77">Audi A3</a>&nbsp;is one of the finest family cars around. For starters, it's the classiest car in the class with a beautifully designed and built interior, decent amounts of equipment and smart styling. But it's also comfortable, practical, great to drive, and every engine in the range is impressively efficient.

It compares well for interior room with immediate rivals, too, and in this top 10 it only just gives way to the top two by way of it being generally a bit more costly to buy – you can get the price down by opting for an older model or one with more miles on it, of course.&nbsp;

"The A3 truly defies 'bigger is better', because it feels better resolved than some larger Audi models&nbsp;in my view." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2017&nbsp;Audi A3 1.4&nbsp;TFSI S Tronic&nbsp;Sport 5dr, 40,000 miles, £9545

3: Audi A3

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Strong engines</li>
	<li>Beautifully finished interior</li>
	<li>Great to drive</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Not as spacious as the VW Golf in the back</li>
	<li>Firm low-speed ride</li>
	<li>Lower trims sparsely equipped</li>
</ul>

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

LEON

Again, the previous-gen&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/leon/hatchback/review/n89">Seat Leon</a>&nbsp;is a little way off the Golf for&nbsp;interior quality, but it's still ahead of most other rivals&nbsp;on this list. What's more, the Leon offers&nbsp;the same great choice of engines as the Golf and even the more premium A3, too. The Leon is also great fun to drive, more so than most alternatives (including those we just mentioned).&nbsp;You'll also find it's generally cheaper to buy.&nbsp;

How come it fails to grab the number one spot? Well, that's mainly&nbsp;down to space and comfort, because, while the Leon fares well&nbsp;in both of those areas, it's still no match for the mighty Octavia.&nbsp;

"Personally, I don't need the extra space of the Octavia. Plus, I value a sharp driving experience. So, for me, I'd take the Leon." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/george-hill/n23609">George Hill, Used Cars Writer</a>

We found:&nbsp;2016&nbsp;Seat Leon 1.4 EcoTSI FR 5dr, 54,974&nbsp;miles, £9250

2: Seat Leon

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good to drive</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
	<li>Cheap to buy and run</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Firm ride</li>
	<li>Not as refined as some rivals</li>
	<li>Bland interior</li>
</ul>

OCTAVIA

Better value than its VW Golf and Audi A3 rivals,&nbsp;plus&nbsp;more spacious than the Seat Leon, the previous-generation&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/review/n39">Skoda Octavia</a>&nbsp;is the best family car we can recommend for less than £10,000.&nbsp;Sure, its interior lacks the level of class found in the VW and (more so) Audi, but the added interior and boot space makes up for that.&nbsp;

Also helping make the Octavia’s case is the fact that it gets plenty of equipment (as standard from new) and that it’s delightfully smooth at high speeds, making it a splendid long-distance cruiser. It's a terrific all-round car, one that's&nbsp;comfortable and cost effective to buy and own.&nbsp;

"The Octavia is an extremely capable machine. I really struggled to find&nbsp;anything that would faze&nbsp;its impeccable level of practicality and comfort." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2018&nbsp;Skoda Octavia 1.0 TSI&nbsp;SE, 38,500 miles, £8995

1: Skoda Octavia

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Smart, spacious and practical interior</li>
	<li>Cheap to buy and run</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Not as comfortable as a Golf</li>
	<li>Pricier models best avoided</li>
	<li>Entry-level S trim is a bit basic</li>
</ul>

In the same way that Infiniti acts as Nissan’s premium arm, Lexus has a similar tie-in with Toyota. And since most of Toyota’s models are offered as hybrids, it’s no surprise to see the same from Lexus, although there are some traditional petrol engines, too.

The brand focuses heavily on SUVs – namely the NX and RX – but also has the CT hatchback, ES executive saloon and LS luxury car among its portfolio. More small and large SUVs are expected in the future.

Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.

LEXUS

The CT's hybrid technology makes it cheap to run, but its terrible ride quality and bad refinement let it down. You can get a decent example for £10k, but we wouldn't bother.

And the used family car to avoid - Lexus CT

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

Family

Have you got £10,000 to spend on a used family car? You might be surprised to find out what you can afford

Best used family cars for less than £10,000

Have you got £10,000 to spend on a used family car? You might be surprised to find out what you can afford...

New Vauxhall Astra plug-in hybrid gets longer range for £36k

Best used family cars for less than £20,000

New Toyota Corolla concept: best-selling family car gets radical transformation

New Kia K4: petrol-powered family hatchback to start at £26k

Deal of the Day: Save more than £10,000 on a new Seat Leon

Deal of the Day: Lease a Skoda Scala from £210 per month

Also consider

Quick search

Tools & services

Legal bits

Information