The five best used cars that you should buy now
When judging what makes a good used car, one of the factors we often keep in mind is just how easy it is to get hold of a good example. If a particular model is ubiquitous, such as the Ford Fiesta or BMW 3-series, that’s in its favour; after all, if you can find three to choose from on your doorstep, that’s going to be far more appealing than driving 100 miles to the nearest example, only to find out it’s a bit of a duffer.
Having said that, there are some used cars that are worth rifling through the classifieds to find. Whole model ranges that might have been fabulous when they were new, but simply didn’t catch on with the buying public, maybe, or perhaps simply unpopular versions which are super-rare on the used market; cars, in short, that are worth seeking out despite their rarity.
Here are five of our favourites, presented in time-honoured reverse order.
Best used cars to buy in 2021
5. Subaru Outback
The latest Subaru Outback isn’t exactly the last word in refinement, but it is an incredibly useful car. Not only does it offer a spacious interior and a big boot, but it also has a rugged four-wheel drive system, which means it’s more than capable of tackling tracks and trails if you need to go off-road – and well set-up for whatever the winter weather might throw at you.
These days, the Outback is relatively little-known, however, and the Subaru badge isn’t as much of a draw as those you’ll find on the noses of its German rivals. But that’s good news for those in the know, because it keeps used values down, and that makes the Outback a bit of a bargain on the used market. A five-year-old example with low mileage and plenty of equipment will set you back just a shade over £10,000, for example – and that’s a lot of car for the money.
Buy because: You need a tough, useful four-wheel drive, but don’t want an SUV.
Don’t buy because: It’s a bit clunky to drive.
Price from: £10,000
4. Honda CR-Z
Don’t bother with that Audi TT. The Honda CR-Z is by far a more interesting choice. It’s the only hybrid car we can think of that comes with a manual gearbox, for starters – and what a gearbox, too, as sweet as you’d expect from Honda’s performance machinery of old.
It’s just one reason the CR-Z is more special than people gave it credit for when it was new. OK, the CR-Z might not look that quick on paper – but don’t be fooled by the performance figures. The CR-Z is an absolute hoot to drive, with a beautifully deft chassis that feels light on its feet. And because it’s a hybrid, it’s also way more economical than you might imagine, with a combined fuel consumption figure of 53.5mpg. Not bad for a sporty little coupé you can now pick up this cheaply!
Buy because:A fun, cute coupé that’s also reliable and cheap to buy and run? Why wouldn’t you?
Don’t buy because: You want scintillating straight-line performance, maybe?
Price from: £4,000
3. Hyundai i30 N Performance
Rarely has a car combined racy looks and driving dynamics with affordable running costs and a long warranty in quite such convincing fashion as the Hyundai i30 N. It might be Hyundai’s first attempt at a hot hatch, but it’s a remarkably good one that deserves its place among rivals like the Ford Focus ST and Cupra Leon, with a truly brawny engine and agile, involving handling.
Used, though, it makes even more sense. Not only does it look like great value second-hand, but that long warranty really comes into its own – buy a three-year-old i30 N, for example, and you’ll still have two years’ manufacturer warranty left; the same can’t be said for any hot hatch of this sort of performance and capability.
Buy because: You want a hot hatch that’s different to the norm – and has a huge warranty.
Don’t buy because: You wouldn’t be seen dead in a Hyundai.
Price from: £18,000
2. Jaguar XE S
Ahh, the Jaguar XE. A car that delivers, simultaneously, so much pleasure and so much pain. Lament, for example, the cramped rear seats, the tiny boot, and the interior whose plastics become progressively tinnier the further down you look.
But while you do so, behold the suave looks, revel in the beautifully set-up chassis that manages to balance comfort and involvement better than any other junior executive rival, and delight at the fact the XE’s rarity means it still isn’t a common sight on our roads.
In this joyous S form, in which it has the wonderful supercharged V6 engine from the F-Type – a beautiful, sonorous foil to that lovely chassis – the XE hits its zenith. Yes, it’s flawed, but in this rare form, it feels like a special thing indeed: an affordable, upmarket, compact saloon with real character.
Buy because: You want a fast, fun saloon that’s instantly loveable.
Don’t buy because: Anyone who isn’t a child won’t fit in the back.
Price from: £15,000
1. Kia Stinger
Our admiration for the Kia Stinger has been well-documented – motoring editor Paul Hudson came away from his spell with a brand-new example overflowing with praise. But on the used market, the Stinger gets even more tempting. A couple of years of age will have taken the sting (sorry) out of the depreciation these big, swoopy four-door coupés suffer, and at these prices the Stinger looks like fab value.
The 2.0-litre turbo is probably a better buy than the 2.2-litre diesel, but it’s the range-topping GTS that’s the best of the bunch, with a magnificent turbocharged 3.3-litre V6 engine that hurls it to 62mph in just 4.7 seconds, and handling to match.
The best part, though, is that not only is the Stinger beautifully built, good to drive, comfortable and excellent value – but it also comes with the balance of a seven-year warranty. So if you buy a two-year-old Stinger, it’ll still have five years’ warranty left, rather than the single year you’d have if you bought one of its rivals.
Buy one because: It’s a handsome four-door that’s great to drive and long of warranty.
Don’t buy one because: You can’t get past the badge.
Price from: £18,000
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