There's no finer used car than the Ford Fiesta, and for one simple reason. That's because there's no finer small car – new or used – than the Ford Fiesta, and because Ford withdrew it from sale as a new car in 2023 to concentrate on manufacturing more profitable models, it can now only be had as a used car.

You'll have plenty of choice, too. It's was Britain's best-selling car for decades before its untimely demise, and that means there are absolutely loads of examples on the used car market. It's easy to see why it was so popular, too. Not only is it cheap to run and easy to drive, it's perfect for everyday use. Whether you're a new driver or looking to downsize, the stylish Fiesta ticks an awful lot of boxes.

A Fiesta is also very well equipped for the price, while there's enough space for four adults. Not a big deal if you're looking for a compact family car, but great news if you're looking to get your first car and you want some decent space for your mates. 

Prices have risen lately. For less than £5000 you're looking at a 2015 car, and we'd recommend hunting one out with a 1.25-litre petrol engine (unless you're planning a lot of motorway miles). Double your budget and £10,000 will get you a 2021 Fiesta with a 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine. Available in 100PS, 125PS and 140PS power outputs, these punchy little engines help make the Fiesta even more rewarding to drive.  

The Volkswagen Golf might be a bit more expensive than rivals like the Ford Focus or Skoda Octavia, but it's a perennial used car favourite. The Mark 8 Golf is the latest model, but older models are still a great buy if you're after a comfortable family car with a premium feel. 

It's not just comfy, but it's also a great handling family hatchback. The controls are light and the grippy front-wheel drive powertrain works really well when you hit upon a windy B-road. You're not short on engine choice, either, with 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre TDI diesel engines proving popular, while the 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre TSI petrol engines manage to be both efficient and pack good performance.  

A budget of around £9,000 will get you a seven- or eight-year-old hatchback with a diesel or 1.4-litre petrol engine, while £12,000 gets you a 2021 car with fewer miles. It also means you'll have a wider pick of engines and cars with lower miles. 

There's a growing number of cracking used electric car buys on the market, including the likes of the Kia e-Niro, Nissan Leaf and small electric cars like the Volkswagen e-Up and SEAT Mii Electric, but we think the BMW i3 is a brilliant choice if you're looking for something to turn heads.

Launched back in 2013, it looks fresher and more modern than many new cars, while the interior is just as impressive. There's a slick floating infotainment screen and enough space for four adults. 

The BMW i3 initially launched with a small 22kWh battery that provided an 80-mile range between charges, while a Range Extender model benefitted from a tiny two-cylinder petrol engine that would add an extra 100 miles of range. BMW uprated the batteries over time, first with a 33kWh battery that saw a range of around 100 miles and then a 42kWh battery, boosting the electric range to 195 miles.

As little as £8500 will get you an early Range Extender i3, while around £12,000 will get you a BMW i3 with the newer 42kWh battery.

There's lots of sensible cars in this list, so it's time for a bit of fun, and you can't have much more fun on the road than in a secondhand Mazda MX-5. The latest generation model is now several years old now, which means it's starting to get quite cheap.

Around £12,000 should get you a 2016 1.5 SE model in a choice of trims with around 30,000 miles on the clock. That's not a lot of cash for something that'll put a bigger smile on your face at normal speeds than any six-figure performance car. 

The stylish, simple Mazda MX-5 offers brilliantly agile and entertaining handling combined with willing engines and a surprisingly comfortable ride. It's also a convertible for those wind-in-the-hair journeys, with a simple and reliable manually folding roof. 

Because it's so light and not too powerful, it's even pretty cheap to run, while Mazda has a good reputation for reliability. The only drawback is it's pretty impractical, with two seats that don't offer much space for tall passengers and a tiny boot. 

If you're looking for a great-value family car, then the Skoda Octavia should be at the top of your list. Skoda launched an all-new model in 2020, which is great, but the older-generation car is still worth your consideration, and you're spoilt for choice of used examples thanks to the car's popularity. 

Available as either a versatile hatchback or an even more practical estate, the Skoda Octavia is a very roomy car. The hatchback has 590 litres of boot space, while the estate has 610 litres. The newer model has even more, while there's plenty of space in the front- and back seats. There's a choice of petrol or diesel engines to suit your needs, while the Octavia comes with either a manual or automatic gearbox depending on engines.

It won't set your pulse racing on a twisty road (unless you go for the fun Skoda Octavia vRS hot hatch or estate) but the Octavia is competent, safe and comfortable.

An £8000 budget will get you a seven-year-old car with a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine, while £10,000 gets you a newer estate with a 1.6- or 2.0-litre diesel.  

