Best used cars for every need
Whatever matters most — running costs, reliability, space or your first car — these guides rank real cars from live UK dealer stock, refreshed as availability changes.
What are the best used cars to buy?
The best used car depends on what you need it for. Motoring.Today ranks live UK stock into practical shortlists — the cheapest cars to run and buy, the best first cars, the best cars for families, the most reliable by MOT pass rate and the lowest-emission options — each built from cars actually for sale today.
Cheapest used cars to run
Ranked by the lowest running costs from live stock — annual road tax (VED) and CO₂ emissions.
Audi A1 · MINI Clubman · Volkswagen Polo
12 models ranked →
Cheapest used cars to buy
Ranked by the lowest cash price in live stock.
Ford Focus · Ford Fiesta · Ford Ecosport
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Best used cars for a first car
Ranked for new drivers by low price and small, cheaper-to-insure engines from live stock.
Ford Focus · Ford Fiesta · Ford Ecosport
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Best used cars for families
Ranked from live stock of SUVs, estates and MPVs by choice of stock and seating.
BMW 2 Series · Land Rover Discovery Sport · Audi Q7
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Most reliable used cars
Ranked by the highest first-time MOT pass rate from real DVSA history across live stock.
Audi Q5 · Peugeot 308 · BMW X3
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Used cars with the longest MOT
Ranked by the most MOT time left on live stock — less to spend on a test soon after buying.
Tesla Model Y · Peugeot 5008 · Land Rover Range Rover Sport
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Lowest-emission used cars
Ranked by the lowest CO₂ emissions in live stock (electric cars emit 0 g/km at the tailpipe).
Tesla Model Y · Toyota C-Hr · Peugeot 208
12 models ranked →