Used hatchback cars for sale

Although a few companies like Volvo and Alfa Romeo have stopped selling hatchbacks to focus on SUVs, there are still a vast number to choose from. Whether you’re after a simple, cheap runabout like the Dacia Sandero, or a premium car wrapped up in a compact package like the Mercedes A-Class, you’ll be able to find the hatchback for you.

Lighter, smaller hatchbacks will always be more fuel-efficient and cheaper to run than larger ones. So, if you don’t need much space, something like a Skoda Citigo or Hyundai i10 will cost peanuts to run. Most petrol superminis can return 50mpg these days, while there are still a few with diesel engines. The Peugeot 208 BlueHDi diesel, for example, can return over 70mpg and will be cost-effective for long-distance drivers. Hybrid hatchbacks like the Hyundai Ioniq and Toyota Corolla will cut your fuel costs if you mainly drive around town, or there’s a growing choice of fully electric hatchbacks like the Renault Zoe, Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen ID.3.

SUVs are on the rise thanks to their chunky styling and because they have a higher driving position than hatchbacks. Some SUVs also have bigger boots than an equivalent hatchback. But SUVs are less fuel-efficient than a similarly sized hatchback, and you’ll typically pay more for tyres and insurance on an SUV. It’s still worth considering a hatchback as your next car, even if all your neighbours have high-riding crossovers.

Hot hatchbacks have more powerful engines than standard versions and a host of go-faster bits. They provide sports car pace with the practicality of a hatchback, and typically won’t cost the earth to run. The hot hatch market is in rude health, with pocket-sized fun cars like the Abarth 595 and Ford Fiesta ST sitting below ultra-powerful cars like the Ford Focus ST, Honda Civic Type R and Audi RS3.

That’s a hard question to answer definitively. It depends on how much space you need, what fuel you’d prefer to fill it with, and the type of driving you’ll do. Start with the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo, or the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf if you need a little more space.