You’ll be in for a shock if you want a new car for under £15,000. Especially if you haven’t been in the car market for a while.
You’ll be limited to just a few teeny hatchbacks, so it's better to spend your 15 sheets on a used or nearly new car. Your money will go further and you’ll be able to pick a car that you actually want.
Take a look at all our used SUVs for under £15,000 and you’ll spot plenty of models that aren’t even on this top 10 list. But these are the cream of the crop.
1. Skoda Kamiq
Skoda’s baby SUV is a small car masquerading as a big one. It’s easy to park and efficient but has a big boot and ample passenger space. Rear-seat space is among the very best in the small SUV class. Every Kamiq comes with a turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol engine, but you can choose an automatic or a manual gearbox and a variety of well-equipped trim levels. We particularly like the mid-range SE with its parking sensors, air conditioning, cruise control and phone connectivity.
Shop used Skoda Kamiq cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Skoda Kamiq review
2. Peugeot 2008
The Peugeot 2008 is one of our favourite small SUVs, and a mid-range version neatly falls into our £15k budget. It offers bold looks, economical engines and an interior that’s high-quality and interestingly styled. One of the bigger models in its class, the 2008 also offers plenty of space for tall adults and tall suitcases, so you might not feel the need to stretch to the larger 3008. Punchy petrol engines and exceedingly cheap-to-run electric e-2008 models are within budget.
Shop used Peugeot 2008 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Peugeot 2008 review
3. Ford Puma
The UK’s best-selling car (and comfortably) is now available for under £15,000, which just heightens the Ford Puma’s wide-ranging appeal. This Fiesta-based sweetie has an eager and economical 1.0-litre petrol engine, a superb driving experience and an intuitively laid out interior. It’s surprisingly practical, too – you get a washable MegaBox storage area under the boot floor where a spare wheel would’ve traditionally gone. The Puma only comes in Ford’s high-spec trim levels, so you’re guaranteed cruise control, a touchscreen, a heated windscreen and parking sensors.
Shop used Ford Puma cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Ford Puma review
4. SEAT Arona
Have a look at our SEAT Arona selection and you’ll spot that there are a wide variety of trim levels available for your budget. All but the very newest used cars cost under £15,000 at the time of writing, so you could choose the racy FR and FR Sport or the premium-spec Xcellence Lux and still stay within your means. The Arona shares parts with the Skoda Kamiq and Volkswagen T-Cross, and is surprisingly spacious and robust-feeling.
Or, if you need a bit more space, the larger SEAT Ateca is available for under £15,000 in SE Technology trim.
Shop used SEAT Arona cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our SEAT Arona review
5. Renault Captur
Another car with a stylish design inside and out, the Renault Captur has a trump card – its sliding rear seats, which let you increase passenger or boot space to your heart’s content. Okay, so you might not buy it just for that one feature, so it’s handy that the Captur also comes with plenty of other kit as standard – such as bright LED headlights and a user-friendly touchscreen. Add in a comfy ride and a fuss-free driving experience and the Captur should prove a joy to live with. Aim for the mild-hybrid or plug-in-hybrid engines if you can, unless you’ve got the patience to wait for the 90hp petrol engine to get up to speed.
Shop used Renault Captur cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Renault Captur review
6. Nissan Juke
Funky styling made the first Juke an instant success. This latest Juke still stands out, but it also feels more grown-up and complete. Passenger space no longer seems like an afterthought and its turbocharged petrol engine feels very modern, while boot space is also much better than the first-generation car. There are so many talented small SUVs, but few compete with the Juke on price – it’s a really strong option if you want to keep your spend in check.
Shop used Nissan Juke cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Nissan Juke review
7. Dacia Duster
There’s a certain joy to the no-frills nature of the Dacia Duster. It’s refreshing. With even high-spec Dusters being available for well under budget, you can get that rugged, chunky feel without skimping on equipment. Everything above the Essential spec gets a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a reversing camera, plus more besides. You’ll wonder why other SUV drivers would pay so much more than you for something else!
Shop used Dacia Duster cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Dacia Duster review
8. Hyundai Kona
Okay, so the Hyundai Kona isn’t the most practical car on this list, but not everyone needs a whopping great Chelsea Tractor, do they? The Kona makes up for that with its eye-catching style, which is still funky and fresh. Underneath the sculpted bodywork, the Kona offers pure petrol, mild-hybrid petrol, hybrid and fully electric versions – with an achievable 280-mile range – and even the EV sneaks into our budget if you don’t mind a few miles on the clock. Add in a user-friendly (but features aplenty) interior and impressive reliability, and the Kona is a joy to live with.
Shop used Hyundai Kona cars for sale at Motorpoint
9. Vauxhall Grandland X
We won’t pretend the Vauxhall Grandland X is exciting, but it’s a brilliant appliance to ferry the family around in. A hushed, comfortable ride is joined by a versatile interior and, of course, excellent value for money. Find a trim level you like – there are lots, confusingly – and you’ll get a solidly built dashboard with plenty of tech to make daily life easier.
If you don’t need so much space, the more stylish and more modern-feeling Vauxhall Mokka is also available within budget, with petrol and electric versions.
Shop used Vauxhall Grandland X cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our review of the Vauxhall Grandland (the facelifted, slightly newer Grandland X)
10. Nissan Qashqai
The definitive family car? Quite possibly. And sometimes the obvious choice is one of the best – the Nissan Qashqai is comfortable and refined, and has enough space and tech to please a growing family. Not to mention cheap to buy and readily available. The last-shape Qashqai comfortably fits in our budget – in fact, a three-year-old car with low mileage can be well under £14,000, so there’s a bit of cash left to take your Qashqai on an adventure.
Shop used Nissan Qashqai cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our review of the new Nissan Qashqai
