Are you looking for a new car on a tight budget? In Britain’s car market today there are a variety of high quality models available which can be bought outright with a budget of just £10,000 or less.
It probably comes as no surprise to learn that a lot of cars that fall under this price barrier are city cars – the smallest segment in the market.
However, there are also some decent superminis and even larger family cars within reach under this budget too, perhaps far more than you expected in fact. In this guide we highlight five of the most interesting cars you can get which include specifications priced at a little under £10,000. Alternatively, you can search for the absolute cheapest new cars to buy in Britain in our seperate guide. Here’s our definitive guide of the best cars under £10,000.
Volkswagen up! Take up! (three-door, 59bhp)
The Volkswagen up! is a fine entry in today’s city car segment – it’s fun to drive and barely any rivals can match it for cabin room or boot space. Its smart styling and low running and insurance costs can appeal especially to young drivers.
Even with a premium badge, the standard trim level, Take Up!, is very cheap indeed, priced from just under £9,000. For this relatively small sum of money you get a reliable and likeable city car which is super-easy to drive and surprisingly spacious considering its compact dimensions. It is a great choice for those looking for one of the best cars under £10,000.
Find prices for the Volkswagen Up hatchback
Hyundai i10 1.0 S Air
The latest Hyundai i10 is another very good entry in today’s city car segment. While the VW Up may have the edge in terms of build quality and badge appeal, the i10 can match its illustrious rival in terms of running costs, handling and practicality.
Similarly to the Up, the trim level which immediately follows the standard trim is available for less than £10k. The Hyundai i10 with the 65bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine and in the S Air trim (which sits above standard S trim) is good value. It has the same standard features the S trim offers, including front electric windows and a CD player, but welcomely adds air conditioning too, which is why it features on our list of best new cars under £10,000.
Vauxhall Corsa 1.4i 90 ecoFLEX Sting (three-door)
The Corsa has been a regular feature among the top three best-selling new cars in Britain, and that’s thanks in large part to its really cheap entry level specifications. The current-generation Vauxhall Corsa, launched towards the end of 2014, continues that appealing trend.
The latest Corsa has a modern, eye-catching design for both the exterior and interior. The driving dynamics are not quite best-in-class, but they are a closer match than ever before to the arch-rival Ford Fiesta.
Unlike the Fiesta, there are multiple specifications in the Corsa range available for under £10,000, including the 1.4i Sting model with three doors. Here the Vauxhall supermini produces 89bhp from its turbocharged petrol unit which suits the Corsa very well. Standard kit for the Corsa’s Sting trim includes cruise control, alloy wheels and electric windows. It’s easy to see why the Vauxhall Corsa 1.4i 90 ecoFLEX has been included on our list of best cars under 10k.
Find prices for the Vauxhall Corsa hatchback
Dacia Duster 1.6 Access 2WD
Thanks to Dacia’s dedication to an ultra-affordable strategy, you can get a new crossover with some off-road capability for under £10k. Step forward the standard spec Dacia Duster.
The standard Duster has a 1.6-litre petrol engine with 104bhp and utilises front-wheel drive. Since this is the Access trim level, the amount of kit is pretty sparse but you do get electric front windows, folding rear seats and longitudinal roof bars.
Considering just how spacious and comfortable the interior is, the standard Duster undoubtedly represents great value. For any new car buyer looking for an affordable motor which is comfortable transporting kids and undertaking family holidays, the Duster ticks the right boxes.
Find prices for the Dacia Duster crossover
Suzuki Swift SZ2
In the incredibly competitive supermini segment, it’s easy to overlook many entries particularly when you have such well-established examples like the Ford Fiesta, the Volkswagen Polo and the previously-mentioned Vauxhall Corsa.
The Suzuki Swift is another entry that deserves a closer look if you’re looking for an affordable small car. For both three and five-door versions, the entry-level SZ2 trim Swift undercuts the £10,000 benchmark. It uses a 1.2-litre petrol unit offering as much as 93bhp, which is great for nipping through town and can realistically return at least 50mpg.
Not only is it cheap to buy and run, the Swift also has an impressive drive. The ride feels pretty comfortable whether your negotiating speed bumps or the motorway and the super-slick gear change is delightful. Sure, it lacks the build quality and prestige of some of the more established supermini names, but the Swift is a very respectable choice for those seeking a cheaper, alternative supermini. If you are looking for one of the best cars for under £10,000, the Suzuki Swift SZ2 should certainly be considered.
