Used Value Car of the Year
Winner: Hyundai i10 (2014-2019) – less than £6,000
Budget option: Suzuki Celerio (2015–2019) – less than £4,000
If you want a great city car on the used market, look no further than the Hyundai i10 (left) or Suzuki Celerio (right)
Used Small Car of the Year
Winner: Skoda Fabia (2015–present) – less than £8,000
Budget option: Ford Fiesta (2008–2017) – less than £5,000
Skoda’s Fabia (left) took the title as best used small car, with the previous-generation Ford Fiesta (right) the choice budget option
Used Family Car of the Year
Winner: Skoda Octavia (2013–2020) – less than £15,000
Budget option: Vauxhall Astra (2015–present) – less than £8,000
The Skoda Octavia (left) has been named the best second-hand family car, though the Vauxhall Astra (right) is also recommended by What Car?’s road test team
Used Executive Car of the Year
Winner (& budget option): Audi A4 (2015–present) – less than £14,000
The Audi A4 is the standout second-hand executive model, according to the car magazine
Used Luxury Car of the Year
Winner: Audi A8 (2017–present) – less than £40,000
Budget option: Volvo S90 (2016–present) – less than £20,000
Luxury cars depreciate at a rapid rate from new, meaning you can get a lot of car for your money on the used market. The best option – if you have £40k to spend – is the Audi A8 (left), or for half that you should consider the Volvo S90 (right)
Used Small SUV of the Year
Winner: Seat Arona (2018–present) – less than £12,000
Budget option: Renault Captur (2013–2019) – less than £8,000
The smallest Seat SUV in the range, the Arona (left), was deemed the best second-hand small SUV, while the recently replaced Renault Captur (right) was the best option if you want to spend less than £8,000
Used Family SUV of the Year & Overall Used Car of the Year
Winner (& budget option): Seat Ateca (2016–present) – less than £13,000
The Ateca won this segment but also took the overall Best Used Car of 2019 crown in the What Car? Awards
Used Large SUV of the Year
Winner: Volvo XC60 (2017–present) – less than £25,000
Budget option: Skoda Kodiaq (2016–present) – less than £19,000
There are plenty of models to choose from in the large SUV sector. On the second-hand market, buyers should consider the Skoda Kodiaq (left) and Volvo XC60 (right)
Used Luxury SUV of the Year
Winner: Audi Q7 (2015–present) – less than £35,000
Budget option: Volvo XC90 (2015–present) – less than £25,000
The big and pricey Audi Q7 (left) is the best luxury SUV option second hand, though the Volvo XC90 (right) is a strong option for a smaller outlay
Used MPV of the Year
Winner: Citroen Grand C4 Spacetourer (2018–present) – less than £15,000
Budget option: Citroën C4 Picasso (2014–2018) – less than £10,000
If you want a large MPV, then look no further than French brand Citroen. The current Grand C4 Spacetourer is the top choice, though the C4 Picasso it replaced is also a good choice if you have a smaller budget
Used Estate Car of the Year
Winner: BMW 5 Series Touring (2017–present) – less than £25,000
Budget option: Skoda Octavia Estate (2013–2020) – less than £10,000
If you want a capable used estate car, look no further than the BMW 5 Series Touring (left) and – on a tighter budget – the just-replaced Skoda Octavia (right)
Used Hot Hatch of the Year
Winner: BMW M140i (2016–2019) – less than £18,000
Budget option: Ford Fiesta ST (2013–2017) – less than £12,000
If you want cheap(ish) thrills, then these are the best second-hand hot hatches – the BMW M140i (left) and Ford Fiesta ST (right)
Used Coupé of the Year
Winner (& budget option): Audi TT (2015 –present) – less than £15,000
What Car? said the best used coupe option is the latest Audi TT, with examples available for less than £15,000 on the second-hand market
Used Convertible of the Year
Winner: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2017–present) – less than £30,000
Budget option: BMW 2 Series (2014–present) – less than £15,000
If you want a second-hand car that allows you to feel the breeze in your hair, the best choices are the Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet (left) or the less expensive BMW 2 Series Convertible (right)
Used Sports Car of the Year
Winner: Porsche Cayman (2013–2016) – less than £35,000
Budget option: Mazda MX-5 (2015–present) – less than £20,000
If you’re willing to fork out a still relatively high price on the second-hand market, a Porsche Cayman (left) is the best used sports car you can purchase. If you want to spend less, the current Mazda MX-5 (right) is another option
Used Performance Car of the Year
Winner: Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio (2016–present) – less than £45,000
Budget option: Mercedes C43 AMG (2016–present) – less than £25,000
Alfa’s Giulia Quadrifoglio (left) is a seriously good performance car, though you will need to pay quite a large sum to get one, even on the used market. If you want to spend a little less, the Mercedes C43 AMG (right) is an excellent alternative
Used Hybrid Car of the Year
Winner (& budget option): Hyundai Ioniq (2017–present) – less than £15,000
Hyundai’s Ioniq hybrid is the top choice model if you want a used car with a battery and electric motor to supplement a combustion engine
Used Electric Car of the Year
Winner: Nissan Leaf (2018–present) – less than £25,000
Budget option: Nissan Leaf (2011–2018) – less than £13,000
The Nissan Leaf, both new (left) and old (right), are the top used choices if you’re in the market for a second-hand electric vehicle
Used Approved car scheme
Winner: DS Certified
Special mention: Kia Approved Used, BMW/Mini Approved Used
DS won the award for best used car scheme for the second year running for its ‘outstanding’ 24-month warranty on cars up to four years old
Source: What Car? Used Car of the Year 2021 Awards