Used Car of the Year Awards: Hatchbacks
With living costs on the rise, getting a good deal on your next car is more important than ever. That's where our Used Car Awards come in. These are our favourite hatchbacks...
Toyota Corolla
Prices from £11,000 Our pick 1.8 Hybrid Icon
The argument that something must be good if it’s popular is one of the most flawed; after all, does Starbucks make the best coffee just because it’s the world’s most successful chain? But it would be just as wrong to assume that the two things never go together, with the Toyota Corolla being definitive proof they can.
Over the years, Toyota has sold more than 50 million examples of its family hatchback, across 12 generations. And yet in its latest form it’s the best car of its kind – whether you’re buying new or used.
It helps that it’s very efficient, thanks to the same hybrid technology that made the Prius a household name. Both 1.8 and 2.0-litre versions are available, but we recommend the former because it offers all the performance you need and can easily top 50mpg in real-world use.
True, it’s possible to get even more than that out of plug-in hybrids such as the Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI eHybrid. But the beauty of the Corolla is that it delivers its efficiency without you ever having to faff around with charging cables. Ease of use is further enhanced by excellent all-round visibility and proper buttons and knobs for the air-con, instead of fiddly touch-sensitive or on-screen controls.
Meanwhile, comfort is another Corolla strength, even when compared with impressive alternatives such as the Ford Focus and the Golf. Whether you’re driving over potholes or patched-up surfaces, it remains unruffled. And although it doesn’t feel as sporty as the Focus, it still offers impressive composure and precise, reassuring steering.
This might come as a bit of a surprise; Toyotas aren’t always among the class leaders for ride and handling. However, the brand does have a reputation for reliability, and the Corolla absolutely lives up to that, with a 96.5% rating in the 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey.
In addition, like all Toyotas, it comes with the reassurance of a warranty that can last for 10 years or 100,000 miles, as long as you get your car serviced at a franchised dealer every 12 months. So, even if you buy an early, 2019 car, you can still be covered.
Combine all of these strengths with tempting used prices and the Corolla is definitely our favourite used hatchback blend.
Also consider...
Best for value
Skoda Fabia (2015-2020)
Prices from £5500 Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE
As affordable as used Corollas are, they look positively pricey next to previous-generation Skoda Fabias. True, there’s a certain amount of getting what you pay for, given that the oldest – and cheapest – examples are now 10 years old. Plus, Skoda’s warranty is nowhere near as generous as Toyota’s, expiring after three years or 60,000 miles. However, there’s also an awful lot to like.
Despite being a member of the small car class (rather than a family car like the Corolla), the Fabia is one of the most practical hatchbacks of its kind, with enough space inside for four six-footers, plus a decent-sized boot. It’s also good to drive and offers gutsy performance, as long as you avoid the non-turbocharged engines.
Similarly, we’d avoid Fabias in entry-level S trim, but examples in SE trim and above offer such niceties as alloy wheels, air-con, rear parking sensors and a 6.5in colour infotainment touchscreen featuring Skoda’s SmartLink sat-nav set-up.
Read our full used Skoda Fabia review >>
Find a used Skoda Fabia for sale >>
Best interior
BMW 1 Series (2019-present)
Price from £13,000 Our pick 118i M Sport
The cheaper and more fuel-efficient Corolla may be every bit as robust inside, but if you’re looking for a used hatchback that feels properly plush, it’s the BMW 1 Series that’s the best option.
Indeed, the 1 Series gives you an interior worthy of an executive car, thanks to impeccable attention to detail and materials thatreward every touch – including genuine aluminium details, rather than the silver plastic the Mercedes A-Class serves up.
The 1 Series also has a better reliability record than its Audi A3 and A-Class rivals. And if you buy a pre-facelift version (from May 2024 or earlier) it will have a better infotainment system than not only its peers but also a brand new 1 Series. This is because BMW removed the rotary controller when it facelifted the car and, in the process, made the system far more distracting to use while driving.
Find a used BMW 1 Series for sale >>
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