What is the best car under £100k?
Take a look at some of the best cars for £100k and under
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Best cars under £100k
Sticking to a budget when buying a car can feel like you’re being held back but, with up to £100k to spend, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
There are plenty of impressive models to choose from if you’re looking for the best car under £100k, including electric cars and sporty models.
Take a look at our top picks for the best used cars under £100K.
Best used cars under £100K UK
Mercedes EQS
Audi RS e-tron GT
BMW X7
BMW X6 M
Lotus Emira
Lexus LC500
Porsche 718 Cayman GTS
Audi R8
BMW M8
Best electric cars under £100k
Mercedes EQS
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One of the best electric cars under £100k would have to be the Mercedes EQS. It’s a luxury electric vehicle with a mighty engine that’s a lot of fun on the roads. With up to 640hp on offer, performance is a priority.
Electric mile range is impressive as well. You can get up to 450 miles on a single charge, but this will depend on your driving technique. Thrashing that 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds will mean you’ll need to charge more often.
The EQS isn’t short on tech. Expect features like a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a massive touchscreen infotainment setup with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Plus, you can choose a model with ‘Hyperscreen’ for a three-screen dashboard setup.
Best electric sports cars under £100k
Audi RS e-tron GT
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Have you ever seen a car and thought, ‘Maybe that’s too sporty’? Probably not, but the Audi RS e-tron GT is cutting it pretty close. This extreme-performance machine is blisteringly fast and handles like nothing else.
You can launch from 0-62mph in just 2.7 seconds, with 646hp on offer, should you need it. All of this speed does mean it covers slightly less range than some electric models, but up to 283 miles is nothing to sniff at.
It’s alright having all that power, but the interior of the car is just as impressive. Models get a large touchscreen infotainment setup, proper buttons for heating controls, and a digital instrument panel as well.
Read our Audi e-tron GT review
Best luxury SUV under £100k
BMW X7
 "BMW X7 front")
If you’re in the market for a luxury SUV under £100k, a used BMW X7 is a great place to start. It’s a premium seven-seater with menacing styling and an exciting drive.
This is one of the few SUVs that actually has space for the amount of seats it offers, and does so with a plush feel.
The interior is glamorous yet hardwearing, and there’s a pair of large screens for infotainment and the instrument display.
Choose between one diesel or two petrol engine offerings, with the xDrive40d being our top pick. You’ll get 352hp and up to 36.2mpg – not bad for a sizeable SUV with plenty of power.
Read our BMW X7 review
Best sports SUV under £100k
BMW X6 M
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Another BMW SUV, and this time one that prioritises a sporty feel – a used BMW X6 M is ideal for space, speed, and a hint of supercar driving.
Putting out 560hp from a twin-turbo V8 engine, the X6 M is one of the sportiest SUVs on the market. It’s got performance finesse and 740Nm of torque, yet still has enough space to be a practical family car.
The inside of the X6 M is just as impressive, so you’ll enjoy driving and being driven in this beast. It’s got that classic BMW luxury feel, plus a digital instrument cluster and an infotainment screen.
Don’t forget the classic BMW rotary controller – you'll still get that to navigate the car’s functions while cruising along.
Best sports car under £100k
Lotus Emira
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A used Lotus Emira is our top pick for the best sports car under £100k if you want a genuine sports car experience.
It looks every bit the part and drives even better than it looks, with supercar styling and handling.
There are two engine options to consider: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder model with Mercedes AMG roots and a feisty 3.5-litre V6 engine, which is really a lot of fun.
These engines offer 350hp and 388hp, respectively, with the V6 showing off with 420 Nm of torque.
Both engines are fun to drive, but always opt for the V6 if you can – it sounds delicious and handles with impressive finesse. The manual gearbox is buttery smooth and a dream to work with.
Watch our Lotus Emira review
Coolest cars under £100k
Lexus LC500
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The Lexus LC500 is one of the coolest cars under £100k on the market right now, and we think it’s one of the most underrated.
This luxurious coupé deserves way more love – whether that’s for its fierce V8 engine or its drift car style design.
There’s also the hybrid LC500h on offer, but the V8 engine is worth going for if you want to hit 0-62mph in just 4.7 seconds or enjoy 451hp. Top speed is capped at 155mph, and every mile you cover will feel smooth and sporty.
The interior is gorgeous as well. Sport and Sport+ models get Alcantara sports seats, and there’s a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen that was new for 2024.
Best performance car under £100k
Porsche 718 Cayman GTS
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If you’ve got a budget of £100k for a car, you’d be silly not to consider a Porsche somewhere along the line.
Our contender for the best performance car under £100k is the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS, a handsome sports car that offers a lot of fun on the roads.
With a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre engine under the bonnet, you can expect up to 420 Nm of torque and 390hp. All of that power is huffed to the rear using a six-speed manual gearbox, making for a seriously powerful feel.
Porsche claims it’ll hit 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds as well, which is balanced out by the superb handling of the car. The steering is precise, the Sport mode is fun, and it sounds incredible.
Read our Porsche 718 Cayman review
Best exotic cars under £100k
Audi R8
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The Audi R8 is Audi’s attempt at a supercar, and it is a triumph. The R8 is undoubtedly one of the best exotic cars under £100k that you can buy, taking all the finesse of an everyday Audi and ramping it up with more power and impressive styling.
The 5.2-litre V10 engine is massive, and it's one of the best engines we think you can find. A 493hp stat is nothing to be sniffed at, and you can choose from quattro all-wheel drive or rear-wheel.
The interior is plush and comfortable as well, so you can be comfortable while enjoying all that power. Tech includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto give the R8 everyday usability.
Read our Audi R8 review
Best luxury sports cars under £100k
BMW M8
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For something a bit different and one of the best luxury sports cars under £100k, the BMW M8 is a tempting pick.
The M8 has that suave and charming BMW look about it but it feels menacing when you put your foot down. There’s a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine on offer that can give you up to 625hp – so more power than you can ever legally use on UK roads.
You can cycle through driving modes to make the best use of that power as well, with a smart four-wheel-drive system that can decide how much power you’re sending to each wheel.
Plus, you can jump off the line for 0-62mph in just 3.2 seconds, with a comfortable interior and driving position.
What should I expect from a used car for under £100k?
If you’re shopping for the best used car under £100k, that’s a very generous budget to work with. You’ll have plenty of choices and might struggle to pick between the best models on the market.
Like with any car, especially if you’re buying used, you’ll want to make sure it’s in good condition and will be reliable for the long run.
Check things like the car’s Euro NCAP rating and reliability reviews. A car with such a high budget should be nailing these areas, but it’s always good to make sure.
A car that costs around £100k should also have impressive in-car tech and some flashy features. We recommend looking for models that have comfort features like highly adjustable seats, as well as must-haves like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.