With many buyers flocking to SUVs, prices for saloon cars can be surprisingly affordable – especially on the used market.
Saloons make great family cars, too. They have plenty of passenger and cargo space, and often handle better while using less fuel than SUVs by being lower and lighter.
Here are our 10 favourite saloon and saloon-like models you can buy as nearly new cars – saving thousands on the brand-new price.
BMW 5 Series
BMW's answer to whether a large saloon should be sporty or comfortable is "why not both?". The 5 Series feels like a precision instrument on the road, with planted handling and sharper turn-in than you'd expect for a car this size. But, for all its agility, it still softens bumps impressively, so your rear passengers won't be complaining about your driving while they're stretching out. There are mild-hybrid petrols at the entry-level point, or check out the 530e plug-in hybrid or the fully electric BMW i5 if you do more urban driving.
Shop used BMW 5 Series cars for sale or read our BMW 5 Series review
Tesla Model 3
It might have the visual appeal of a washing machine and you'll only get a thumbs up from tiresome tech bros, but the Tesla Model 3 is an electric car pin-up. The Model 3 is the car that every other midsize EV tries to beat, and it's still a gold-medal choice despite being on sale for a good few years now. Aerodynamic styling and clever battery technology make the Model 3 one of the longest-range electric cars, while the interior technology is very impressive – once you've got your head around it all. The Model 3 also has surprisingly sporty handling, plenty of standard kit and full access to the Tesla Supercharger network for easy-peasy long-distance journeys.
Shop used Tesla Model 3 cars for sale or read our Tesla Model 3 review
Audi A6
Audi might be more famous for its Avant estate models, but the A6 saloon cuts an imperious form wherever you drive it. Plus, with no SUV tax to pay when you buy it, this big Audi might be more affordable than you think. That's especially true on the used market, where the A6 tends to be priced a little under its key BMW and Mercedes rivals. There's space for a pair of VIPs to luxuriate in the back seats, and there'll be no complaints about the ride quality thanks to the A6's well-judged suspension. Check out the smaller Audi A4 if you want the same qualities at a lower price.
See used Audi A6 cars or read our Audi A6 review
Hyundai Ioniq 6
The Hyundai Ioniq 6's styling is so unique that you might not immediately think of it as a saloon, especially with its dramatically curved roofline. It does fit the bill, however, thanks to its gargantuan interior with ample rear legroom, and its traditional saloon-style boot lid. Its aerodynamic shape makes the most of its 77kWh battery pack, with a 338-mile range for rear-wheel-drive cars and 322 for all-wheel-drive models – the latter of which will handily thrash most hot hatches in a sprint, racing from 0-62mph in just 5.1 seconds.
Check out used Hyundai Ioniq 6 cars or read our Hyundai Ioniq 6 review
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series has become the definitive sports saloon. Dynamic handling and powerful engines make it good fun to hurl down a twisty road, while retaining enough compliance and refinement that your passengers won't dread every journey. It's not quite as modern inside as the 5 Series as it's been on sale for longer, but that means you still get a handy rotary controller which makes the infotainment system easier to use on the move. There's enough space to use the 3 Series as a family car, but very tall rear passengers might feel a bit cramped.
View used BMW 3 Series cars or read our BMW 3 Series review
Mercedes C-Class
If you need more than just a car to get from A to B, consider the Mercedes C-Class. It's not the most affordable option on this list but, once you step inside, you see where the extra budget went. The materials and build quality are impeccable at this price point, with leather and metal trim on most of the surfaces and controls you regularly interact with. What's more, the C-Class is brilliant to drive, with a composed-yet-cosseting ride quality that floats over bumps, and easy, accurate controls.
Check out used Mercedes C-Class cars or read our Mercedes C-Class review
Lexus ES
If some of these options are a little too German for your tastes, take a look at the Lexus ES. This is a 5-Series-sized saloon with immaculate build quality and the reassurance of Lexus' fantastic 10-year service-activated warranty. Unlike many rivals, there's less of a focus on making the ES a sports saloon, with its light controls, soft setup and full-hybrid engine gearing it more toward a comfortable cruiser. Once you embrace its calm character, you'll find it's very easy to live with, thanks to quick reactions from the hybrid electric motor and excellent fuel economy in urban driving.
See used Lexus ES cars for sale
Skoda Octavia
The Skoda Octavia is actually a hatchback masquerading as a saloon but you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference with the boot lid shut. It's a good chunk cheaper than most of the other options on this list, but you don't need to sacrifice build quality or practicality to enjoy the Octavia's many talents. Efficient petrol and diesel engines borrowed from the rest of the VW Group lineup are available, or you can check out the sporty Octavia vRS if you want a practical family saloon that can also blast down a back road.
Check out used Skoda Octavia cars or read our Skoda Octavia review
BYD Seal
It doesn't make sense for electric cars to be blocky SUVs when we're all so fixated on range – the sleek BYD Seal slips through the air like its namesake looking for salmon in an icy fjord. There's plenty of power and plenty of range here – the top-spec dual-motor version promises over 300 miles to a charge and a supercar-bothering 3.8-second 0-62mph time, although those two stats are mutually exclusive.
Can't go for a full EV? BYD now also sells the Seal 6, which is a (completely unrelated!) plug-in hybrid saloon that promises up to 935 miles of total range. Hope you're planning to stop for a wee in that time.
Shop used BYD cars for sale or read our BYD reviews
Alfa Romeo Giulia
The Alfa Romeo Giulia feels almost as old as the Piedmont hills in which it was developed, but that's a good thing, honest. Okay, it won't suit you if you're the sort of person who thinks your household appliances should be WiFi-connected – the Giulia's more timeless than that. For one, it's got an evocative name, rather than just an alphanumeric code that could be off a fax machine. It gives proper driving thrills, sporty engines that wave a nonchalant cylinder at fuel efficiency, and an irresistible sense of occasion. And we haven't even mentioned that it's bite-your-knuckles beautiful.
Shop used Alfa Romeo Giulia cars for sale or read our Alfa Romeo Giulia review
Found the perfect saloon for you?
Check out thousands of great-value used cars for sale at Motorpoint. To see more tempting options, check out our picks for the best cars with big boots.