You're not going to go wrong with a Kia Sportage if you're looking for an affordable family SUV that won't break the bank. Blending a modern design, fuss-free handling, decent interior and cheap running costs, you can see why it's a popular choice.

Inside you'll find a comprehensive infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while there's plenty of room for four adults. The rear seats also have ISOFIX anchor points for child seats and there's a large boot. 

If you've got £9000 to spend, you should be able to get the previous-generation Kia Sportage with a diesel engine and mileage north of 70,000. A £12,000 budget will get the newer shape Sportage with a more efficient petrol or diesel engine and mileage under 50,000, while £15,000 will get you a nice low-mileage car or a newer, higher-mileage model. Find one that's less than seven years old and has covered less than 100,000 miles, and it'll even have some of the fully transferrable manufacturer warranty left.

The Audi Q5 manages to pull off that rare trick of selling ridiculously well, while also somehow feeling exclusive. The reason? Because it’s a very good car, indeed. So for the latest incarnation of its family SUV, Audi have adopted the philosophy of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’

This means the styling is a gentle evolution of previous models', while the car itself is a touch bigger to give occupants more leg- and headroom. The ride quality is excellent, and it’s quiet on the move with minimal engine- and road noise.

So, it’s not exciting, but it is big and – thanks to the smart and slick virtual cockpit – the Q5 is definitely clever. It also comes with four-wheel drive, while power is supplied by either a petrol or diesel engine. If you want a comfortable and high-quality SUV, look no further.

You might be lucky and find the odd old or high-mileage Q5 for as low as £12,000, but generally prices start at around £16,000, and that will get you a car around eight years old, with reasonable mileage.

Like we said earlier, many manufacturers have withdrawn their smallest cars from sale to concentrate instead on building more profitable ones. Toyota is one of the few that still does with the crossover-inspired Toyota Aygo X, but if you don't mind something a bit older, there's still plenty to recommend about the car that inspired it, the previous Toyota Aygo.

Okay, being a teeny-weeny city car, there isn't a great deal of interior space, and the boot is also pretty small. Being a model focussed on affordability, it's also true that the cabin finish can lack a bit of polish, and entry-level versions can feel rather basic on equipment. However, the interior is hard-wearing and roomy enough for a couple of your pals, while the driving experience is both jolly and easy. Running costs will also be impressively low, especially for new drivers thanks to low insurance groupings.

Perhaps the best bit, though, is how dependable its likely to be. Few car companies have a reputation for reliability as good as Toyota's, and if you get your car serviced at a main dealer and it has fewer than ten years and 100,000 miles under its wheels, you'll get an extra 12 months/10,000 miles of warranty thrown in for free.

Vauxhall’s famous small hatch has been offered in a full electric guise for several years, and it’s a great option for anyone looking for a little run-around that won’t break the bank or kick out a load of CO2.

The Corsa Electric’s official range is 209 miles, making it one of the better cars in its class for travelling further between recharges of the 50kWh battery. In the real world, you can expect around 160 miles between recharges, which is plenty for trips around town or the daily commute. Later examples were also available with a slightly larger 54kWh battery for a bit more range.

Vauxhall has kept the electric Corsa as close to the standard petrol-powered car as possible, with an instantly recognisable design and the practicality you’d expect from the popular supermini.

Thanks to the fact the electric Corsa has been around for a number of years, there’s a wide selection of secondhand models available from as low as £9000. That’s a highly accessible entry-point for an EV, and on a two-year finance deal, you could be paying as little as £150 per month. 

If you’re familiar with the Corsa, you’ll feel right at home with the Corsa Electric (also known as the Corsa e) and be happy in the knowledge you’re reducing your carbon footprint.

The Volkswagen Touareg is a highly capable and well equipped SUV which can roll up its sleeves and get muddy if needs must. There’s plenty of space for five people and their luggage on the inside, while the infotainment system is one of the best around with heaps of functionality. We’d recommend stretching to a higher-grade trim (SEL Tech, R-Line Tech or Black Edition), or any car built since 2023, to get treated to the excellent Innovision infotainment system.

It’s quiet inside the cabin, too, with the Touareg offering good levels of sound insulation making for a relaxed journey. You'll also enjoy a comfortable ride, especially if you opt for a model with the air suspension. You’ll find petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains, and you’ll get bags of grip and traction with any of them.

A brand-new Touareg will set you back around £70,000, but resale values have traditionally been quite weak, and as a result, solid secondhand models that are roughly four years old and have fewer than 40,000 miles on the clock can be had for less than half that. And we’re talking SEL and R-Line spec models, not the entry-level trim.