A £15,000 budget brings a wealth of choice when used-car shopping.
You could pick a practical SUV, a city-friendly hatchback, or a spacious saloon. We've even tracked down some sporty options if you want a bit of power under your foot, and a fully electric car if you're ready to say goodbye to the petrol station.
Here are our 10 favourite used cars costing less than £15,000. All options are on recent number plates with low mileage so you can enjoy years of trouble-free motoring.
Skoda Octavia
The Skoda Octavia is the sensible, practical cousin of the Volkswagen Golf. Both cars are available for less than £15,000 but family buyers might be better served by the Skoda. Despite sharing lots of the Golf's parts, the Octavia has even more rear-seat space and a boot that's several hundreds of litres larger thanks to the car's saloon-like body style – perfect for pushchairs or holiday luggage. Your budget affords a wide selection of previous-generation Octavias built until early 2020, along with a few examples of the latest Octavia built from late 2020.
Browse used Skoda Octavia cars or read our Skoda Octavia review
Vauxhall Grandland X
Your £15,000 won't quite stretch to the updated Vauxhall Grandland but it'll comfortably afford its predecessor – the Vauxhall Grandland X. Considering the cars are mostly identical, it doesn't feel like much of a downgrade and means you're getting an awful lot of SUV for your money. Inside, there are all the mod-cons you can ask for and lots of rear space for adults or bulky child seats. A £15,000 budget buys you a three-year old example – we'd keep an eye out for Elite Nav models, which include leather upholstery, heated front seats and all-round parking sensors.
Search used Vauxhall Grandland X cars
Nissan Qashqai
You're likely to see a Nissan Qashqai on almost every street in the UK, such is the popularity of this family SUV. That's good news for savvy shoppers because it means lots of well-priced examples on the used market. Current-gen Qashqais built from late 2021 are still too pricey for this budget, but you'll have lots of choice among three-year-old previous-generation models. This includes high-spec options with the punchy 160hp 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine and the smooth-shifting DCT automatic gearbox.
Shop used Nissan Qashqai cars for sale
Peugeot e-208
There's now plenty of choice if you're looking for an electric car under £15,000 – which isn't something we could say a few years ago. You'll find sensible options like the Nissan Leaf or Renault Zoe but, at this price, we'd be tempted by the Peugeot e-208. Its 194-mile range isn't exactly class leading but that's plenty for most urban drivers' daily needs, and its modest 50kWh battery means relatively fast charging even from slower 7kW home charger. Where the e-208 shines is in the cabin, which comes trimmed in plush materials and has ultra-modern styling, helping this plug-in Peugeot feel more expensive than it actually is.
View used Peugeot e-208 electric cars or read our Peugeot 208 review
Citroen C5 Aircross
Large SUVs invariably come with bigger price tags, so you need to spend your £15,000 tactically if you need lots of space. The Citroen C5 Aircross might be the perfect choice, however, because this practical SUV has plenty of space in all five seats – in part, thanks to the three separate seats on the rear row. You'll also find a cavernous cargo area behind the seats, which can rival a small van with the back seats folded. Inside, you can spot where money has been saved with some scratchy plastics but the overall design is simple and appealing.
Check out used Citroen C5 Aircross cars
Toyota Yaris
Older Toyota Yaris models always impressed with their durability but couldn't match the style of their sharpest-suited rivals. Thankfully, Toyota's given the latest model a clean-sheet refresh and it's worked wonders. The body is compact and curvy, with protruding wheelarches that – with a generous squint – echos the styling of original VW Beetles. Inside, there are more interesting curves and lines to give the Yaris a more distinctive visual character. All versions come with Toyota's excellent automatic-only 1.5-litre hybrid engine for smooth acceleration and excellent fuel economy.
See a choice of used Toyota Yaris cars or read our Toyota Yaris review
SEAT Leon
Your £15,000 budget is just enough for the latest eighth-gen Volkswagen Golf, but the most recent SEAT Leon gives you a bit more for your money. It’s the same car underneath, because the Leon shares many of the new Golf's parts and engines. While you miss out on some of the Golf's prestige, the Leon drives in a very similar manner with excellent composure and refinement. Plus, it arguably has even sharper looks thanks to the deeply sculpted bodywork. Practicality remains strong with enough space in the boot and rear seats for buyers with a small family.
Shop used SEAT Leon cars for sale or read our SEAT Leon review
BMW i3
There are plenty of sensible, practical options here, but what if you want something fun and futuristic for less than £15,000? The BMW i3 is a left-field choice but it’s a very good one. Made with high-tech materials and sustainable ones, the i3 has a delightful interior with a tranquil feel and a surprising amount of passenger space. It’s clever, it’s eye-catching, it’s great to drive and it’s the perfect city car. A guaranteed future classic.
Shop used BMW i3 cars for sale or read our BMW i3 review
Ford Fiesta
With the Fiesta no longer in production, now’s the ideal time to buy a nearly new one with just a few thousand miles on the clock. It’s fun, frugal and familiar – and it’s just the right size. Big enough to fit four adults and a couple of suitcases comfortably, but small enough to thread through medieval city streets and less-than-generous car parks. You can also find examples of the slightly bigger Puma for this money, but we’ve chosen the Fiesta as it’s more widely available and comes with a greater range of trim levels to choose from.
Shop used Ford Fiesta cars for sale or read our Ford Fiesta review
Skoda Scala
The Skoda Scala squeezes into the space between the smaller Fabia hatchback and the Octavia. It's a good choice if you need a car that can carry a small family or fairly frequent rear-seat passengers, without being so unwieldy that it struggles to fit in city-centre parking spaces. Like its siblings throughout the Czech brand's lineup, the Scala is a doddle to live with thanks to its impressive practicality, ergonomic dashboard and effortless, composed driving experience. All models include air con, cruise control, rear parking sensors and an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Search used Skoda Scala cars or read our Skoda Scala review
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