HomeUsed car bargains for less than the cheapest new Dacia

Used car bargains for less than the cheapest new Dacia

A brand new, but very basic Dacia Spring costs a fiver short of £15,000. Here are 23 far more interesting used cars you could consider.

January 14, 2026

Don’t Spring into action
© Mercedes-Benz
If you overlook quadricycles such as the Citroen Ami, Britain’s cheapest ‘proper’ car is the Dacia Spring – yours in Expression spec for £14,995. The simplest Spring offers space for four people and smartphone connectivity, but its electric motor musters a mere 45hp and the car scored one star in Euro NCAP crash tests. Frankly, we think you could do better with a used car for the same money. To ensure some variety, we’ve selected one model from most of the mainstream car manufacturers, with our choices presented in alphabetical order.
Alfa Romeo Giulia
© Alfa Romeo
The bad news is that a budget of £15,000 isn’t enough for the ultra-rapid Quadrifoglio version of the Giulia. Not yet, anyway. But fear not, because there’s more to the Alfa Romeo Giulia than the Ferrari-derived 2.9-litre turbocharged V6. The Italian saloon is a great drive, even with a four-pot petrol or diesel engine under the bonnet, and steep depreciation means you can grab a bargain.
Audi TT
© Audi
Production of the Audi TT ended in 2023, and as much as we hate to use the phrase ‘future classic’, there’s a sense that the German coupe is destined for greatness. For the price of a Dacia Spring, you could be driving an early third-generation TT, which was available as a coupe or convertible. The interior is fantastic, although the rear seats are best reserved for small children or your least favourite passengers.
BMW 330e
© BMW
Owning a BMW 330e is a little like having your cake and eating it. You get all the benefits of owning a BMW 3 Series, like smart styling, a quality interior and sharp handling, but with the environmental and economic benefits of a plug-in hybrid. Officially, the 330e can deliver 37 miles of electric range, assuming you’ve remembered to recharge the battery, although the figure is likely to be closer to 20 miles in the real world.
Citroen C5 Aircross
© Citroen
There are many family SUVs to choose from and, if we’re honest, they’re all rather similar. Fortunately, the Citroen C5 Aircross has a USP: comfort. Thanks to the car’s Progressive Hydraulic Cushions suspension and seats that wouldn’t look out of place in your living room, the C5 Aircross is one of the most cosseting cars in its class. Choose from efficient petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid versions.
Dacia Duster
© Dacia
The Dacia Duster is Britain’s cheapest new SUV, but it represents even better value for money when you buy used. Launched in 2017, the second-generation Duster was significantly better than its predecessor, although the trade-off was a small hike in prices. That said, it still offered the practicality of a family SUV for the price of a compact SUV, and a budget of £15,000 is enough for a Duster registered in 2023. Bargain.
Fiat 500e
© Fiat
With prices starting from around £25,000, the Fiat 500e is one of the cheapest new cars in the country. Sure, a range of 118 or 199 miles, depending on the battery chosen, might seem inadequate in an era of EVs capable of travelling 300 miles on a single charge, but it’s fine if you intend to spend most of your time in the city. And a smaller battery takes less time to recharge, saving you time and money. A £15,000 budget is enough for a 500e with a year or more left of the manufacturer’s warranty.
Ford Puma
© Ford
No, not that Ford Puma, although a budget of £15,000 would be enough for the best example in the country or even the fabulous Racing Puma version. Instead, we’re talking about the current Ford Puma, which is probably the best-driving small SUV you can buy. Like the Puma of the 1990s, it’s based on the Fiesta, which means it’s agile and fun, especially in sporty ST guise. It’s also got a large boot, which isn’t something you could say about the original Puma.
Honda Civic
© Honda
The Honda Civic always finishes near the top of those ‘most reliable cars’ lists. It’s also a particularly practical hatchback, with styling that stands out from the crowd. Our (sadly theoretical) £15,000 will buy you an example of the previous, 10th-generation Civic registered in 2019 and with less than 30,000 miles on the clock. The 1.5-litre i-VTEC turbocharged petrol engine feels lively, but don’t rule out the impressive 1.6 i-DTEC diesel.
Hyundai Kona Electric
© Hyundai
A used Hyundai makes a lot of sense, not least because it’s likely to still be covered by the firm’s five-year unlimited mileage warranty. That means a Kona Electric registered in 2023 will have the equivalent of a warranty offered by a less generous manufacturer. The previous-generation Kona Electric was available from 2019 until 2023 with a choice of batteries: a 39kWh unit with a range of 180 miles and a 64kWh version that was good for 279 miles.
Kia Sorento
© Kia
The Kia Sorento is a great choice if you’re after a seven-seat SUV that’s likely to be reliable and relatively cheap to run. Sure, the seven-year warranty might have expired, but Kia has a solid reputation for reliability, while the 2.2-litre diesel engine in the third-generation model (2015-2022) is good for nearly 50mpg. It’s also got enough torque to cope with seven people and their luggage.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
© Mercedes-Benz
