A £250 per month budget feels like a real sweet spot for used cars.
Paying £250 a month or less usually gets you into a current-shape model that might only be a couple of years old, but for considerably less than the same car if it’d just rolled out of the factory. So you get the latest tech, a plate that’s not very old and, often, the balance of the manufacturer’s warranty.
We've chosen our 10 favourite cars at this price point, including posh hatchbacks, roomy family cars and some of the most stylish cars on sale. For even more choice, browse our range of used cars under £250 per month here.
Skoda Karoq
Vanilla is the best flavour of ice cream, and the Skoda Karoq – while a bit bland-looking at first – is one of the, er, tastiest SUVs. Its handsome, well-proportioned bodywork hides a smart and considered dashboard, featuring a blend of materials that strike a good balance between plushness and durability. The Karoq offers a huge amount of interior space and excellent versatility, but it’s also good to drive and comfortable.
It’s one of our favourite family haulers, and you can spend considerably less than £250 per month to get behind the wheel of one. You can even buy a Karoq with the zippy 1.0-litre petrol engine and in a decently equipped trim level for around £200 per month. SE L trim adds lots of bells and whistles and still comes under budget.
Shop used Skoda Karoq cars for sale or read our Skoda Karoq review
Toyota Corolla
This is the world’s best-selling car – that should give you some reassurance. The latest Corolla is a fantastic alternative to something like a Volkswagen Golf or Honda Civic. Every 2020s Corolla is a hybrid, which means all models come with an automatic gearbox as standard for delightfully easy driving. And it also means you’ll rarely have to visit a petrol station – the Corolla can manage around 60mpg when driven gently.
Shop used Toyota Corolla cars for sale or read our Toyota Corolla review
Ford Puma
The Puma takes over from the Fiesta as Ford’s entry-level model and, if both are available for a similar price, you’d pick the Puma wouldn’t you? It’s more practical, sits a bit higher, and feels a bit newer, but still is more fun to drive than its rivals. However, if you’re happy with the Fiesta, you’ve got more choice in terms of trim levels. Both will carry four adults and a weekly shop with ease, and both put a smile on your face on curling B-roads – while managing 50mpg or more.
Shop used Ford Puma cars for sale or read our Ford Puma review
Mazda CX-30
Just like the Volkswagen T-Roc, the Mazda CX-30 straddles the line between small and midsize SUVs, and both are similarly good value on the second-hand market. So your choice might depend on which car’s styling you prefer, or which you find easiest to use. The Mazda is more curvaceous where the T-Roc is chiselled and square.
The Mazda has the slight edge when it comes to material quality, but you might find its infotainment screen – controlled by a rotary dial – a little unusual to use, compared to the more conventional touchscreen fitted in the T-Roc. Fuel economy and performance are largely the same, even if the two cars go about it in very different ways.
Shop used Mazda CX-30 cars and used Volkswagen T-Roc cars for sale, or read our T-Roc review
Volkswagen Tiguan
The Volkswagen Tiguan is the absolute do-it-all family SUV. It’s not the cheapest, but it feels like good value and you’re definitely getting what you pay for – namely premium materials that are screwed well together, a huge amount of space and economical engines. The Tiguan also exudes confidence from behind the wheel, whether you’re flying down the motorway or treading carefully through unsighted country lanes.
If you end up with a Tiguan in entry-level Life trim, you’ll get a hotlist of equipment including LED headlights, parking sensors at each end and adaptive cruise control. Either of the 150hp engines – diesel or petrol – are strong choices for powering the Tiguan.
Shop used Volkswagen Tiguan cars for sale or read our review of the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan
Peugeot 2008
The small SUV market is awash with excellent options, but the Peugeot 2008 should be in bold and underlined on your shortlist. Behind the sophisticated styling is a high-quality cabin and the sort of design flair that most rivals just don’t bother with. Excellent practicality for a small SUV makes the 2008 a perfectly suitable family car, while the 1.2-litre petrol is one of our favourite small engines. It’s willing and cheeky, and capable of over 50mpg when driven carefully. The 2008 also takes long drives in its stride and deals well with most bumps and jolts.
Shop used Peugeot 2008 cars for sale or read our Peugeot 2008 review
Volkswagen ID.3
Spending under £250 per month on a Volkswagen ID.3 seems really good value to us. The ID.3 is essentially Volkswagen’s electric Golf – the car that takes on the challenge of converting VW drivers to battery power. Look for the 58kWh battery and ‘Pro Performance’ motor which, together, give a range of about 250 miles and acceleration that almost matches the Golf GTI hot hatch, and a delightfully smooth driving experience. It feels really spacious inside, thanks to a long wheelbase and an open, expansive dashboard. But it’s still packed full of equipment, including heated seats and climate control.
Shop used Volkswagen ID.3 cars for sale or read our Volkswagen ID.3 review
Citroen C5 Aircross
The Citroen C5 Aircross is another impressively affordable option that majors on practicality. It's a five-seat SUV only, unlike the mechanically related Peugeot 5008, but each of those five positions is a separate seat, which makes the C5 Aircross one of the few cars that middle-rear passengers can fit in without too much complaint. The soft suspension means there's quite a bit of body roll through corners but does take the edge off bumps over long journeys, and the huge, square boot makes loading bulky items hassle free.
Shop used Citroen C5 Aircross cars
Audi Q2
A youthful small SUV with a premium badge for under £250 per month? Jackpot! The Q2 is much bigger than the A1 hatchback it’s based on, and gives you a more commanding view of the road, too. It’s typically Audi inside, with high-quality switchgear and a screen that’s right in your eyeline controlled by a handy rotary dial. You’ll get a facelift example for this money with a surprisingly powerful 1.0-litre petrol engine.
Shop used Audi Q2 cars for sale or read our Audi Q2 review
Mini hatchback
If you don’t need anything so practical, why not treat yourself to something that’s fun to drive, enduringly popular and posh inside. The Mini hatchback is an icon, and it’s barely more expensive than more straight-laced superminis. This budget nets you lots of choice – there’s the mid-range Cooper, some examples of the fast Cooper S, and even electric Minis with the same fun factor as their petrol counterparts (but lower running costs if you charge at home).
Shop used Mini hatchback cars for sale or read our Mini hatchback review
Read our top picks for other monthly budgets
- 10 of the best cars for under £150 per month
- 10 of the best cars for under £200 per month
- 10 of the best cars for under £300 per month
Affordable finance on used cars
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