Best used cars to buy for under £8,000
A slim budget doesn’t need to leave you short on quality or fun behind the wheel. Check out our top selection of cars for £8,000 or less
)
While the new car market has seen sales decrease in recent years, the used car market has gone from strength to strength.
A recent count showed that about eight million cars are currently being bought and sold on the used car market in the UK each year.
They often offer a much more cost-effective solution for buyers, and it's always fun to bag a bargain – especially when they come with our seal of approval.
You’re certainly not short of choice as our online showroom proves, with plenty of cars available for less than £8,000 at the time of writing.
A quick skim shows just how much car you can get for the money, with our list of options below arguably highlighting it most clearly.
Ford Fiesta
)
No prizes if you guessed the Fiesta was going to appear on this list because it's absolutely brilliant.
For much of the past decade, Ford's hatchback has been Britain's best-selling car, and it's certainly not been by accident.
With its handsome looks, excitable handling, and strong range of engines, this used Ford is a longstanding champ.
This is true for the latest- and previous-generation models alike, which is why £8k doesn't leave you short of choice at all.
Citroen C1
)
The funky-looking Citroen C1 is one of the highest-rated city cars a sub-£8k budget can buy.
Not only does it get essentials like DAB and Bluetooth connectivity, some examples even have luxuries like leather seats and climate control.
With an economical 1.2-litre under the bonnet, the used Citroen C1 is as cheap to fuel and tax as it is to buy.
Toyota Aygo
)
This sharp-looking five-door hatchback is perfect for nipping around city streets.
You can easily access 2017 Aygo models with an £8k budget, with the acclaimed 1.0-VVT-I petrol version – which can sip fuel to 68 miles per gallon – being our pick of the bunch.
Some models in this budget will also have Toyota’s X-Play infotainment system, incorporating DAB, Bluetooth connectivity, and steering wheel controls.
Learn more:
Vauxhall Corsa
)
The Corsa is a likeable all-rounder that’s always fun to drive.
Several Corsas sit below the £8k mark, with cars powered by Vauxhall's 1.4-litre ecoFLEX engine being especially good.
This gives this fairly spacious hatchback enough poke and economy to make it an excellent all-rounder.
Kia Ceed
)
While it may be true that Kia has successfully pushed itself upmarket with well-made, reliable models like the Ceed, a used car buyer can still access great-value second-hand examples with an £8k budget.
With that, you get a spacious five-seat, five-door family hatchback, which when powered by Kia's 1.4-litre petrol engine mixes decent grunt with an official economy of around 46mpg combined.
Hyundai i10
)
Kia's sister brand Hyundai has also shifted its image higher up the automotive ladder in recent years. But with models like the i10 in its ranks, you can access a great Hyundai with an £8k budget.
Despite its dinky size, this is a five-door hatchback and is available with an economy-focused 1.0-litre engine that can return up to 61mpg combined.
Find a car in SE trim, and you'll get mod-cons like electric door mirrors and cruise control.
Fiat 500
)
One of the most fashionable small cars on the road is the Fiat 500.
Even on a sub-£8k budget, you can bag a 2016 1.2-litre petrol three-door 500 that looks the part and even comes with fuel-saving start-stop technology, helping it return up to 60mpg combined.
Best of all is the Fiat 500's retro styling inside and out, which has served the model well since the 21st-century iteration launched in 2007.
Budget motoring needn't see you compromise on style.