A budget of £15,000 doesn’t go a long way if you’re after a relatively new Mercedes-Benz, so the A-Class makes the most sense if you’re some flash for not a lot of cash. As well as having the ‘right’ badge, the A-Class also boasts a plush interior, complete with a pair of impressive 10.25-inch displays on high-spec models. These became standard across the range in 2023, but your budget won’t stretch that far… yet.
Mini Cooper SE
© Mini
How about an electric Mini for £15,000? It’s almost worth it for those three-pin plug wheels alone. A small 32.6kWh battery gives the stylish Cooper SE a fully charged range of just 140-145 miles, but it’s a very appealing commuter car if you have the ability to recharge at home. Our review called it a ‘charismatic, premium electric car that feels high class without, unusually for an EV, the high price tag to match’.
Nissan Qashqai
© Nissan
It’s one of Britain’s most popular crossovers, so you won’t be short of choice when buying a Nissan Qashqai. For this budget, you’ll be looking at a third-generation Qashqai, probably registered in 2022 and powered by the 1.3-litre mild hybrid petrol engine. The ‘cash cow’ is popular for a reason and it should slot easily into family life. Unlike a Dacia Spring.
Peugeot 508 SW
© Peugeot
Your £15,000 goes a long way when buying a used Peugeot 508 SW. That’s because big French cars aren’t good at retaining their value, which is great news if you’re buying used. Not only is the 508 SW one of the most stylish estate cars on the market, it also boasts a premium interior and a large 530-litre boot. The best news is that £15,000 is enough for a 508 SW registered in 2023.
Porsche Boxster
© Porsche
If you’re after a Porsche and you don’t want anything too old, a Boxster (987) should fit the bill. Launched in 2004, the second-generation Boxster took what was great about the original car and improved nearly everything. Indeed, only 20 percent of the car was carried over. For this budget, you’re looking at a Boxster from before the 2008 update, most likely with a 2.7-litre flat-six – or potentially a 3.2-litre engine in the Boxster S.
Renault Clio
© Renault
When the fifth-generation Renault Clio arrived in 2019, it looked and felt like a significant step forward for the popular supermini. Larger dimensions meant more room on the inside, where occupants were treated to a more upmarket cabin and improved tech. Indeed, it’s able to give the Volkswagen Polo a run for its money, while the 1.0-litre petrol engine delivers a terrific blend of performance and economy.
Skoda Superb
© Skoda
Any used Skoda makes sense when you’ve got a budget of £15,000. Indeed, we could have chosen the Fabia, Octavia, Karoq or Kodiaq for this slot. Instead, we’ve landed on the third-generation Superb, which was available as a smart and stylish saloon or a spacious and very practical estate. Even with the rear seats up, the boot can swallow 660 litres of luggage, while rear-seat passengers are treated to limo-like levels of legroom.
Suzuki Swift
© Suzuki
The Suzuki Swift has to be on your shortlist if you’re in the market for an affordable supermini. Although it has since been replaced by a new version, the third-generation Swift, which went on sale in 2016, offers low running costs, a long list of standard equipment and excellent reliability. It’s also great to drive, while the 1.0-litre Boosterjet petrol engine is capable of delivering diesel-like fuel economy.
Tesla Model 3
© Tesla
Maybe it’s the ‘Elon effect’, or just the sheer quantity of them on UK roads, but you can now buy a Tesla for less than the price of a Dacia Spring. Our £15,000 budget is probably your starting point if you want a Model 3 that hasn’t done mega miles. It should buy you a 2021 Model 3 Standard Range with around 60,000 miles on the clock. Be picky as there are plenty of vehicles to choose from.
Toyota GT86
© Toyota
If you’re after something fun, but you don’t fancy a Boxster, the Toyota GT86 could be just the ticket. The classic front-engine/rear-wheel-drive layout means it drives like a coupe from the 1990s, but with the benefit of modern tech and Toyota’s reputation for reliability. Some say the 2.0-litre four-pot engine isn’t powerful enough, but a lot of these people haven’t driven a GT86. This budget is enough for one of the best examples in the country.
Vauxhall Astra
© Vauxhall
We suspect you don’t dream of owning a Vauxhall Astra, but there’s a lot to be said for this family hatchback. Launched in 2015, the previous-generation Astra lived in the shadows of the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf, but heavy depreciation means you’ll get a lot more for your money when buying used. This is especially true on cars built after the 2019 facelift, but all versions boast a long list of standard equipment. Elite Nav and Ultimate trims offer premium-car levels of tech.
Volkswagen Golf GTI
© VW
It might be a predictable choice, but the Volkswagen Golf GTI remains the best all-rounder in the hot hatch market. If you want to spend the day enjoying the best Welsh or Scottish roads, before cruising home in comfort on a motorway, the Golf GTI is hard to beat. A punchy 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and a wonderful chassis are the hallmarks of this evergreen hot hatch.
Volvo V60
© Volvo
Volvo might sell some of the best SUVs on the market, but it still knows how to build a winning estate car. The V60 was a rival to premium estates like the Audi A4 Avant, Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate and BMW 3 Series Touring, majoring on comfort, space and style, rather than sharp handling and performance. Indeed, the Scandi-cool interior and comfortable seats are two reasons to choose Swedish over German.