Cars are getting pricier, so it's never been more important to track down a good deal.
It might feel like £10,000 doesn't go quite as far on the used market as it once did, but we've tracked down 10 top-notch motors all available for less than five figures.
All of these models are available to buy as used cars from Motorpoint and include warranty coverage.
Citroen C1
The Citroen C1 is a cute city car with bags of charm. It comes with a 72hp 1.0-litre petrol engine, so you'll need to give the accelerator a good poke to get up to motorway speeds, but fuel, insurance, tax and maintenance costs will be some of the lowest in the business. Your £10,000 budget will buy a nearly new C1 in Flair or Shine trim, with luxuries like a reversing camera, air conditioning and cruise control, plus an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so you can use your favourite mapping and entertainment apps through the car's screen. For more options, check out the mechanically similar Peugeot 108, which also sneaks under £10,000.
Browse used Citroen C1 cars for sale
Dacia Sandero
When the Dacia Sandero first launched in the UK, you could get a brand-new version for less than £10,000. Those prices are long gone now, with the latest model starting far above our £10k budget. However, you can still pick up the latest Sandero for four figures if you choose a nearly new model. It's a far better car than the first Sandero too, with much more standard equipment and substantial improvements to refinement and handling. The strong practicality remains unchanged, however – this is a small hatchback that can reasonably carry adults in the back seat, and handle the odd flat-pack furniture shopping trip.
Search used Dacia Sandero cars or read our Dacia Sandero review
Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 has been around for more than a decade and a half now. Its popularity has remained stubbornly high thanks to its attractive, retro styling and wallet-friendly price. There are scratchy plastics lower down and cheap-feeling fabric lining the boot, but Fiat has put effort into the parts you touch every day, like the steering wheel, gear stick and dashboard controls. If you're buying a nearly new 500, you'll probably find cars in Lounge trim with rear parking sensors, air con and cruise control – but there are several special editions with exciting colour and fabric combos. You can even find examples of the newer EV-only 500 for less than £10,000.
View used Fiat 500 cars or read our Fiat 500 review
Hyundai i10
The latest Hyundai i10 has finally crossed below the £10,000 mark on the used market. This is one of the most complete city cars you can buy and comes packed with big-car features and a composed, big-car driving experience too. You get an impressive amount of passenger space for the car's tiny footprint, which also means it's one of the few city cars that can seat three across the rear bench – at least for very short trips. The basic 1.0-litre petrol engine is fine for most driving duties and won't have much of an impact on your bottom line, but the 1.0-litre turbo might be a better choice if you do more driving on faster roads.
Check out used Hyundai i10 cars or read our Hyundai i10 review
Nissan Leaf
Steep depreciation in the first 12 months on sale means you'll find a handful of nearly new EVs on this list. The Nissan Leaf was one of the very first mass-market EVs and this second-generation model remains one of the best-value battery-powered cars you can buy. There's an enormous amount of standard kit and enough space for the Leaf to work as a family car. The 168-mile range isn't exactly massive but will cover most drivers' needs most of the time – and your running costs will be tiny if you can charge at home. On the road, the Leaf is a tranquil experience, with excellent refinement, swift acceleration and no gears to shift.
Take a look at used Nissan Leaf cars or read our Nissan Leaf review
Vauxhall Corsa
Most of the sub-£10,000 choices on this list are tiny city cars – great if you're buying as a single driver or couple, but heavily compromised if you have regular rear-seat passengers. Thankfully, prices for the current Vauxhall Corsa have now dropped below the £10,000 mark. You'll immediately spot the extra space compared to most cars on this list, with enough room for adults in both rows provided those in the back aren't well over six-foot tall. Accompanying the larger cabin is a decent 309-litre boot, which should happily handle most day-to-day tasks without needing to fold the rear bench down.
Shop used Vauxhall Corsa cars or read our Vauxhall Corsa review
Citroen C3
Like the Corsa, the Citroen C3 is a slightly larger hatchback that makes it onto this list of mostly tiny city cars. While the C3 is still very easy to slip into tight city parking spaces, you'll find a little more rear seat space, which will come in handy if you're carrying adults or bulky child seats in the second row. Compared to the Corsa, the Citroen is much softer sprung, which means it wobbles about a bit if you drive like a hooligan, but also means it handles potholes and speed bumps far more gracefully. Inside, there's Citroen's typically minimal but quirky cabin design, and rugged exterior details like the 'airbumps' that protect from parking scrapes.
See used Citroen C3 cars or read our Citroen C3 review
Mazda MX-30
The Mazda MX-30 is a battery-powered SUV complete with a plush cabin, a modern infotainment system and concept-car looks. So what's it doing on this list of super-affordable cars? Put simply, the MX-30's fairly small 124-mile electric range means it's best suited to short and medium-range trips, limiting its overall appeal. However, if you can live with its limited range, you're getting an awful lot of car for the money. The interior is attractive and trimmed in premium upholstery, and includes neat details like the cork tray liners that nod to Mazda's manufacturing heritage. Acceleration is smooth and hushed, and the car's handling is enjoyably sporty.
Browse used Mazda MX-30 cars or read our Mazda MX-30 review
Toyota Aygo
If you expected Toyota's entry into the city car class to be a shrinking violet, think again. The Toyota Aygo has sharp, ninja-like styling to stand out despite its tiny stature, looking noticeably more aggressive than the Citroen C1 or Peugeot 108 with which it shares most of its parts. You'll find lots of cars in X-Play trim at this price point with air conditioning and a reversing camera, but we'd be tempted to hold out for an X-Trend car that gains alloy wheels and full climate control. All models include a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to keep you entertained and on the right track when driving.
If you're fine to stretch the budget a little, you can pick up examples of the newer Toyota Aygo X, too.
View used Toyota Aygo cars or read our Toyota Aygo review
Renault Zoe
Some nearly new EVs have started making this sub-£10,000 list because their short range means their appeal is limited to mostly urban drivers. The Renault Zoe, however, manages comfortably more than 200 miles to a full charge, which means you can readily tackle longer drives. Its 50kW fast-charge rate might have been eclipsed by newer models, but means you can be sure you'll hit max charging speed at almost any public fast charger, with a 0-80% charge taking around 70 minutes. Like most EVs, acceleration is swift and responsive, and you'll find all the on-board mod cons to make driving less of a chore.
Search used Renault Zoe cars or read our Renault Zoe review
Save thousands on a nearly new car
Search Motorpoint's huge choice of affordable nearly new and used cars under £10,000. For more budget-friendly options, see our picks for the best cars that are the cheapest to run.
