New car for the New Year? Best used cars under £5k you can pick up BEFORE Christmas from reliable Citroen to classy BMW
‘TIS the season for splurging – especially when it comes to the used car market.
Thousands of bargain motors are ready and waiting to be snapped up this Christmas – from practical family hatchbacks to fun-to-drive sports cars.
Auto Trader recently picked out their holiday bargain picks, all priced at £5,000 or under.
These include evergreen favourites such as the Fiat 500 and Honda Jazz, through to modern classics like the Audi TT.
Fiat 500
The iconic Fiat 500 remains one of the most popular little motors for Brit drivers to buy second-hand, after an incredibly successful 17-year run.
The stylish hatchback finally reached the end of the road earlier this year, with Fiat announcing it was to be discontinued and replaced by the EV-version, but that only means it will live on as a fine second-hand option.
Described by Auto Trader as fun to drive, cheap to run, and with plentiful parts in supply, the Fiat 500 seemingly has it all – all for a low price.
Dacia Sandero
The UK’s cheapest new car is also a bargain on the secondhand market.
Priced under £14,000 from new (for the most basic iteration), the Dacia Sandero – once the butt of all jokes on the TV programme Top Gear – can be picked up for under £5,000 in great condition and with low mileage.
What’s more, it’s spacious, well-built, and seems very reliable.
Citroen C1/Toyota Aygo/Peugeot 108
Drivers in the market for something cute, small, cheap, and reliable can take their pick from the C1, Aygo and the 108 – they are all roughly the same.
Better yet, they’re all relatively affordable to insure, with each landing in a low insurance group – depending on their engine size.
Honda Jazz
Like a Tardis, the Honda Jazz is perfectly small on the outside but boasts plenty of room and flexibility inside.
It does brilliantly at making life simple and has proven particularly popular among over-60s – with Sun Motors supremo Rob Gill even describing it as “100 per cent engineered for pensioners” in his 2020 review.
Also known for being extremely reliable, the Jazz is simply a great car for £5k.
Nissan Leaf
The first-generation Leaf is one of the cheapest ways of buying and running a car, according to Auto Trader.
Motorists can pick up a 2015 model with less than 80,000 miles on the dash for less than £2,000, and if you’re charging it at home, every mile will cost mere pennies.
BMW 1 Series
Auto Trader claims there are literally thousands of used BMW 1 Series knocking about, ranging from two-decade-old examples and high-mileage first-generation cars, through to M135s with delivery mileage.
They suggest drivers can afford to be picky, and could find a prestige hatchback that looks and feels four times the price.
Mazda MX-5
Earlier this year, our modern classics expert discussed how the Mazda MX-5 celebrates the art of driving by keeping things brilliantly simple.
It truly is a proper driving experience; rear-wheel drive, light handling and perfect with the top-down on a summer’s day.
While the newest model costs a steep £30,000, fun-seeking petrolheads can simply enjoy the same experience with a mid-mileage late-2000s example for around £3,000.
Nissan Figaro
The cult favourite Nissan Figaro might not be a great option as a daily or long-distance car – it has no airbags, offers little practicality and is fairly slow.
However, its iconic status and retro-styled good looks certainly helps it keep its value, and it’s still, decades on from its release, a head-turner.
Audi TT
Finally discontinued last year, the Audi TT – especially the first generation model – remains a firm favourite among fans of modern classics.
Known for its comfort, quality and style, the TT is also surprisingly practical, while also being remarkably affordable.
Auto Trader says between £4,000 and £5,000 will be enough to get a good second-generation car with a full service history and plenty of miles left.
VW Up/Skoda Citigo/Seat Mii
Dubbed “the best city car ever made”, this trio look almost completely identical – save for minor changes to the lights.
The Up, which prioritises function over form, is spacious with a fantastic driving position and is described as really refined for a runabout.
It’s also incredibly safe, boasting a five-star rating from Euro NCAP at launch.
Renault Grand Scenic
For those who have a large family or simply need a car with a huge boot that isn’t an SUV, then it’s hard to improve on the Grand Scenic.
Inside, it features seven seats and lots of space, as well as reasonable running costs and plenty of equipment.