Best used cars on a budget: The most reliable older models that cost from as little as £3,000 today

As Britons face steepening living costs, it’s unsurprising to see the average age of cars on our roads reach an all-time high.

Records show the typical motor owned by UK drivers is nine years and ten months. This is up from seven years and five months a decade earlier and only six years and a month 20 years ago.

While this is a reflection of tightening purse strings and drivers not wanting to splash out on replacement vehicles, it’s also indicative of cars being built to a higher standard than before and being able to endure the test of time for longer.

And exclusive data shared with the Daily Mail and This is Money has identified which older models in this age bracket are proving most reliable.

Used car warranty provider Warrantywise has delved into its Reliability Index to pick out the eight to 12-year-old models (those first registered between 2013 and 2017) with the highest scores.

For those on particularly tight budgets, these 12 models are their best options in terms of avoiding breakdowns and costly repair bills… in theory.

With examples available with below-average mileage for as little as £3,000, this is a countdown of today’s second-hand car bargains. 

The long-running Reliability Index ranks vehicles by overall dependability and shares both the highest and average repair costs seen in the last five years for each model based on its warranty data.

Only cars with more than 250 warranties in place are featured in the order to ensure the data is robust. 

And the rating for each of these cars is based on a multitude of factors. This includes repair request frequency, average vehicle age at the time a fault occurs, average mileage and average labour time between 2020 and 2025.

Antony Diggins, managing director at Warrantywise, said: ‘With cars on the road for longer than ever before, our data reveals some surprising insights about which models truly deliver long-term value. 

‘While Toyota and Honda continue to dominate for reliability, what’s particularly striking is how repair costs can vary dramatically even among dependable vehicles. 

‘This transparency is crucial as drivers navigate an increasingly complex used car market.’

Here’s the countdown of the 12 most reliable older cars – and how much they typically cost second-hand today.

=10. Mini Hatch – 79.6 Reliability Score

With the data focussing on eight to 12-year-old cars, the Mini applicable is the previous generation car on sale between 2014 and 2024.

A ten-year-old example with less than 60,000 miles on the clock can be had for £5,500 today, though this does limit buyers to the diesel-engined variants.

While the average claim made in the last five years is relatively high at just over £1,000 to cover repairs, requests on warranties are relatively infrequent. 

=10. Citroen C1 – 79.6 Reliability Score

The Citroen C1 has always been a great choice for new drivers, offering extremely low insurance costs. A 10-year-old example (pictured) can be bought for around £3k today with average mileage

The last generation of Citroen’s C1 (produced between 2014 and 2022) is the relevant model here. 

Buyers can snap up a 2015-plate model with under 60k on the clock for around £3,000 today. That means it is not only a great cheap second car, it’s also an ideal first motor for any new licence holder offering extremely low insurance costs.

The average repair bill over the last five years, according to Warrantywise data, is £800. But given the relatively high reliability score, major issues are somewhat limited.

=10. Ford Ka – 79.6 Reliability Score

The Ford Ka is another great – cheap – option for new drivers. The 2008-2016 car is proving dependable

The bulk of the Ford Kas falling into the eight to 12-year-old bracket are the generation produced between 2008 and 2016.

Like the Citroen C1, second-hand prices for a ten-year-old example with below average mileage are around the £3k mark, making this a real bargain option.

Average repair bills over the last five years are among the lowest of the 12 cars featured, though one repair bill in that period has been as high as £2,000. 

9. Renault Clio – 80.3 Reliability Score

The fourth-generation Renault Clio – sold between 2013 and 2019 – has a strong reliability record

The Clio represented in the study is the fourth-generation car on sale between 2013 and 2019.

Used buyers can snap up a second-hand example with below average mileage for around £4,250 today. That buys you a stylish and practical small hatchback for relatively little money.

Average repair bills over the last five years have amounted to £693, though low fault frequency and labour time helps it achieve a strong reliability score of 80.3 out of 100. 

8. Ford Mondeo – 80.9 Reliability Score

For buyers on a budget looking for a dependable family motor, the Ford Mondeo is a good option, with prices around £7,500 for a 2015 example with under 60k on the clock

While all the cars in this list up to now have been relatively small models, this is the first example that would make for a great used family motor.

An example of the last generation Ford Mondeo, which was produced from 2014 to 2022, can be bought today with less than 60,000 miles on the clock for around £7,500 – that’s about half the price of today’s cheapest new car.

Average repair bills for such a large model are quite low, though the highest recorded in the last five years came to almost £5,000. 

