10 of the best value cars

We’ve picked out 10 of the best value cars to buy this year, and all will give you the satisfaction that you haven’t spent more than you needed to. Cheap, and cheerful. From family SUVs to nippy electric cars and even sports cars, here are the cars to consider.

MG HS

The new MG HS retains the competitive pricing of the old model, but you get so much more for your money. It’s a larger, more practical car than before, with simply acres of legroom, and has a more modern cabin. Nicer styling to our eyes, too. Plus, there’s a seven-year warranty and strong performance. If you want a nearly new family car that doesn’t break the bank, the HS is it.

Shop used MG HS cars for sale or read our MG HS review

Dacia Duster

Is the Dacia Duster still the value champion when prices now start at around £23,000 for a brand-new model? Maybe you remember the £8,995 headline price of the original Duster. But remember that almost no-one bought the punishingly basic version, and that the original Duster used underpinnings that were fished out of Renault’s scrapheap. The new one has lots of tech as standard, plus an engine capable of over 50mpg and some essential safety kit. And it’s still cheaper than almost all of its contemporaries.

Don’t fret if your budget doesn’t stretch to the latest model in our picture. The previous-shape one (sold from 2018-2024) has many of the same plus points as the latest one, and many examples include an infotainment screen with phone mirroring and a reversing camera.

Shop used Dacia Duster cars for sale or read our Dacia Duster review

Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf is the cheapest car on this list if you compare cars of a similar age and mileage. You can pick up a top-spec, low-mileage Leaf for under £10,000, and the value continues because the Leaf is really cheap to run – especially if you can charge at home. The 160 or so miles of range you get from a full charge won’t suit everyone, but it’s plenty if you don’t often do long journeys or have another car for that usage. With enough space for the family, a big boot, nippy acceleration and a strong level of standard equipment, the Leaf is by far the best-value used electric car.

Shop used Nissan Leaf cars for sale or read our Nissan Leaf review

Kia Picanto

If you don’t need a big car, a car like the Kia Picanto offers excellent value. It’ll still seat four adults in reasonable comfort, and its interior is really simple to use. The Picanto’s a light car, which helps handling, fuel economy, longevity of parts and other running costs. Tot up the Picanto’s fuel and insurance costs, then consider that its simple engines should be utterly reliable (and most examples come with the balance of Kia’s seven-year warranty), and the Picanto has to be one of the very cheapest cars to run. Surely the best-value used small car.

Shop used Kia Picanto cars for sale or read our Kia Picanto review

Citroen C3 Aircross

Somehow, Citroen has managed to stick a £21,000 price tag on the new C3 Aircross – and you can choose between petrol or fully electric for that price. It’s even more surprising when you realise the C3 Aircross is really spacious, blissfully comfortable and has rugged styling. The pared back interior is a delight to use because it’s so simple – there’s nothing to faff about with before you get going. And turning off the speed limit and lane-keep assists takes just a long press of a button. There’s also the Vauxhall Frontera, which is just as spacious and similarly affordable.

Shop used Citroen C3 Aircross cars for sale.

Jeep Avenger

The Avenger uses a lot of the same parts as the C3 Aircross, and swaps space for fun. Yes, there are better options than the Jeep for carrying four adults and several boxes of fragile crockery, but the Jeep is like a little mood boost every time you drive it. The foursquare stance makes it good to drive, the powertrains are nippy and there are loads of little touches to find that feel like the Avenger’s saying ‘I am a tough Jeep, honestly!’. We’d pick the electric one – it’ll do 250 miles to a charge if you’re careful, and it’s cheaper than the hybrid version on the used market.

Shop used Jeep Avenger cars for sale or read our Jeep Avenger review

Mazda MX-5

There’s no debate when it comes to the best value used sports car – it has to be the Mazda MX-5. A hawk-like focus on lightness means the MX-5 doesn’t need powerful engines to feel speedy, and that brings extra benefits like reasonable running costs and better handling. Oh, the handling – the MX-5’s instant direction changes make it feel as agile as a pond skater, while the snicky manual gearshift is one of the best you’ll find. As long as you don’t need to take a lot of stuff with you, the MX-5 is ideal.

Shop used Mazda MX-5 cars for sale or read our Mazda MX-5 review

Ford Focus Estate

Need the best-value used estate car money can buy? For the amount of space you get, plus the widespread availability of cars and spare parts, it’s got to be the Ford Focus Estate. Behind the really spacious rear seats is a whopping 593-litre boot, which puts most estate cars to shame. The EcoBoost petrol engine is economical and responsive, while insurance costs are kept low with lots of standard safety features.

Shop used Ford Focus Estate cars for sale, or read our Ford Focus review

Kia EV3

We’re not going to pretend that £33,000 isn’t a lot of money, but the Kia EV3 makes it feel like really good value. The basic model does up to 270 miles between charges (or you can get 375 miles for £36k), there’s an almost unbelievable amount of interior space and it’s comfortable over bumps. Every EV3 gets two massive screens and wireless phone connectivity, plus recycled materials and thoughtful touches.

Read our Kia EV3 review

Chery Tiggo 8

Chery only launched in the UK in September 2025, but it’s not planning to sit quietly. Its Tiggo 8 seven-seat SUV feels like it’s here to disrupt – its £28,545 start price is at least £10,000 less than the likes of the Skoda Kodiaq and Kia Sorento. So you’ll have to put up with a naff quality interior? No – the Tiggo 8 is full of soft-touch materials and interesting textures. And, of course, more gizmos than a branch of Currys.

Read our Chery Tiggo 8 review