Cheap to run, easy to drive and capable of carrying four adults in snug comfort, the Ford Fiesta is one of the UK’s most-popular budget used cars. All versions are smartly styled and generously equipped. If you need a cheap and comfortable small hatch, the Fiesta will not disappoint you. 

A budget of around £10,000 will get you a nearly new Fiesta with Ford’s excellent 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine. It comes in 100PS, 125PS and 140PS outputs and all are good on fuel and rewarding to drive. In fact, when it comes to road handling, we rate the Fiesta as one of the best in the small hatch class. Its sharp steering and zesty turbocharged engine is a lot of fun, especially if you buy the punchy 140PS version.

Both the three- and five-door Fiesta models provide the same level of passenger space. This means you get lots of head and legroom in the front, and enough space in the rear for two adults to fit in comfort. You also get a generous level of standard equipment, with mid-spec models getting air conditioning, touchscreen infotainment and alloy wheels. 

Proof that you can have a premium small family car for under £10,000, the Volkswagen Golf offers excellent value for money as a second-hand buy. You also get a good choice of petrol and diesel engines, with a manual or fully automatic gearbox. 

The Golf is offered with Volkswagen’s family 1.6 and 2.0-litre TDI diesel engines, which officially return 60+mpg. There is a good choice of efficient petrols, too, with the 1.0 and 1.5-litre TSIs blending low running costs with good performance. 

It may be more expensive than rivals like the Ford Focus or Skoda Octavia, but most people buy a Golf because they want a comfortable family car with a nice premium feel. We think this Volkswagen delivers on all three fronts, with its high-quality interior and supportive seats making it relaxing on a long journey. 

We would challenge you to find a city car that can match the Kia Picanto for value. Similar to the Hyundai i10, the little Picanto is easy to drive, smartly styled, fun to drive and backed by Kia’s comprehensive seven-year warranty. The Picanto has everything and it does it all for under £10,000. 

Mid-spec ‘2’ versions of the Picanto are extremely well-equipped, with air conditioning, electric windows and a leather multi-function steering wheel fitted as standard. However, we’d recommend finding a Picanto in ‘3’ trim, which adds climate control and a swish 7.0-inch touchscreen and reversing camera.

The three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine is perfect for drivers who rarely venture out of the town or city. If you want a Picanto with longer legs, we’d recommend the four-cylinder 1.25-litre petrol - it feels much more assured at cruising speeds and is quieter than the three-cylinder unit. Both engines are frugal, however, with an advertised 50mpg. 

Looking for a city car with a dash of class? The SEAT Mii is one of the best in the market and you can have the pick of the crop with a budget of around £10,000. Indeed, we think you’ll comfortably get a nearly new petrol model with all of the latest in-car tech.

The sister car to the Volkswagen Up and Skoda Citigo, the Mii's engine choices are simple – you get the choice of a petrol 1.0-litre engine with 60PS or 75PS. We rate the higher-powered engine as the best, thanks to its peppy acceleration and better refinement at motorway speeds. You also get the choice of a manual or automatic gearbox.  

The Mii measures just 3.6 metres in length, but SEAT has packed a lot of usable space inside this likeable little city car. The driving position is excellent and even tall adults will find a comfortable fit, thanks to the good range of adjustment in the seat position. Admittedly, the rear seats are a little cramped for adults, but they are perfect for children and this makes the Mii a good choice for families who want a small car for urban journeys. 

If you want a bit of premium quality for your £10,000 you can't go wrong with the previous-generation Mercedes A-Class. A big step up from its predecessor in terms of quality and style, the A-Class has aged well and still looks fresh today. True, the BMW 1 Series is better to drive, but we find it hard to pick fault with the A-Class at this money.

You can get a five- or six-year-old example for under £10,000 with below average miles with the A 180 CDI diesel the most popular model on the used market. It should prove economical and cheap to run, expect to see close to 60mpg in real world driving.

Room is a tight for those in the back and the infotainment is a bit old hat but the boot is a decent size and the A-Class feels like a well-made car that will go the distance. Go for an SE if you want comfort or a Sport if you're willing to sacrifice that for flashier looks.