7. Seat Ibiza – 81.5 Reliability Score

The fourth-generation of the Seat Ibiza is a great used supermini buy for someone on the hunt for a reliable small motor for around £5,000

The Seat Ibiza relevant here is the fourth-gen model produced between 2008 and 2017. A ten-year-old model with just under 60,000 miles racked up can be had today for just over £5,000.

Average repair bills, according to Warrantywise data, amount to just £758, though these are pretty infrequent.

Mechanically similar to the VW Polo and Skoda Fabia, spares for the Ibiza are easy to come by.

6. Toyota Aygo – 85.5 Reliability Score

Toyota’s Aygo has always been among the most reliable city cars. The last generation car – produced between 2014 and 2021 – is a great option for around £3,500 with average mileage

Toyota’s Aygo is the sister model to the Citroen C1 already featured in this list. Buyers of an eight to 12-year-old model would be purchasing the last-generation car produced between 2014 and 2021.

Again, this is a very affordable first car options and the ideal reliable second car for a busy family.

The average repair bill for the Aygo is lowest across all models at just £399. And even the highest receipt from a garage to fix something since 2020 is under £1,300.

5. Mitsubishi Outlander – 85.9 Reliability Score

While the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV scores well for reliability, one owner of the 2013-2021 generation car had to claim for a repair bill of £9,500 in the last 5 years – so buy with caution

The first of just two SUVs to make this list of most reliable used older cars is the plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander – the last generation on sale in the UK, which was in showrooms between 2013 and Mitsubishi’s departure from the European market in 2021.

While roomy for the family, offering lots of practicality and – for those predominantly driving around town – low fuel costs, this is an older car that’s ticking the right boxes.

However, buyers should proceed with caution; while average repair bills are just £1,200 and pretty infrequent, the highest on record in the last five years was an eye-watering £9,500 – more than the price of a ten-year-old example with 60k on the clock today.

‘The Outlander shows that while certain cars are less likely to break down, when major faults do occur, the repair costs can be significant – highlighting the importance of understanding both reliability and cost risk for owners of ageing vehicles,’ Warrantywise said.

 4. Suzuki Swift – 86.5 Reliability Score

The Suzuki Swift has always had a great track record for dependability, The second-gen car (pictured) gets an 86.5 Reliability Score in Warrantywise’s index

The Suzuki Swift is a prime example of a Japanese car that’s historically had a very strong reputation for reliability. 

Therefore, anyone looking for a relatively affordable older car that will prove dependable won’t be disappointed with the Suzuki supermini.

The generation falling into the eight to 12-year old bracket is the Mk2 Swift, which was on sale between 2010 and 2017. Repairs requests are infrequent and – at £827 on average – not hugely expensive.

That said, one claim in the last five years did amount to £4,000 – you can pick up a 10-year-old Swift with below average mileage for the same amount today.

3. Honda CR-V – 89.0 Reliability Score

If you’re on the hunt for a cheap family SUV around 10 years old, then look no further than Honda’s fourth-gen CR-V, Warrantywise says

The fourth-generation Honda CR-V sold between 2012 and 2018 is the model represented in Warrantywise’s Reliability Index and is the older SUV with the top recommendation.

Claims against warranties in the last five years have been infrequent. And the average repair bill for this ageing family motor is just over £1,000.

In terms of space, practicality and dependability, this should be at the top of the shopping list for anyone search for a budget motor for the typical household.

2. Honda Civic – 93.0 Reliability Score

The used family hatchback with the best dependability credentials for 8-12 year old examples is this generation of Honda Civic, on sale from 2012

The one and only family hatchback to make it into the order of the most reliable older cars is Honda’s perennial Civic. 

While the Japanese hatch has been around since the seventies, the generation in question here is the Mk9 variant on sale in dealer between 2012 and 2017. Today, one with less than 60,000 miles chalked up will cost from around £8,000.

Like its larger CR-V sibling, warranty claims have been relatively rare in the last five years, while the typical repair bill is a low £778. 

1. Toyota Yaris – 93.6 Reliability Score

For those looking for a reliable older car for a fraction of the price of a new model, the Toyota Yaris should be the top pick

For seasoned petrolheads, it will be little surprise to see the Yaris take top spot in the list of the most dependable older motors.

Toyota is synonymous with reliability, and the Yaris has been a trademark of its robust build quality for decades.

In this instance, we’re talking about the third-generation car on sale between 2011 and 2020.

Buyers can pick up a 2015 example with under 60k on the clock for around £5,400. And they won’t be disappointed, with breakdowns and faults rare and repair bills relatively cheap.

Warrantywise says it ‘consistently ranks as both dependable and budget-friendly for long-term ownership’.

*used price based on the cheapest 2015 model advertised on AutoTrader with less than 60,000 miles on the clock