New Audi A3

Citroën C4 X

Skoda Scala

Mazda 3

Toyota Corolla

Skoda Octavia

Volkswagen Golf

Mercedes A-Class

top-10-used-family-cars-for-less-than-pound10000-and-the-one-to-avoid

Looking for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">family car</a>? Got £10,000 to spend? You’re in luck – that budget is still enough to buy yourself a decent&nbsp;used example, many less than five years old and with all the mod cons you’ve always wanted.&nbsp;

What’s more, most modern family cars have plenty going for them: impressive safety, lots of technology&nbsp;and&nbsp;a choice of efficient and punchy petrol and diesel engines. So whether you want a family hatchback that’s smart and sophisticated, practical and functional, or simply great value for money, there’s something here for you.

But which one&nbsp;do we rate as the best you can buy for this budget?&nbsp;Read on for the answer...

Top 10 used family cars for less than £10,000 (and the one to avoid)

Hatchback

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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/used-review/n773">ninth-generation Honda Civic</a> is a solid used car choice because it's reliable and extremely practical. This practicality is due in no small part to the big boot, and the versatility of the 'magic' seats that can be made to fold up like cinema chairs. It may not be the best to drive on&nbsp;this list, or the newest, but it is safe and has plenty of grip, plus post-2014 cars got automatic emergency braking&nbsp;as standard.

We found:&nbsp;2017&nbsp;Honda Civic&nbsp;1.6 i-DTEC S Nav, 81,000&nbsp;miles, £9950

Find one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/honda/civic?">here</a>

10: Honda Civic

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Very reliable</li>
	<li>1.6 diesel is free to tax</li>
	<li>Big boot</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Limited rear headroom</li>
	<li>Fussy dashboard</li>
	<li>Expensive to buy</li>
</ul>

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

VAUXHALL

ASTRA

This <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/astra/hatchback/used-review/n17406">previous-generation Vauxhall Astra</a>'s best facet as a used buy&nbsp;is its value. The Astra&nbsp;isn't just cheap, though; it's a great car, with neat&nbsp;handling, a comfortable ride and some great engines in the range. True, it&nbsp;doesn't quite have the high-quality feel of some of its best rivals, but it still feels more solid than most - and when you consider how new it is and how cheap it is, its minor flaws are very forgivable.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2019&nbsp;Vauxhall Astra 1.4 125&nbsp;SRi Nav, 39,000&nbsp;miles, £9999

Find one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/vauxhall/astra?">here</a>

9: Vauxhall Astra

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Spacious interior</li>
	<li>Relatively cheap to buy</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Vague steering</li>
	<li>Diesels can be noisy</li>
	<li>Low-speed ride can be fidgety</li>
</ul>

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 Kia Cee’d's trump card from new is its enormous warranty – you get seven years’ worth, although it’s limited to 100,000 miles in the last four of those. The good news is it's a reliable used car so you're unlikely to use much of whatever warranty you have left. Granted, it's&nbsp;not that much fun to drive, but if you're not overly&nbsp;fussed about that, the Cee’d is a comfortable, spacious and well-built family car that offers you plenty of peace of mind.

We found:&nbsp;2018&nbsp;Kia Cee'd 1.6 GDi 2, 40,000&nbsp;miles, £9999

Find one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/kia/ceed?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance">here</a>

8: Kia Cee'd

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Spacious</li>
	<li>Some newer models could have up to seven years of warranty cover</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Rivals are better to drive</li>
	<li>Lifeless steering</li>
	<li>Others are more economical</li>
</ul>

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

The Hyundai i30's&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>, but it's as reliable, slightly&nbsp;cheaper to buy used and you get the latest version of the car, making it terrific value. The i30’s a good family car, too, with a spacious, robustly built interior, a comfortable ride and plenty of standard equipment.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2018&nbsp;Hyundai i30&nbsp;1.0T&nbsp;GDi&nbsp;SE, 39,000&nbsp;miles, £9950

Find one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/hyundai/i30?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance">here</a>

7: Hyundai i30

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Long warranty</li>
	<li>Low prices</li>
	<li>Useful boot</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Sluggish performance</li>
	<li>Bland to drive</li>
	<li>Tight rear seat space</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 BMW 1 Series was the hatchback of choice for aspiring family buyers for years. It's not quite as spacious as its more functional rivals, though, but it's got punchy engines, entertaining handling and&nbsp;a fantastic infotainment system. Our money buys an older car, which is why it doesn't finish&nbsp;higher up this chart.

