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 – or check out our cars available for £249 a month with £249 deposit.
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
Nissan Qashqai
As one of the larger cars on this list, the Nissan Qashqai shows you can have family-friendly practicality without spending a fortune. At this budget you can choose from last-shape and current-shape Qashqais, and we’d definitely recommend going for the newer one if you can. It’s bigger and more practical than before, it boasts sharper styling and the interior is noticeably more modern.
Fuel economy is also a little better in the new-shape car, thanks to its standard-fit mild-hybrid assistance. Acenta Premium trim offers an enticing blend of value and equipment, with alloy wheels, lane-departure warning assist, a reversing camera and bright LED headlights.
Shop used Nissan Qashqai cars for sale or read our Nissan Qashqai 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
Citroen C4
There’s a lot to like about the Citroen C4: its trendy SUV-like styling, its clean looking interior and the fact that you can get petrol, diesel and electric versions – so whatever type of driving you do, there’s something to suit. But perhaps the most impressive thing about the C4 is the value for money it offers, because a used C4 will be thousands of pounds cheaper than an equivalent VW Golf.
Shop used Citroen C4 cars for sale or read our Citroen C4 review
Volkswagen T-Cross
Everything you like about the Volkswagen Polo is present and correct in the T-Cross, which means you get a strongly built interior, a solid but easy driving experience and over 50mpg from its small petrol engines. Choosing the T-Cross over the Polo means you get an SUV ride height and a useful boot space boost in addition. The T-Cross is a little bit more versatile, with a sliding rear bench, allowing you to free up extra boot space – even if in practice you might not find it especially useful.
Shop used Volkswagen T-Cross cars for sale or read our Volkswagen T-Cross 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
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
Ford Focus
A firm family favourite, the Ford Focus is still a top choice even among a seemingly endless number of SUV alternatives. The Focus offers class-leading rear legroom, a boot that’s big enough for day-to-day use, and an interior that’s as easy to use as it is connected. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol is nippy and frugal, while there’s also a 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel engine if you’re aiming your Focus at the motorway network. We haven’t even mentioned that it’s a hoot to drive – ideal if you moonlight as an owl.
Shop used Ford Focus cars for sale or read our Ford Focus 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
Volkswagen ID.3
The Volkswagen ID.3 is a fully electric hatchback that’s roughly the size of a Golf. Its wheels are pushed right out to the corners, so there’s more passenger space than the Golf, and an airy-feeling cabin. That’s helped by the minimalist interior design and the free space beneath the centre console. Plus, the driving experience is smoother than the Golf’s and running costs are cheaper if you can charge at home, too. All ID.3s officially manage more than 200 miles to a charge, and a full charge can cost under £10. A used electric car like the ID.3 makes for bargain motoring.
Shop used Volkswagen ID.3 cars for sale or read our Volkswagen ID.3 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
- 10 of the best cars for under £400 per month
Affordable finance on used cars
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