The best cars under £25k in 2024

If you’re on the market for the best cars under £25k, you’ve got plenty of choice. It’s a generous budget whether you want a large SUV or a compact city car.

The top cars under £25k are going to be reliable, comfortable to drive and easy on the eye – and that’s before you consider your specific needs for your car.

Take a look at our picks for the best cars with a £25,000 budget for every occasion and need.

Best cars under £25k

Take a look at our top picks for the best cars under £25k, and scroll down to read why we love them:

• Skoda Superb Estate

• Audi A1

• BMW 4 Series

• Mazda MX-5

• Mercedes E-Class

• Ford Puma

• MG4

• Hyundai Kona Hybrid

• BMW 5 Series

• Audi TT

• Volkswagen Golf R

• Alfa Romeo Giulia

• Honda Civic

• BMW 3 Series

Best family cars under £25k

There are plenty of family cars under £25k that will tick boxes, and the Skoda Superb Estate is one of them – it's a reliable all-rounder that's very easy to live with.

The Superb Estate offers a spacious interior and a 660-litre boot that’s perfect for pushchairs, suitcases, and all the other necessities of family life.

Running costs are reasonable as well. You can expect up to 57.5mpg from the diesel models, or up to 149-217mpg WLTP from the plug-in hybrid electric model.

Prices for a used Skoda Octavia Estate on our site usually start at around £10,200, but take a look at our current stock to see up-to-date prices.

• Read our Skoda Superb review

Best small car under £25,000

One of the best small cars under £25,000 that we’d recommend is the iconic Audi A1.

It’s a perfect pick if you want something compact but have a generous budget, offering used Audi prestige and plenty of tech in a fun-sized car.

There are plenty of trims on offer that help you ramp up the features if you fancy. The Vorsprung is the top-level option and offers extras like 18-inch alloys, heated front seats, and a flashy 10.1-inch touchscreen unit.

A used Audi A1 on our site usually starts around £10,000, but prices will vary depending on our current stock.

• Read our Audi A1 review

Best coupé cars under £25k

A premium coupé with plenty to offer, a used BMW 4 series is one of the best coupé cars under £25k money can buy.

It’s a classy car to drive and be driven in, with a top-quality interior that’s fitted with a two-screen infotainment setup (depending on the exact model you choose).

The engine options are enticing – there's a massive 3.0-litre six-cylinder setup that’s one of BMW’s prized offerings.

A used BMW 4 Series will usually start at prices around £14,600, but this will vary depending on our current stock.

• Read our BMW 4 Series review

Convertible cars under £25k

A used Mazda MX-5 is one of the best convertible cars under £25k, and it’s also one of the most iconic. It’s brilliantly priced and loads of fun on the roads, rivalling models like the BMW Z4.

Pick from 2.0-litre or 1.5-litre petrol engines, with the former being the quickest and offering 184hp. This feels a lot when you’re in something as light and nimble as the MX-5, making it a lot of fun to drive.

There’s an easy-to-use 7.0-inch infotainment screen inside with the MZD Connect software and a BMW iDrive-like controller knob.

A used Mazda MX-5 on our site usually starts at prices around £13,200, but check our current stock for the latest prices.

• Read our Mazda MX-5 review

Best estate under £25k

A used Mercedes E-Class estate is undeniably one of the best estate cars under £25k, offering plenty of space and practicality with a premium feel.

The E-Class is available as a plug-in hybrid model or in a range of 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines. All feel slick to drive, with the E 400d being the most powerful pick.

As with most estates, the interior is massively spacious and features a 640-litre boot. Depending on the model you choose, you could end up with two 12.3-inch screens with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

A used Mercedes E-Class on our site will usually start at around £18,250, but this will vary depending on our stock.

• Read our Mercedes E-Class review

Best SUV under £25k

There are plenty of SUVs under £25k on the market, but we particularly love a used Ford Puma. It’s got that reliable Ford build and is a great size for daily use, boasting a spacious 465-litre boot.

Based on the beloved Fiesta, the Puma is eye-catching and fun to drive. The standard Puma is available with two 1.0-litre three-cylinder engines with mild hybrid assistance. There’s also an ST option with a 1.5-litre setup.

We love the Puma’s interior – it's hard-wearing, sturdy, and easy to wipe down. Depending on the model, you’ll also get the Ford Sync 3 touchscreen unit.

Prices usually start at around £14,300 for a used Ford Puma on our site, making it one of the best priced small SUVs on the market, but check our current stock for up-to-date prices.