The Dacia Jogger is a car we consider a bargain when it's brand-new, so as a cheap used car it's an absolute steal. There are few cars, if any, that will give you seven seats and smart looks while representing such good value for money.

The Jogger is essentially an estate version of the Dacia Sandero, extended to squeeze in seven seats and with a raised ride height to appeal to SUV buyers. With three trim levels to choose from and a choice of petrol and hybrid power, it's a car that doesn't try and be premium, but go for the mid-spec Comfort trim and above and you'll get modern features like Apple CarPay and Android Auto.

It's a relatively new car, so you won't find many cars with high mileage, but a petrol-powered Jogger with just a few thousand miles on the clock can be yours for less than £17,000 at the time of writing in late 2023. If you can up your budget to around £20,000 then there are myriad nearly new Joggers for sale, and for a little bit more you'll find basically new hybrid versions, which will help to keep your running costs down.

Few hatchbacks are as tough or as dependable as the Toyota Yaris. Over the years it has earned itself a reputation as being one of the most reliable small cars money can buy, which means a budget of around £10,000 will get you a nearly new car with tank-like toughness. 

True, the likes of the Volkswagen Polo feel more modern, but the Yaris is a very difficult car to pick faults with. But, if pressed to identify one, we’d say it’s not the most exciting of small cars to drive. However, when it comes to the build quality, fuel economy and comfort, the Yaris is a class leader. 

The 1.5-litre petrol engine is excellent and will return 50+mpg, while returning meaningful performance in and out of town. The interior is also comfortable and spacious, which means tall drivers will find the Yaris a comfortable car to drive on a long journey.

One of the UK's orginal mass-market electric cars, the Renault Zoe is still a fun-to-drive hatchback with plenty of features thrown in as standard. Because it's been around for a while, and there are lots on the used market, that means you can pick one up for as little as £6,000. And remember – electricity is considerably more affordable than petrol or diesel, so running costs should also be very low.

The Zoe has evolved over time with more equipment and a better battery range, which means there are lots of versions to suit different budgets. Early cars will have a 22kWh battery to give you around 130 miles on a single charge, but post-2016 cars were offered with a larger 41kWh battery that could manage up to 190 miles, according to official figures. A new Zoe was introduced in 2019, with a 52kWh battery that will give you up to 245 miles from a single charge.

Early cars have a quirky interior cabin design while the latest model is more conventional, but both are comfortable and fuss-free. There's a good amount of space although taller drivers may want to consider the relatively high seating position, caused by the battery fitted under the floor.

The Dacia Duster is a cheap and cheerful crossover that wears its budget price tag with pride. The Duster might not win any prizes for refinement or style, but it’s easy to drive and hugely practical. Compared to other small crossovers like the Renault Captur, we rate it as a steal for under £10,000, and older models can be found for under £7,000. 

Duster buyers tell us they love Dacia’s no-nonsense approach to car building. This means the interior has some hard and harsh materials, which are designed to be easy to clean and last a long time. However, if you can find a mid-spec version of the Duster, you can get some upmarket luxuries like touchscreen navigation and a rear-view camera with parking sensors. 

For the money, the Dacia Duster is very practical. In fact, we think it’s almost as spacious as pricer cars, like the Kia Sportage and Skoda Karoq. What’s more, the Duster is available with a good range of Renault-sourced petrol and diesel engines with two-wheel or four-wheel drive.

The Vauxhall Astra is a compact but capable small family hatchback that punches above its weight when it comes to practicality and space. If you want a cheap car with a good-sized boot, the Astra will be right up your street.

Few cars in this list get anywhere near the Astra for all-round usability. The boot provides 370 litres, which is more than you’ll find in the Ford Focus. The loadspace is also easy to use, thanks to its wide opening and flat vertical sides. 

Over the years the Astra has been famed for its excellent engines. Both the 1.0-litre and 1.4-litre petrol are impressive. The 1.6 diesel is smooth and efficient - it should be your default choice if you plan to use the Astra for high mileage motorway use.