Cars are getting pricier, so it's never been more important to track down a good deal.
It might feel like £10,000 doesn't go quite as far on the used market as it once did, but we've tracked down 10 top-notch motors all available for less than five figures. All of these models are available to buy as used cars from Motorpoint, all with the protection of warranty coverage.
1. Citroen C1
The Citroen C1 is a cute city car with bags of charm. It comes with a 72hp 1.0-litre petrol engine, so you'll need to give the accelerator a good poke to get up to motorway speeds, but fuel, insurance, tax and maintenance costs will be some of the lowest in the business. Your £10,000 budget will buy a nearly new C1 in Flair or Shine trim, with luxuries like a reversing camera, air conditioning and cruise control, plus an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so you can use your favourite mapping and entertainment apps through the car's screen. For more options, check out the mechanically similar Peugeot 108, which also sneaks under £10,000.
Browse used Citroen C1 cars for sale
2. Dacia Duster
The Dacia Duster enjoyed almost immediate success when it arrived in the UK in 2012. This no-nonsense, back-to-basics SUV includes everything you need – decent practicality and a lofty ride height – while omitting almost everything you don't, with some models even missing out on a stereo! Your £10k budget buys a Duster with just a few years and a few thousand miles under its belt, and most recent models include more mod-cons than their predecessors to keep you entertained on the road. SUVs are reasonably rare at this price point unless you buy a much older, higher-mileage example, so the Duster is a great choice if you want a tough car on a tight budget.
Search used Dacia Duster cars or read our Dacia Duster review
3. Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 has been around for more than a decade and a half now. Its popularity has remained stubbornly high thanks to its attractive, retro styling and wallet-friendly price. There are scratchy plastics lower down and cheap-feeling fabric lining the boot, but Fiat has put effort into the parts you touch every day, like the steering wheel, gear stick and dashboard controls. If you're buying a nearly new 500, you'll probably find cars in Lounge trim with rear parking sensors, air con and cruise control – but there are several special editions with exciting colour and fabric combos.
View used Fiat 500 cars or read our Fiat 500 review
4. Hyundai i10
With £10,000 to play with, you'll be looking at used examples of the previous-generation Hyundai i10, with newer models from 2020 onwards priced from £13,000 at the time of writing. Thankfully, the older i10 still has most of the same talents and only misses out on the latest styling. You get an impressive amount of passenger space for the car's tiny footprint, which also means it's one of the few city cars that can seat three across the rear bench – at least for very short trips. The basic 1.0-litre petrol engine is fine for most driving duties and won't have much of an impact on your bottom line, but the 1.2-litre might be a better choice if you do more driving on faster roads.
Check out used Hyundai i10 cars or read our Hyundai i10 review
5. Kia Picanto
Under the skin, the Kia Picanto shares a lot of oily bits with the i10 featured above. That also means a lot of the same qualities are also shared – namely its ability to squeeze an awful lot of passenger and cargo space from its dinky dimensions, and affordable running costs thanks to its small petrol engines. The little Kia tends to come up a fraction cheaper than its Hyundai cousin, so you might be able to get a slightly newer or lower mileage Picanto for your budget. It's no throwaway car either, with the reassurance of Kia's seven-year factory warranty meaning your used Picanto should deliver years of fault-free service.
Take a look at used Kia Picanto cars or read our Kia Picanto review
6. Renault Captur
Like the Duster above, you'll need to be a bit creative with your £10,000 budget if you fancy a relatively recent SUV. Step in the Renault Captur. This cute crossover has more curvaceous styling than many blockier rivals, so no one's going to accuse the Renault of cosplaying as an off-roader. Instead, this model is at its best when driven on road, with a smooth, well-damped ride and refined turbocharged engines. You'll be looking at examples built until 2019, when a new Captur was introduced, but even this older model is still one of the most family-friendly models on this list, with decent rear-seat space and a handy, square boot.
Shop used Renault Captur cars or read our Renault Captur review
7. Skoda Citigo
The Skoda Citigo shares most of the same parts and engines as the Volkswagen Up and SEAT Mii, but tends to undercut those cars slightly on price, making it easier to afford on the nearly new market. Like its sibling cars, the Citigo has a remarkable amount of passenger space considering how small it is on the outside. There are only four seats, but each is large enough for an adult to fit without complaint, and the boot stretches all the way to the bottom of the car, somewhat making up for what it lacks in outright length or width. It's also good fun to drive, with all the 'fizziness' of the best city cars while masking the harshness you sometimes get in small, cheap vehicles.
8. Skoda Fabia
The Citigo isn't the only Skoda you'll find on the used market for your £10,000 budget. Affordable versions of the larger Skoda Fabia can be had under that figure and represent a significant jump in practicality over the Citigo. The five-seat cabin is one of the largest in the Fabia's class and feels well made when you poke and prod it. You probably won't be able to afford one of the more powerful turbocharged petrol engines but the entry-level 1.0-litre non-turbo unit can get the car to motorway speeds without too much fuss. Plus, this version achieves excellent fuel economy, and some of the lowest possible insurance costs.
Browse used Skoda Fabia cars or read our Skoda Fabia review
9. Toyota Aygo
If you expected Toyota's entry into the city car class to be a shrinking violet, think again. The Toyota Aygo has sharp, ninja-like styling to stand out despite its tiny stature, looking noticeably more aggressive than the Citroen C1 or Peugeot 108 with which it shares most of its parts. You'll find lots of cars in X-Play trim at this price point with air conditioning and a reversing camera, but we'd be tempted to hold out for an X-Trend car that gains alloy wheels and full automatic climate control. All models include a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to keep you entertained and on the right track when driving.
View used Toyota Aygo cars or read our Toyota Aygo review
10. Vauxhall Crossland X
There are lots of small hatches on this list but, if you need a little more space for your money, take a look at the Vauxhall Crossland X. The car's footprint is barely any larger than a Vauxhall Corsa, but you get a taller, boxier body with useful rear-seat space and a boot that's just large enough for a pushchair or a medium-sized dog. Equipment levels are reasonably generous, even if the interior decor isn't quite as posh as the slightly newer non-X Vauxhall Crossland or the Vauxhall Mokka. If you're hunting for an affordable small family car that's easy to park in the city centre, add the Crossland X to your shortlist.
Search used Vauxhall Crossland X cars or read our Vauxhall Crossland X review
Find the right affordable new car for you
Search Motorpoint's vast selection of affordable nearly new and used cars under £10,000. For more budget-friendly options, see our picks for the best cars that are the cheapest to run.