We found:&nbsp;2017&nbsp;BMW 1 Series 116i&nbsp;Sport, 50,000&nbsp;miles, £9995

Find one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/bmw/1-series?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance">here</a>

6: BMW 1 Series

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Strong performance</li>
	<li>Economy in diesel versions</li>
	<li>Class-leading infotainment system</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Rear room a little tight</li>
	<li>Not as well equipped as some</li>
	<li>Relatively high prices</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 Ford Focus was, for a very long time, the most popular family car in the UK. It’s good&nbsp;to drive, decent value to buy and cheap to maintain. Downsides? Well, its interior design is a bit fussy and cheap feeling and the boot’s on the small side. But if you can live with those flaws, you’ll have one of the most entertaining family hatchbacks going.

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>2018&nbsp;Ford Focus&nbsp;1.5 TDCi 120&nbsp;Zetec Edition, 40,000&nbsp;miles, £9998

Find one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/ford/focus?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance">here</a>

5: Ford Focus

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Class-leading handling</li>
	<li>Lots to choose from</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Small boot</li>
	<li>Automatic gearbox reliability</li>
	<li>Button-heavy interior</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 Mk7 Golf, but it is a bit expensive, and as a result, for this price, you’ll probably have to put up with a slightly older car than some of its best rivals here. Nevertheless, if you can live with that age, you do get some great benefits: a classy interior, a comfortable ride, involving handling, a spacious interior and impressive safety standards. It's a great car.

We found:&nbsp;2017&nbsp;Volkswagen Golf&nbsp;1.4 TSI&nbsp;150 5dr&nbsp;Match, 50,000&nbsp;miles, £9995

Find one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/volkswagen/golf?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance">here</a>

4: Volkswagen Golf

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Smooth ride</li>
	<li>Enjoyable to drive</li>
	<li>Upmarket interior</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Not as cheap as some rivals</li>
	<li>Could be more spacious</li>
	<li>Question marks over reliability</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 Audi A3 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 being an older car for the money.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2017 Audi A3 1.4 TSI 110 SE 5dr, 50,000 miles, £9950

Find one for sale<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/audi/a3?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance">&nbsp;here</a>

3: Audi A3

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Strong engines</li>
	<li>Beautifully finished interior</li>
	<li>Great to drive</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</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

The previous generation of the Leon is a little way off the Golf in terms of the quality of its interior, but that still puts it ahead of most other rivals&nbsp;on this list. You still get the same great choice of engines as the Golf and even the more premium Audi A3, too.&nbsp;Plus, the Leon is great fun to drive, all of which makes it look like a better value alternative to the Golf – not to mention, one wearing an arguably slightly sharper suit.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2019&nbsp;Seat Leon 1.2&nbsp;TSI Dynamic Tech, 30,000&nbsp;miles, £9995

Find one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/seat/leon?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance">here</a>

2: Seat Leon

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

OCTAVIA

Better value than the Golf and the A3, and more spacious than the Leon, the previous-generation Skoda Octavia is the most practical car here. Its interior isn’t as classy as the Volkswagen’s or the Audi's, but it's much bigger. Also helping make the Octavia’s case is the fact that it gets plenty of standard equipment and that it’s delightfully smooth at high speeds, making it a splendid long-distance cruiser. It's a terrific all-round car.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2018&nbsp;Skoda Octavia 1.0 TSI&nbsp;SE, 30,000&nbsp;miles, £9995

Find one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/skoda/octavia?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance">here</a>

1: Skoda Octavia

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Smart, spacious and practical interior</li>
	<li>Cheap to buy and run</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</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 it’s very expensive to buy used, and has a terrible ride quality and loads of engine noise. You can get a decent example for £10k, but we wouldn't bother.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter&nbsp;<a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

<h2>Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">Best family cars 2023</a> &gt;&gt;</h2>

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

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