Buying on the used market can offer incredible value, as long as you’re prepared to make a few sacrifices regarding the newest features. In my opinion, £5,000 is plenty to get something reliable and safe, here are some of the best options.

Best Used Small Cars Under £5,000

Naturally, the smaller the car the cheaper they are, this means in some cases being able to secure a fairly modern-looking set of wheels for £5k.

2014 Toyota Aygo 1.0 VVT - £4,480

A city car first sold in the UK in 2005, the Aygo is a favourite of new drivers and inner-city commuters across the country. It features a spritely but dependable 1-litre petrol engine and a surprising amount of tech for the price. 

Just under £4,500 can get you a sub-10-year-old car, but if you want one with a nice spec and under 90,000 miles, a 2014 plate is more realistic. This example on Autotrader comes with a touchscreen for multimedia, air conditioning and even a parking camera. 

2012 Ford Fiesta 1.4 - £3,995

For something a little bigger, the Fiesta is a nice compromise between a city car and a family hatchback. This is the later Mk6 model, which might look a bit dated to some, but it offers a great amount of space for the money.

This particular car comes with the basic but reliable 1.4 engine - I would personally avoid any 1.0T EcoBoost cars unless they have impeccable service history, a recent cambelt change, air conditioning, and an aux hookup. As it's a titanium trim it also has the larger alloys and darkened rear glass.

2016 Mazda Mazda2 1.5 SKYACTIV-G - £4,990

Another great small car, the Mazda2 has been a popular new-driver vehicle since its launch. This one features the innovative 1.5-litre petrol engine, capable of a respectable 90 horsepower, but more importantly over 70 MPG.

At £20 per year to tax, and an insurance band of 13E it shouldn’t break the bank to keep on the road too. £4,990 gets you a tidy 2016 model with under 70,000 miles, full-service history and modern infotainment. If you’re after a small city car, these are a top-pick.

Best Family Hatchbacks Under £5,000

If you have kids and possibly pets to transport, a city car isn’t going to cut it. Whilst still being easy to park and navigate towns and cities with, these hatchbacks offer that bit more space, and even more features. 

2016 Volvo V40 2.0 D3

Volvo are known for their safe cars, the V40 was introduced as a slight deviation from their normal lineup of saloons or estates but has gone on to become one of their more popular models. Interior space is good, with plenty of room in the back for 3, and the boot is sizable.

I’d suggest a post-2015 model, just to avoid ULEZ and large VED (road tax) costs, pre-2015 models are still good cars, but I would strongly suggest picking one with a 5-cylinder Volvo engine and not the 1.6 diesel. This model has a few more miles on the clock, but that shouldn’t be an issue as it has a good service history. Get yours for £4,695.

2013 Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI - £4,995

The model name Golf has been a byword for the family hatchback for decades, and it’s still a great choice. They are a great combination of space and functionality. The 1.6 TDI engine in this car for sale on AutoTrader claims over 80 MPG, and costs nothing per year to tax!

Further to this, it comes with both adaptive cruise control and a decent infotainment system. At £4,995 it’s pretty good value, having only covered 86,000 miles. Bear in mind it won’t be ULEZ-compliant, though.

2014 Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC £4,995

The Civic is another popular hatchback, and whilst Honda are well known for their petrol engines, this 1.6 diesel unit is just as good. Its 119hp power output is unlikely to win any drag races but it does claim to achieve over 85MPG and costs nothing to tax.

Styling wise this age of Civic somehow looks toned down compared to the previous model, but it retains the angular look that sets it apart from most cars in the same segment. £4,995 gets you a 2013 model with 85,000 miles on the odometer, not bad value.

Best SUVs Under £5,000

The second-hand SUV market isn’t as well stocked as the hatchback and small car sectors, mainly because SUVs tend to be more expensive, larger and with bigger engines, meaning you’d need to settle for an older model for the same cash. There are still some good options though, here are my 3 picks.

2015 Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi - £4,490

This generation Kuga was based on the same platform as the Ford Focus of the time, meaning it’s not as large as some typical SUVs, but it still comfortably fits 5 plus a good amount of luggage. 

It comes with the 2.0 TDCi diesel engine, a reasonably well-reviewed engine that delivers good economy and power. You can just about get a ULEZ-compliant car for under 5 grand, this one having 100,000 miles on the clock but has good service history.

2014 Honda Cr-V 1.6 DTEC - £4,750

Unfortunately, the only way to get the newer shape Cr-V - the previous generation looks quite dated now - is to settle for one that’s covered over 100,000 miles. This one’s done 120k but has a good service history, and being a Honda, it should be perfect for years yet!

Features include cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring and an impressive nearly 589 litres of boot space. As this is a Euro 5 spec car, it isn't ULEZ compliant, but the 1.6 diesel engine claims an impressive 65 MPG. It’s currently for sale over on AutoTrader, for £4,750.

2013 VW Tiguan 2.0 TDI - £4,990

Despite being 10 years old, this shape of Tiguan has aged very well, possibly because the generation on has only just been replaced in the UK. Either way, they present well, with the height and size of an SUV, but in many cases the economy of a much smaller car.

This model, thanks to it being the 2WD version, claims to be able to do nearly 60 miles to the gallon, although, thanks to its age, it is £190 per year to tax. Later cars should fall into the £0 bracket but double check before buying! For £5,000 though it's a good option for a family car.

What's the Most Reliable Car for Under £5,000?

It's difficult to pin what car is the most reliable, so here are some cars that were rated as very reliable when new, that can now be found for around £5,000:

• Lexus CT200h
• Honda Jazz
• Toyota Avensis
• Honda Civic
• Skoda Superb

What Brand of Car is the Most Reliable to Buy Used?

Again, the data varies from year to year, so here are some makers that have been voted the most reliable in the past few years.

• Toyota
• Honda
• Lexus
• Suzuki
• Hyundai

Can You Buy a Reliable Car for Under £5,000

Yes! As long as you pay attention to what cars have been heralded as reliable, and those that have a good service history, there’s no reason why a used car bought for less than £5,000 wouldn’t be reliable!

Author - Joseph Law

Joseph has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.