Used car buying guides
Model-by-model guides to Britain's most common used cars: known faults by engine with UK repair costs, best and worst years, running costs and what to check.
Not sure which model?Set a budget, age and mileage and see the most reliable models for it.Choose a make
Audi11 guides
- Audi A1Premium supermini built on the Polo; 2015+ engines are best.
- Audi A3Premium Golf; 8V (2012–2020) is the best used generation.
- Audi A4Refined exec; B9 diesels are dependable high-milers.
- Audi A5Stylish coupé, Sportback and cabriolet based on the A4.
- Audi A6Executive saloon and Avant; superb on motorways.
- Audi Q2Small premium crossover; Polo-sized with Audi quality.
- Audi Q3Compact premium SUV; dependable with diesel 2.0 TDI.
- Audi Q4Audi's mid-size electric SUV (Q4 e-tron).
- Audi Q5Premium mid-size SUV; strong diesels and quattro.
- Audi Q7Large seven-seat premium SUV.
- Audi TTIconic sports coupé and roadster; quality and quattro.
BMW8 guides
- BMW 1 SeriesRear-drive premium hatch until 2019; check the engine code.
- BMW 2 SeriesOne badge, three cars; all use reliable modern BMW engines.
- BMW 3 SeriesThe default executive saloon; 2015+ B-series engines are the safe bet.
- BMW 4 SeriesCoupé, Convertible and Gran Coupé versions of the 3 Series.
- BMW 5 SeriesSuperb long-distance exec; check engine generation.
- BMW X1Premium compact SUV; front-drive from 2015.
- BMW X3Premium mid-size SUV; excellent diesels and later plug-in and iX3.
- BMW X5Large premium SUV; superb diesels and plug-in hybrid.
Citroen5 guides
- Citroen BerlingoVan-based, hugely practical MPV.
- Citroen C1Tiny, cheap city car built alongside the Toyota Aygo and Peugeot 107/108.
- Citroen C3Comfort-first supermini; same PureTech belt caution as Peugeot.
- Citroen C4Comfortable family choice; diesel BlueHDi is the robust option.
- Citroen DS 3Stylish premium small hatch, later sold as the DS 3.
Dacia2 guides
Fiat2 guides
Ford11 guides
- Ford B-MaxSmall MPV with pillarless sliding doors.
- Ford C-MaxPractical compact MPV based on the Focus; five or seven seats.
- Ford EcosportBudget small SUV; the 2017 facelift is much improved.
- Ford FiestaBritain's most common car: cheap to buy, cheap to insure, but engine choice matters more than age.
- Ford FocusGreat to drive and cheap to fix; engine and gearbox choice decide reliability.
- Ford GalaxyLarge seven-seat MPV with adult-sized third row.
- Ford KaCheap, simple city car; the Fiat-based Mk2 is the common one, the Ka+ adds space.
- Ford KugaGood to drive; diesel Mk2 and PHEV Mk3 are the picks.
- Ford MondeoBig, comfortable family car and estate; huge space for the money.
- Ford PumaFun, practical small SUV; same 1.0 EcoBoost care as the Fiesta.
- Ford S-MaxSporty seven-seat MPV; drives like a big Mondeo.
Honda4 guides
Hyundai7 guides
- Hyundai i10Roomy, reliable city car; a sensible first-car pick.
- Hyundai i20Sensible, well-built small car with a long warranty.
- Hyundai i30Solid, well-equipped family hatch with a five-year warranty.
- Hyundai IoniqEfficient hybrid, plug-in and EV hatch.
- Hyundai ix35Robust family SUV, predecessor of the Tucson.
- Hyundai KonaSmall SUV with petrol, hybrid and a long-range EV.
- Hyundai TucsonTwin of the Sportage; good value and well-built.
Jaguar2 guides
Kia7 guides
- Kia CeedWell-built family hatch and estate with a long warranty.
- Kia NiroEfficient hybrid, plug-in and EV crossover with a seven-year warranty.
- Kia PicantoCheap, reliable, long warranty; ideal first car.
- Kia RioReliable, sensible small car with a seven-year warranty.
- Kia SportageDependable family SUV with a long warranty; QL onwards is excellent value.
- Kia StonicRio-based small SUV with a seven-year warranty.
- Kia VengaTall, practical small MPV with a long warranty.
Land Rover7 guides
- Land Rover DefenderIconic 4x4; the 2020 reboot is a luxury off-roader.
- Land Rover Discovery / Discovery SportDesirable and capable, but among the costliest to fix; history is everything.
- Land Rover FreelanderCompact 4x4; capable but reliability varies.
- Land Rover Range RoverThe luxury SUV benchmark; spectacular but costly.
- Land Rover Range Rover EvoqueStylish premium SUV; buy with full history and ideally warranty.
- Land Rover Range Rover SportLuxurious, fast SUV; magnificent but expensive to run.
- Land Rover Range Rover VelarSleek, stylish mid-size Range Rover.
Mazda5 guides
Mercedes-Benz8 guides
- Mercedes-Benz A-ClassPremium badge on a family hatch; W177 (2018+) is the most rounded.
- Mercedes-Benz B-ClassPractical premium compact MPV.
- Mercedes-Benz C-ClassComfort-focused exec; W205 C220d (2018+) is the sweet spot.
- Mercedes-Benz CLAFour-door coupé and Shooting Brake based on the A-Class.