• Read our Ford Puma review

Best electric cars under £25k

There are plenty of electric cars on the market these days, but a used MG4 is one of the best electric cars under £25k – it's exciting, packed with equipment and fun to drive.

You can choose from a few models, including the SE Long Range and Extended Range for – you guessed it – extra range. These offer 281 miles and 323 miles of range respectively, while the base model offers 218 miles.

It’s not short of tech either – the base SE model gets a 10.25-inch colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus rear parking sensors and LED headlights.

Prices for a used MG4 start at around £19,950 depending on the model, but check our current models for accurate prices.

• Read our MG4 review

Best hybrid cars under £25k

If you’re not quite ready for a fully electric car, a used Hyundai Kona hybrid is one of the best hybrid cars under £25k and is a dream to live with.

This capable SUV offers a 1.6-litre hybrid engine that’s capable of up to 60.1mpg, which is great for such a spacious car.

Being a hybrid, it does mean the Kona loses a bit of boot space, but it still offers 374 litres or 1,156 litres with the rear seats folded.

Hybrid Kona models on our site usually start around £14,450, but this differs depending on our stock.

• Read our Hyundai Kona review

Best luxury cars under £25k

A used BMW 5 Series is one of our top picks for the best luxury cars under £25k. It’s a classy and sleek saloon with that premium edge, but it still works for daily use.

Bigger and more plush than the famous 3 Series, the 5 Series offers a massive 12.3-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The whole interior is gorgeously designed, but it's still functional.

The range of engines is impressive, too. There’s the 520d at entry-level, which still feels nippy, or you might prefer the M550i xDrive for something really fun.

Prices for a used BMW 5 Series on our site start from around £14,900, but this will change depending on stock.

• Read our BMW 5 Series review

Best sports cars under £25k

Probably one of the most recognisable sporty cars on the market, a used Audi TT also happens to be one of the best sports cars under £25k that you can buy.

With its curving roofline and classic Audi grille, the TT is a head-turner before you even start the engine.

Performance is a priority for this model, and it always feels smooth, punchy and comfortable. Engine options are all turbocharged, with a range of petrol 2.0-litre TFSI options and a quattro all-wheel-drive pick.

A used Audi TT on our site starts at prices around £14,850 depending on our current stock.

• Read our Audi TT review

Best fast cars under £25k

The Volkswagen Golf is an impressive all-rounder, but a used VW Golf R is one of the best fast cars under £25k that we can recommend.

Not all fast cars have to look like a Lamborghini, and the Golf R is a great example of this. It’s capable of up to 155mph, can hit 0-62mph in just 4.7 seconds, and manages 315hp.

This is all thanks to a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, plus 4Motion all-wheel drive and that extra turbocharging.

Used Golf R models start at around £19,000 on our site, but prices vary with our current stock.

• Read our VW Golf review

Best-looking cars under £25k

When it comes to the best-looking cars under £25k, a used Alfa Romeo Giulia is a great choice. With a unique look that stands out against other premium models, the Giulia offers something different and is a pleasure to look at.

The front grille is quirky and menacing, with a three-way split that’s different to the chunky grilles on many German favourites.

The interior is stunning – everything is sleek and minimalistic, with pops of chrome and a built-in infotainment screen.

Prices for a used Alfa Romeo Giulia on our site will differ based on our stock, but you can expect them to start at around £20,700.

• Read our Alfa Romeo Giulia review

Best manual cars under £25k

A used Honda Civic is an ideal model for many motorists – it's versatile enough to be a practical family car, but it’s also exciting to drive. In fact, it’s one of the best manual cars under £25k that you can get your hands on.

There are a few turbocharged engines to choose from with the manual gearbox – a 1.0-litre three-cylinder, a 1.5-litre four-cylinder, and the 2.0-litre Type R.

The six-speed manual gearbox is light and responsive, so it’s easy to flick through each one and handle the Civic with finesse.

Prices for a used Honda Civic start at around £10,000 on our site, but this will depend on our current stock.

• Read our Honda Civic review

Best automatic cars under £25k

One of the best automatic cars under £25k (and one we’ll always recommend!) is the iconic BMW 3 Series. It’s a superb all-rounder and is loved by a whole legion of fans.

It’s a sporty executive car with the option for rear-wheel- and four-wheel drive, feeling well-planted on the roads but not too firm.

There are loads of engines to choose from, and the option for an automatic or manual model. Most people opt for the automatic and are impressed by its speed and responsiveness, even when you put your foot down.

Prices vary depending on stock, but you can get a used BMW 3 Series from £13,000 on our site.

• Read our BMW 3 Series review

Find other cars on a budget:

• The best cars under £25k

• The best cars under £7k