Used petrol cars for sale

Who are petrol cars suitable for?

Used petrol cars are extremely popular, so if you’re not ready for electric cars and prefer the convenience of filling up at a petrol station, you’ll find plenty of used petrol cars to buy or finance.

The availability of different types of petrol adds to the convenience, but petrol-engined cars are typically cheaper than their diesel counterparts, reducing the upfront cost of motoring.

Petrol engines generally offer a quieter and smoother driving experience, making them a popular pick for drivers who spend a lot of time around town.

They also tend to have quicker acceleration, making them the de facto choice for fans of performance, hence the term ‘petrolhead’.

Are petrol cars fuel-efficient?

Petrol engines used to be considered less economical than diesel engines, and while this is still true to a degree, that gap has closed significantly.

These days, a small petrol engine might be able to exceed 50mpg on a motorway trip, whereas a diesel could be just 5-10mpg ahead. This is thanks to turbocharger technology which helps make smaller petrol engines more efficient.

Factor in the cheaper costs of both petrol cars for sale and the actual petrol at the pump, and it might not be worth getting a diesel car.

Petrol engines also emit fewer nitrogen oxides compared with diesels, which is why they are more favourable around town. This is also why the threshold for diesel cars in low-emission zones is much tighter.

Are petrol cars reliable?

Petrol engines came about before diesel engines; in fact, many mechanics were unsure of diesel when it first came in. Both fuels have now proven to be similarly reliable.

That being said, a petrol engine is usually simpler than a diesel engine, making repairs more straightforward (and affordable).

Compared with diesel engines, petrol cars tend to be less affected by lower temperatures and cold weather conditions.

What types of petrol cars are there?

Petrol is a popular fuel choice for a range of reasons that we’ve already discussed, including fewer emissions at town speeds, a smoother ride and even stronger performance.

The smallest engine you’d usually see is a three-cylinder unit – they tend to range from 0.9 litres (in something like the Renault Clio) to 1.5 litres (like the Ford Fiesta ST).

A three-cylinder engine has a distinctive sound, often described as a ‘thrum,’ and it can sound quite good.

Ford petrol cars are often praised for their punchy performance, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine produces between 100hp and 170hp, depending on the model.

It doesn’t get much smaller than this – Fiat sold a 0.9-litre two-cylinder engine for a while in cars like the Fiat 500, but this is no longer an option.

Although three cylinders are becoming more common, many family hatchbacks use the more conventional four-cylinder layout, which you’ll usually find in 2.0-litre cars, for example, some Mercedes petrol cars like the C-Class.

Beyond that, many road-going cars have six- or eight-cylinder engines. They usually range from 3.0 to 5.0 litres – find something like this in BMW petrol cars like the M3 or M5.

Petrol engines can be fitted to all types of cars, including saloons, hatchbacks, SUVs, coupés and convertibles.

E5 vs. E10

This is a debate that stems from the wider rollout of E10 in 2021 – it consists of 10% ethanol and 90% petrol, compared with the 5:95% split of E5.

The reduced amount of ethanol in E5 means it’s less corrosive and generally more compatible with older petrol engines – typically pre-2011 models.

It also has a higher energy content per litre than E10, which means it can be slightly more economical, though the difference in real-world conditions is less obvious.

E5 is now generally considered a premium fuel.

With fewer fossil fuels (and more ethanol), E10 is more environmentally friendly because it produces fewer carbon emissions.

It offers the best balance between sustainability and compatibility – newer engines are built to handle the extra ethanol.