- Mercedes-Benz E-ClassComfortable, tough exec; huge mileages are normal.
- Mercedes-Benz GLAMercedes' compact SUV based on the A-Class.
- Mercedes-Benz GLCMercedes' best-selling mid-size SUV.
- Mercedes-Benz GLELarge luxury SUV, formerly ML-Class.
MG2 guides
Mini2 guides
Nissan6 guides
- Nissan JukeQuirky small SUV; F16 (2019+) is much better built.
- Nissan LeafBritain's longest-running EV; cheap used, but check battery health.
- Nissan MicraSimple, durable supermini with excellent survival.
- Nissan NoteRoomy, practical small MPV-hatch; cheap and reliable.
- Nissan QashqaiBritain's default family SUV; J11 1.3 DIG-T manual is the safest pick.
- Nissan X-TrailPractical family SUV, seven seats optional from 2014.
Peugeot7 guides
- Peugeot 107Tiny, reliable city car; twin of the Aygo and C1.
- Peugeot 108Small, reliable city car; triplet of Aygo and C1.
- Peugeot 2008Stylish small SUV; belt care decides reliability.
- Peugeot 207Older supermini; cheap, but check the engine type carefully.
- Peugeot 208Stylish supermini; reliability depends on PureTech belt care.
- Peugeot 3008Mk2 3008 is a stylish, good-value family SUV.
- Peugeot 308Stylish family hatch and estate with a tiny steering wheel.
Porsche1 guide
Renault4 guides
SEAT4 guides
Skoda8 guides
- Skoda CitigoWell-built city car; twin of the VW up!.
- Skoda FabiaPractical, honest supermini; Mk3 is a standout used buy.
- Skoda KamiqPractical small SUV with VW engines.
- Skoda KaroqPractical family SUV with clever VarioFlex seats.
- Skoda KodiaqSpacious seven-seat SUV; great value.
- Skoda OctaviaHuge, practical and dependable; ex-taxi/fleet high miles are common.
- Skoda SuperbHuge, comfortable family car and estate; VW engineering.
- Skoda YetiQuirky, practical small SUV with a cult following.
Suzuki3 guides
Tesla2 guides
Toyota7 guides
- Toyota AurisReliable family hatch; the hybrid is the one to have.
- Toyota AygoTiny, cheap and nearly unbreakable; perfect first car.
- Toyota C-HRStriking hybrid crossover with strong reliability.
- Toyota CorollaVery reliable hybrid family hatch, estate and saloon.
- Toyota PriusThe original hybrid: frugal and very reliable.
- Toyota RAV4Pioneering SUV; latest hybrids are very reliable and frugal.
- Toyota YarisOne of the most reliable cars on UK roads; hybrids are a top used buy.
Vauxhall9 guides
- Vauxhall AdamFunky, customisable city car.
- Vauxhall AstraAffordable family hatch; Astra K is a big step up in quality.
- Vauxhall CorsaCheap, plentiful first car; the newest 1.2 PureTech needs belt history.
- Vauxhall CrosslandSmall SUV based on the Peugeot 2008; renamed from Crossland X.
- Vauxhall GrandlandPeugeot 3008-based family SUV, renamed Grandland from Grandland X.
- Vauxhall InsigniaCheap big car; Insignia A has one of the lowest survival rates in our list.
- Vauxhall MerivaSmall MPV with rear-hinged back doors.
- Vauxhall MokkaPopular budget small SUV; check belts on the newer PureTech.
- Vauxhall ZafiraSeven-seat MPV; cheap to buy but check the heater resistor and fire recall.
Volkswagen9 guides
- Volkswagen GolfThe benchmark family hatch; Mk7 with EA211/EA288 engines is the sweet spot.
- Volkswagen PassatBig, comfy, economical; B8 is the one to buy.
- Volkswagen PoloA grown-up supermini; 2014+ EA211 petrols are the reliable choice.
- Volkswagen SciroccoSporty Golf-based coupé.
- Volkswagen T-CrossPolo-based small SUV with a sliding rear seat.
- Volkswagen T-RocGolf-based small SUV with sharp styling; very popular since 2017.
- Volkswagen TiguanWell-built family SUV; Mk2 diesel is a safe used buy.
- Volkswagen TouranPractical seven-seat compact MPV.
- Volkswagen up!Clever, well-built city car; also the e-up! EV.
Top 10 most common on UK roads
- 1Ford FiestaBritain's most common car: cheap to buy, cheap to insure, but engine choice matters more than age.1,159k
- 2Vauxhall CorsaCheap, plentiful first car; the newest 1.2 PureTech needs belt history.830k
- 3Volkswagen GolfThe benchmark family hatch; Mk7 with EA211/EA288 engines is the sweet spot.802k
- 4Ford FocusGreat to drive and cheap to fix; engine and gearbox choice decide reliability.779k
- 5Nissan QashqaiBritain's default family SUV; J11 1.3 DIG-T manual is the safest pick.646k
- 6Volkswagen PoloA grown-up supermini; 2014+ EA211 petrols are the reliable choice.582k
- 7MINI HatchFun and stylish; the 2014+ F56 with B38/B48 engines fixed most R56 problems.553k
- 8Vauxhall AstraAffordable family hatch; Astra K is a big step up in quality.484k
- 9Toyota YarisOne of the most reliable cars on UK roads; hybrids are a top used buy.469k
- 10Audi A3Premium Golf; 8V (2012–2020) is the best used generation.434k