Best used cars under £15,000
You don't need to spend more than £15,000 to get a great car - check out our favourite options
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Sticking to a budget of less than £15,000 for your next car doesn’t need to be hard - there are some impressive options on the used car market.
You can pick between some efficient and eco-conscious electric models, something practical and hardwearing, or a luxury icon that feels prestigious on the roads.
Take a look at our top picks from our online showroom – which one is your favourite?
Best used cars for less than 15k
Audi A3
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The Audi A3 has come a long way from its origins as a slightly posher take on the Golf platform (both Audi and Volkswagen have the same parent company), because it’s now a genuinely luxurious family hatch in its own right. The styling has that traditional Audi chicness, and makes the car look a cut above.
Inside, Audi’s traditional talent for interiors has been put to good use, with an increasingly angular but highly classy design and materials that feel truly sumptuous.
There are various diesels and petrol to choose from in this used Audi line-up. In reality, the mid-range 1.4-litre TFSI petrol and 1.6-litre turbodiesel are all that you’ll need. The petrol suits best if you tend to do shorter journeys, and the diesel is great on longer trips.
All models come with cruise control, alloy wheels, automatic lights and wipers and rear parking sensors as standard, as well as air-con, a DAB radio and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
BMW 3 Series
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If you go for a BMW 3 Series, you aren’t simply treating yourself to that iconic blue-and-white badge, you’re also getting what is arguably one of the best cars it's possible to own.
This used BMW simply does everything well – it looks great, it feels great, it drives wonderfully no matter which engine is under the bonnet, and it won’t cost a fortune to run.
The 2.0-litre diesel is the most popular for good reason: it’s strong, smooth, and has the manners to sip diesel, not gulp it.
All models are well equipped, with cruise control and DAB radio, but it’s worth stepping up to the SE trim, where you’ll get rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, and automatic lights and wipers.
DS 3
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The DS 3 will definitely bring a certain je ne sais quoi to your motoring life, because it has more than a little Gallic chic. It’s a fashionista on wheels.
There isn’t a bad engine among them, with the mid-power 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine being worthy of special mention.
If speed is your game, the Performance model with its 208hp will certainly light up any journey. The DS 3 handles enjoyably with nippy, entertaining handling, and a decent ride quality in less sporting models. The Performance’s ride is more tensed to enable sharper handling.
The interior looks great and has plenty of equipment, including DAB radio and air-conditioning, with space for two adults in the back.
Fiat 500X
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The Fiat 500 is undoubtedly a tough act to follow, with its cute looks and nippy demeanour. The 500X does a great job of combining the style of the city car with the additional space for those who need it.
In 2018, Fiat ditched diesels from the 500X range, so they’re getting rarer and rarer on the used market. Still, the good news is that the 1.4-litre turbo petrol is a strong and sweet-revving machine, and gives the car a decent turn of pace.
The interior feels a real cut above that of the 500, with loads of neat touches and classy, soft-touch materials all around.
There’s also plenty of space up front, and decent space for two child seats in the rear – or two kids once they’ve outgrown the seats. Daily life is eased by the presence of air-conditioning, cruise control, lane-keep assist and a seven-inch touchscreen in all models.
Mini Hatchback
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It’s fair to say the Mini is mini in name only these days, so it can hold rank against more obviously family-focused models.
Mini ditched diesel power a few years ago, so numbers are reducing on the used market. But the petrol motor is great – the Cooper model features a thrummy three-cylinder 1.5-litre engine, while Cooper S models have a punchy 2.0-litre turbo engine that can get your pulse racing.
All Minis have the sort of super-quick steering and zippy handling that the brand is renowned for, although it’s fair to say this sporting focus gives the cars a slightly firmer ride. Still, you don’t buy a Mini for limo comfort, do you? They’re brilliant fun.
There are three trim levels on offer, all of which bring their own slant on the Mini theme.
It’s safe to say all Minis are well kitted-out, with air-con, automatic lights and wipers and DAB radio – and with BMW as the company’s parent, quality is high.
Peugeot 208
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Peugeot has really upped its styling game in the past few years, with stunners including the 508, 2008 and this, the funky 208, adding some real aggression to UK roads.
The good news is that the 208’s talents are far more than just skin-deep, because it's genuinely good to drive, with a range of enjoyable and frugal petrol and diesel engines. The pick of this used Peugeot range is the mid-power 1.2-litre Puretech petrol, which gives the 208 all the performance you’ll need, with decent fuel economy, too.
Even entry-level cars have rear parking sensors, a central touchscreen and alloy wheels, while moving up the trims adds niceties such as a larger screen, front sensors and a rear-view camera.
Renault Zoe
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While not the first entrant into the world of electric cars, the Renault Zoe has established itself as a car to really bring battery power to the masses. Offering rapid charging and a much longer range than its dinky size would suggest (now well over 200 miles), it’s also reasonably priced.
For your cash, you’ll get a Renault Zoe that’s pretty brisk to motorway speeds, and the 41kWh battery will offer an official range of up to 250 miles.
Entry-level cars get cruise control and climate control, while mid-spec cars add keyless entry and go, rear parking sensors, automatic lights and wipers and a DAB radio. Top-spec cars add Bose audio and a rear-view camera.
Space is perfectly reasonable up front, and there’s room for two people in the rear. The boot will take a pair of small suitcases, although the optional Bose subwoofer does impinge on space – that’s the price you pay for bass!
Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport
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The Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport is a popular option for long-distance drivers for good reason. It’s big on the outside, which translates into large interior dimensions, so the Insignia can carry five adult passengers with no problem.
The big Vauxhall might not get your adrenaline flowing on a twisty road like, say, a 3 Series, but its size and suppleness make it relaxing and effortless. On a long motorway trip, it’s a brilliant companion, and with the 1.5-litre diesel engine up front, it has decent pace while being impressively light on fuel usage.
All versions are well kitted-out, with electric windows, DAB, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and keyless entry and start. It also feels really nicely screwed together, and will get on with taking you from here to there in a wonderfully unassuming manner.
Volkswagen Golf
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This generation of Volkswagen Golf is so good that the company has used its underpinnings as the basis for the current car – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
The 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine punches far above its weight in both power and efficiency, while giving the Volkswagen Golf character and enthusiasm. If you need to do longer trips, the 1.6-litre diesel makes a fine alternative option.
No matter your engine choice, you can rest assured that all of these used Volkswagen models feel remarkably well made, thanks to an interior that features high-end materials and switchgear that's been engineered to feel classy.
It’s spacious too, with room for five adults and a decent-sized boot capable of swallowing three medium-sized suitcases plus more.
Go for a Match model and it’ll have alloy wheels, electrically adjustable and folding door mirrors, radar cruise control and automatic lights and wipers. It’s always been the smart-thinking hatchback offering, and arguably, never more so than it is nowadays.
Although sticking to a budget can put a dampener on the shopping experience, having £15,000 to spend on a car is more than enough to get an impressive model.
There’s loads of choice in our range of used models, and you can even spread the cost by choosing a finance deal.